Understanding when to capitalize days of the week is a fundamental aspect of English grammar and writing. Proper capitalization ensures clarity and professionalism in all forms of communication.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to the rules governing the capitalization of days of the week, offering detailed explanations, examples, and practical exercises. Whether you’re a student, a professional writer, or simply someone looking to improve their grammar skills, this resource will help you master this essential aspect of English writing.
Mastering these rules will not only enhance your writing accuracy but also demonstrate attention to detail, which is crucial in academic, professional, and personal contexts. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of when and why days of the week should be capitalized, along with the ability to identify and correct common errors.
Table of Contents
- Definition: Days of the Week and Capitalization
- Structural Breakdown: Nouns and Proper Nouns
- Types and Categories of Calendar Terms
- Examples of Capitalized and Uncapitalized Days of the Week
- Usage Rules: When to Capitalize Days of the Week
- Common Mistakes in Capitalizing Days of the Week
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics: Capitalization in Specific Contexts
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
Definition: Days of the Week and Capitalization
In English grammar, days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) are proper nouns. Proper nouns are specific names of people, places, or things and are always capitalized. The capitalization of days of the week is a standard convention in English writing and is essential for clarity and grammatical correctness.
The function of capitalizing days of the week is to distinguish them as specific, named entities rather than generic terms. This practice helps readers immediately recognize these words as particular points in time within the weekly cycle.
This is crucial for avoiding confusion and ensuring the intended meaning is conveyed effectively.
The context in which days of the week appear does not change the capitalization rule. Whether in formal writing, informal communication, or creative content, days of the week should always be capitalized.
This consistency is key to maintaining clarity and adhering to standard English grammar conventions.
Structural Breakdown: Nouns and Proper Nouns
To understand why days of the week are capitalized, it’s essential to differentiate between common nouns and proper nouns. A common noun refers to a general category of people, places, or things (e.g., day, month, city). A proper noun, on the other hand, refers to a specific entity within that category (e.g., Monday, January, London). Proper nouns are always capitalized to distinguish them from common nouns.
Days of the week fall under the category of proper nouns because they are specific names given to particular days within a seven-day cycle. Just as we capitalize the names of people (e.g., John, Mary) and places (e.g., Paris, New York), we also capitalize the names of days (e.g., Monday, Friday). This consistent application of capitalization rules helps maintain clarity and consistency in written English.
The structure of a sentence does not impact the capitalization rule for days of the week. Whether a day of the week appears at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, it should always be capitalized.
This consistent application of the rule eliminates ambiguity and reinforces the grammatical correctness of the writing.
Types and Categories of Calendar Terms
Calendar terms can be categorized into several types, each with its own capitalization rules. Understanding these categories helps clarify when to capitalize and when not to.
Days of the Week
As previously discussed, days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) are always capitalized.
Months of the Year
Similar to days of the week, months of the year (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December) are also proper nouns and are always capitalized.
Seasons
Seasons (spring, summer, autumn/fall, winter) are common nouns and are generally not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a title.
Holidays
Holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day) are proper nouns and are always capitalized.
Time Periods
General time periods (morning, afternoon, evening, night) are common nouns and are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a title. However, specific eras or periods (e.g., the Victorian Era, the Renaissance) are often capitalized.
Examples of Capitalized and Uncapitalized Days of the Week
Here are several examples illustrating the correct capitalization of days of the week in various contexts.
Examples in Sentences
The following table provides examples of sentences using days of the week, demonstrating correct capitalization.
| Sentence |
|---|
| I have a meeting on Monday morning. |
| She goes to the gym every Tuesday and Thursday. |
| Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. |
| We are planning a party for Saturday night. |
| The store is closed on Sunday. |
| He will arrive on Friday afternoon. |
| The project is due next Monday. |
| She always looks forward to Saturday. |
| They usually go out for dinner on Sunday evenings. |
| The class is held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. |
| The report must be submitted by Friday. |
| We will celebrate on Saturday. |
| The family gathers every Sunday for brunch. |
| The conference starts on Monday. |
| She plans to relax on Saturday and Sunday. |
| The deadline is approaching on Wednesday. |
| He enjoys reading on Sunday afternoons. |
| The event is scheduled for next Thursday. |
| The team will practice on Tuesday. |
| The museum is open every day except Monday. |
| I look forward to Friday every week. |
| The concert is on Saturday evening. |
| The church service is held every Sunday morning. |
| The new schedule starts next Monday. |
| She prefers to work on Wednesday. |
| He will be available on Tuesday. |
| We are closed for business every Sunday. |
| The meeting is planned for next Friday. |
| She loves spending time with family on Saturday. |
Examples in Titles and Headings
The following table provides examples of how days of the week are capitalized in titles and headings.
