English convention dictates that the names of months be capitalized as proper nouns; this rule does not always hold in other languages.
Sometimes, the names of months do not require capitalization if they start sentences or appear as titles, particularly in Spanish. This practice can often be found.
Why are months capitalized?
When writing out dates, the month should always be capitalized. This is because proper nouns have their initial letters capitalized, while months have their specific meaning and should stand out among other seasons and days; hence, capitalizing their name can highlight its significance and emphasize it within a particular period.
Capitalize days and holidays because they are proper nouns with specific dates or events associated with them with particular meanings.
Notably, seasons such as summer and winter do not warrant capitalization as they do not qualify as proper nouns.
English convention has it that we capitalize all the names of months as they often contain references to Roman deities or emperors; therefore, it makes more sense for all month names to be capitalized than half of them alone.
Capitalization should be seen as a form of word formation rather than as a grammar rule, leaving it up to you and your language-learning team whether or not to utilize capitalization when writing. However, if English is your primary language of instruction in class, it is generally accepted that the names of months should always be capitalized.
Shawn Manaher is a content manager, writer, and founder of The Content Authority. As such, he serves as content creators’ manager and writing ninja organizer – providing top content creators with guidance and direction as they create fantastic pieces. Shawn is an authority on content marketing issues, sharing his expertise freely.
Are months a proper noun?
While some contend that months should be capitalized as specific periods, they are not considered proper nouns and act more as common nouns like morning, afternoon, or night.
Nouns refer to general categories of things rather than singular objects; therefore, referring to “spring of 2022” would constitute using proper nouns since that term refers specifically to one season and, therefore, stands alone as something exclusive.
However, most edited publications do not capitalize the names of seasons since they are considered common nouns that do not require capitalization. Therefore, when writing, do not capitalize the seasons unless some compelling circumstance requires you.
Similar rules apply for days of the week; they should not be capitalized unless part of a specific event or date. For instance, Hoy es Viernes Santo would require capitalization as it is part of an official holiday name.
General guidelines dictate using capital letters when writing proper nouns, such as names of people, places, and things with specific meanings. Common nouns refer to words that represent general categories or ideas – examples include day, month, and year.
When doubting whether to capitalize a word, check this chart of proper nouns to remember which types are always capitalized and which should not. Note that this chart only applies to English writing – other languages may have different rules regarding capitalization; if you remain uncertain, it would be wiser to consult a grammar expert in that language to ensure you’re following them correctly. Shawn Manaher at Strategically is a content manager, writing expert, and leader of top-tier content creators.
Are months a definite article?
English capitalizes the names of months and days as these nouns are considered proper nouns; however, seasons don’t warrant equal treatment as common nouns without a definite article (s).
The reason is that while months and days of the week imply a specific time frame, seasons denote an overall season, so they should remain lowercase rather than capitalized. This practice follows German practice: der (der = noun in German) replaces definite articles when discussing months and seasons in Germany’s official language guide Duden; furthermore it specifies that “The names of seasons – spring, summer, fall/autumn, and winter) should not be capitalized.”
However, this may also be because German differs structurally from English in its usage of definite articles: in English, the definite article must appear before nouns starting sentences or appearing in titles, while in German, nouns used as adjectives are usually written lowercase and do not require any definite article at all.
Though it may seem peculiar that seasons don’t require a definite article in English, this is unique to this language, and other European languages do not capitalize them since they do not refer to a specific period.
Dates require definite articles only when they begin sentences or appear as titles, making it essential for writers to familiarize themselves with these rules before entering information onto paper.
People can ensure their writing is grammatically correct and easy for others to read by following these simple rules, which ensure everyone is on board with any particular date or period, by studying these rules and becoming confident with grammar knowledge.
Are months a common noun?
English grammar rules dictate that month names do not require capitalization in the English language, rather they should be treated as common nouns; lowercase letters would usually suffice when writing summer or November as nouns. There are exceptions, though; names of months should be capitalized if used to personify an object or idea – such as when described as being excellent in winter and warm in spring – this kind of personification plays an integral part in date descriptions so knowing whether a particular month should be capitalized or not can help ensure accurate date descriptions!
With some exceptions, months should usually be written in lowercase letters due to being considered common nouns and not proper nouns; capitalizing them is not necessary except in figurative uses such as calendar entries, where it helps readers recognize the correct date.
As months are generally given special treatment as proper nouns at the start of sentences and titles, their names should always be capitalized to ensure readers know precisely what information is being read about.
As much as it may be puzzling, the reason behind why days and months names are capitalized may be simple: They are proper nouns that must be identified appropriately; in contrast, seasons do not fall into this category, thus leading to them usually being written with lowercase letters except when used personification or as the start of a sentence.
