don a cap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "don a cap" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of putting on a cap or hat, often in a figurative sense of taking on a role or responsibility. Example: "Before heading out to the event, I decided to don a cap to shield myself from the sun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It seemed symptomatic of West Ham's slipshod approach that Hart arrived without appropriate headwear to shield his eyes from the low-hanging sun and found himself having to don a cap thrown to him by one of the travelling fans.

The Guardian - Sport

Subjects don a cap with embedded electrodes that poke through their hair and touch their scalps.

University of Chicago

So we wait until we don a cap and gown (w/ tassel) and receive a slip of paper that hopefully proves we won't make a fool of ourselves.

HuffPost

Eleanor "Jean" Kops will don a cap and gown on Saturday, walk across a stage, and finally receive her college diploma -- an event that's been nearly 70 years in the making.

Huffington Post

After sitting through a variety of development courses for seven years, 21-year-old Mark Mendoza got his chance to don a cap and gown and walk with fellow College View School students during Friday's completion ceremony.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In another, Mr. Holmes, wearing jet-black contact lenses and donning a cap, jutted his tongue out at the camera.

The New York Times

On June 17 , 2018 a full 70 years after graduating with his master's degree, Funkhouser again donned a cap and gown for Stanford Earth's diploma ceremony, where he was presented with the school's Distinguished Alumni Award for his contributions to science and his leadership in the field of petroleum geology.

Stanford University

In Islamic Jihad's first human-bomb operation, in September , 1993 the martyr Ala'a al Kahlout shaved his beard, donned a cap and dark glasses, and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt before carrying his bomb onto a bus in Ashdod.

The New Yorker

Donning a cap and jacket and slouchy pants into which she keeps stuffing her hands (the production is played in mostly colorless modern dress), Ms. Rylance's Rosalind can be very funny as she performs a frantic pantomime to illustrate the changeability of women's hearts.

The New York Times

Now living in Australia, he donned a cap and gown a few weeks ago to receive his degree in Mechatronic Engineering.

Huffington Post

Kirsch fit right in with the rest of the grads as he donned a cap and gown for the May 23 ceremony.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "don a cap" when you want to add a touch of formality or emphasize the action of putting on a cap, especially in writing.

Common error

Avoid using "don a cap" in very casual conversations or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "wear a cap" or "put on a cap" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "don a cap" functions as a verb phrase, where "don" acts as a transitive verb meaning 'to put on' and "a cap" is the direct object. Ludwig examples show it used to describe the act of wearing a cap for various reasons, from shielding the sun to signifying graduation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "don a cap" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of putting on a cap. According to Ludwig, it is more formal and deliberate than alternatives like "put on a cap" or ""wear a hat"". It is primarily found in news and media contexts and academia. While acceptable, it is important to consider the audience and use simpler phrasing for very informal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wear a hat

Focuses on the simple act of wearing a hat, omitting the nuance of formality or purpose.

put on a cap

A more straightforward and less formal way of saying "don a cap".

place a cap on one's head

Adds a literal, slightly more descriptive aspect to the action.

cap oneself

A concise, slightly archaic alternative, where 'cap' is used as a verb.

cover the head with a cap

Emphasizes the action of covering, rather than simply wearing, the cap.

outfit oneself with a cap

Suggests the cap is part of an overall outfit or ensemble.

sport a cap

Implies wearing the cap in a casual or stylish manner.

assume a cap

Can suggest taking on a new role or identity symbolized by the cap.

get a cap on

A more colloquial way of saying "put on a cap", less formal.

pull on a cap

Emphasizes the action of pulling the cap onto one's head, often quickly.

FAQs

How can I use "don a cap" in a sentence?

You can use "don a cap" to describe someone putting on a cap, often implying a specific purpose or occasion. For example, "He decided to "wear a hat" to shield his eyes from the sun".

What can I say instead of "don a cap"?

Alternatives include "put on a cap", "wear a hat", or "place a cap on one's head", depending on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

Is "don a cap" formal or informal?

"Don a cap" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "put on a cap" or "wear a hat". It's suitable for written English and more formal spoken contexts.

What's the difference between "don a cap" and "wear a cap"?

"Don a cap" implies a deliberate action of putting on a cap, often with a specific reason or occasion in mind. "Wear a hat" is a more general statement about wearing a hat at any given time.