| Title/Heading |
|---|
| Monday Morning Meeting |
| Tuesday Night Book Club |
| Wednesday Workshop |
| Thursday Thoughts |
| Friday Fun Day |
| Saturday Soccer Game |
| Sunday Brunch Menu |
| Monday‘s Agenda |
| Tuesday‘s Training Session |
| Wednesday‘s Webinar |
| Thursday‘s Theme |
| Friday‘s Forecast |
| Saturday‘s Special |
| Sunday‘s Sermon |
| Monday Blues |
| Tuesday Tips |
| Wednesday Wisdom |
| Thursday Trivia |
| Friday Feast |
| Saturday Style |
| Sunday Stories |
| Monday Motivation |
| Tuesday Travel |
| Wednesday Wellness |
| Thursday Technology |
| Friday Fashion |
| Saturday Shopping |
| Sunday Serenity |
Incorrect Examples
The following table shows examples of incorrect capitalization of days of the week, paired with the correct versions.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| I will arrive on monday. | I will arrive on Monday. |
| She has a meeting on tuesday morning. | She has a meeting on Tuesday morning. |
| wednesday is my day off. | Wednesday is my day off. |
| We’re going out on saturday night. | We’re going out on Saturday night. |
| the store is closed on sunday. | The store is closed on Sunday. |
| He prefers working on fridays. | He prefers working on Fridays. |
| The event is next thursday. | The event is next Thursday. |
| She always goes shopping on saturdays. | She always goes shopping on Saturdays. |
| The family has brunch every sunday. | The family has brunch every Sunday. |
| The conference begins on monday. | The conference begins on Monday. |
| The project is due next monday. | The project is due next Monday. |
| She always looks forward to saturday. | She always looks forward to Saturday. |
| They usually go out for dinner on sunday evenings. | They usually go out for dinner on Sunday evenings. |
| The class is held on tuesday and thursday mornings. | The class is held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. |
| The report must be submitted by friday. | The report must be submitted by Friday. |
| We will celebrate on saturday. | We will celebrate on Saturday. |
| The family gathers every sunday for brunch. | The family gathers every Sunday for brunch. |
| The conference starts on monday. | The conference starts on Monday. |
| She plans to relax on saturday and sunday. | She plans to relax on Saturday and Sunday. |
| The deadline is approaching on wednesday. | The deadline is approaching on Wednesday. |
| He enjoys reading on sunday afternoons. | He enjoys reading on Sunday afternoons. |
| The event is scheduled for next thursday. | The event is scheduled for next Thursday. |
| The team will practice on tuesday. | The team will practice on Tuesday. |
| The museum is open every day except monday. | The museum is open every day except Monday. |
| I look forward to friday every week. | I look forward to Friday every week. |
| The concert is on saturday evening. | The concert is on Saturday evening. |
| The church service is held every sunday morning. | The church service is held every Sunday morning. |
| The new schedule starts next monday. | The new schedule starts next Monday. |
Usage Rules: When to Capitalize Days of the Week
The primary rule is that days of the week are always capitalized because they are proper nouns. However, there are a few nuances to consider.
General Rule
Capitalize the names of days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Abbreviations
When using abbreviations for days of the week (e.g., Mon., Tue., Wed.), the first letter is still capitalized. Some style guides may omit the period. For example, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun.
Plural Forms
When referring to a recurring event or activity that happens on a specific day, the day is still capitalized, even in its plural form: “She goes to the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
In Titles
In titles of books, articles, or other works, days of the week are capitalized according to standard title capitalization rules, which generally capitalize all major words.
Common Mistakes in Capitalizing Days of the Week
Several common mistakes occur when capitalizing days of the week. Recognizing these errors can help you avoid them.
Incorrect Lowercase
One of the most common mistakes is writing days of the week in lowercase.
Incorrect: I have a meeting on monday.
Correct: I have a meeting on Monday.
Mixing Capitalization
Sometimes, people may capitalize only part of the word or use inconsistent capitalization.
Incorrect: I will see you on MonDay.
