You should always capitalize months and weekdays in English grammar. This is because they are proper nouns. A noun is the term we use for the names of people, places, things, and ideas. Nouns can be either common or proper.
Proper nouns are the names we give to specific people, places, things, and ideas. When we use them in writing, we always capitalize them:
In English grammar, we consider months and weekdays specific things, so they are proper nouns, and we capitalize them.
Do you know this rhyme to help you remember the number of days in each month? Each month has a specific name, so it’s capitalized:
Did you ever watch Happy Days on TV? Do you remember the theme song lyrics by Gimbel and Fox?
Each day has a specific name, making it a proper noun, so we capitalize it.
Common nouns are the names we give to unspecific people, places, things, and ideas. When we use them in writing, we capitalize them only sometimes.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
Take the Friends theme (Crane, Kauffman, Skloff, and Willis), which has the line:
It doesn’t refer to specific days or months, so we don’t capitalize those nouns. You should only capitalize these words if they appear at the beginning of a sentence or in a title.
English grammar considers seasons common nouns, since they refer to a general period instead of a specific day or month. We, therefore, only capitalize seasons if using them in a title or at the beginning of a sentence:
You should always capitalize specific names of months and weekdays, such as “August” or “Tuesday,” because these are proper nouns. You should never capitalize generic terms, such as “week” or “summer” – unless they begin sentences or appear in a title – because they are common nouns.
If you need help with grammar and want a language expert to review your writing, our expert proofreaders will gladly check your work for free. Submit a 500-word sample today and you’ll receive edits and feedback in just 24 hours.
Δ
5-minute read
Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...
6-minute read
If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
4-minute read
Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...