Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing From "august" to "August." Why the union is always "strong." Nee nee
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Jan 14, 2025 Discover the fascinating world of capitonyms—words that change meaning when capitalized, enriching our understanding of language. Dive into the history behind the iconic phrase 'the State of the Union is strong' and uncover its evolution over time. Hear a delightful listener story about the family term 'Nee Nee', celebrating creativity during the holidays. This episode blends linguistics with personal anecdotes, making language both fun and relatable.
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Capitonyms: A Definition
- A capitonym changes meaning and sometimes pronunciation when capitalized.
- These words can be homonyms, homographs, homophones, or even heteronyms, depending on the specific words and definitions used.
Capitonym Examples
- Mignon Fogarty gives examples of capitonyms like "Turkey" (country) and "turkey" (bird).
- She also mentions "march" (month) and "March" (military action).
Using Capitonyms Clearly
- Add context when both instances of a capitonym require capitalization, such as at the beginning of a sentence.
- Differentiate between true capitonyms and words that simply require capitalization in certain contexts (e.g. seasons, academic courses).