What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
capitalise
Example
Remember to capitalise the first letter of each sentence. [capitalise: verb]
Example
She decided to capitalise on her skills and start her own business. [capitalise: verb]
capitalize
Example
In English, we capitalize proper nouns. [capitalize: verb]
Example
He wanted to capitalize on the growing demand for organic products. [capitalize: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Capitalize is more commonly used than capitalise in American English, while capitalise is more commonly used in British English. However, both words are understood and accepted in both varieties of English.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between capitalise and capitalize?
Capitalise is generally considered more formal than capitalize. It is often used in more professional or academic contexts, while capitalize is more commonly used in everyday language and informal writing.