Correct: I will see you on Monday.
Using Abbreviations Incorrectly
Forgetting to capitalize abbreviations is another common error.
Incorrect: See you on mon.
Correct: See you on Mon.
Examples of Common Mistakes
The following table provides further examples of common mistakes and their corrections.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| The deadline is next tuesday. | The deadline is next Tuesday. |
| she works on fridays. | She works on Fridays. |
| We are closed on sundays. | We are closed on Sundays. |
| He will arrive on wednesday morning. | He will arrive on Wednesday morning. |
| The event is scheduled for next thurs. | The event is scheduled for next Thurs. |
| I look forward to friday every week. | I look forward to Friday every week. |
| The concert is on saturday evening. | The concert is on Saturday evening. |
| The church service is held every sunday morning. | The church service is held every Sunday morning. |
| The new schedule starts next monday. | The new schedule starts next Monday. |
| She prefers to work on wednesdays. | She prefers to work on Wednesdays. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Identify whether the capitalization of the days of the week is correct or incorrect, and correct the incorrect sentences.
Exercise 1
Determine whether the following sentences are correct or incorrect. If incorrect, rewrite the sentence with correct capitalization.
| Question | Correct/Incorrect | Corrected Sentence (if incorrect) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I have a doctor’s appointment on tuesday. | ||
| 2. We’re going to the beach on Saturday. | ||
| 3. wednesday is my favorite day of the week. | ||
| 4. The store is closed on sunday. | ||
| 5. He works every monday and friday. | ||
| 6. The conference starts on monday morning. | ||
| 7. she will arrive on thursday afternoon. | ||
| 8. I enjoy spending time with family on saturdays. | ||
| 9. The deadline is approaching on wednesday. | ||
| 10. He usually goes to the gym on thursdays. |
Exercise 1 Answers
| Question | Correct/Incorrect | Corrected Sentence (if incorrect) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I have a doctor’s appointment on tuesday. | Incorrect | I have a doctor’s appointment on Tuesday. |
| 2. We’re going to the beach on Saturday. | Correct | |
| 3. wednesday is my favorite day of the week. | Incorrect | Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. |
| 4. The store is closed on sunday. | Incorrect | The store is closed on Sunday. |
| 5. He works every monday and friday. | Incorrect | He works every Monday and Friday. |
| 6. The conference starts on monday morning. | Incorrect | The conference starts on Monday morning. |
| 7. she will arrive on thursday afternoon. | Incorrect | She will arrive on Thursday afternoon. |
| 8. I enjoy spending time with family on saturdays. | Incorrect | I enjoy spending time with family on Saturdays. |
| 9. The deadline is approaching on wednesday. | Incorrect | The deadline is approaching on Wednesday. |
| 10. He usually goes to the gym on thursdays. | Incorrect | He usually goes to the gym on Thursdays. |
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with the correct capitalization of the day of the week.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. She goes to yoga every _________ evening. | |
| 2. We have a team meeting every _________ morning. | |
| 3. He likes to relax on _________ afternoons. | |
| 4. The library is closed on _________. | |
| 5. They are planning a trip for next _________. | |
| 6. The concert is scheduled for _________ night. | |
| 7. The new policy starts next _________. | |
| 8. She prefers to work from home on _________. | |
| 9. He will be out of office on _________. | |
| 10. We are celebrating our anniversary on _________. |
Exercise 2 Answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. She goes to yoga every _________ evening. | Monday |
| 2. We have a team meeting every _________ morning. | Tuesday |
| 3. He likes to relax on _________ afternoons. | Wednesday |
| 4. The library is closed on _________. | Thursday |
| 5. They are planning a trip for next _________. | Friday |
| 6. The concert is scheduled for _________ night. | Saturday |
| 7. The new policy starts next _________. | Sunday |
| 8. She prefers to work from home on _________. | Monday |
| 9. He will be out of office on _________. | Tuesday |
| 10. We are celebrating our anniversary on _________. | Wednesday |
Advanced Topics: Capitalization in Specific Contexts
While the basic rule is straightforward, there are specific contexts where capitalization can be more nuanced.
Academic Writing
In academic writing, adhering to a specific style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) is crucial. These style guides typically prescribe the capitalization of days of the week as proper nouns.
Legal Documents
Legal documents also require precise capitalization. Days of the week are always capitalized to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.
Creative Writing
While creative writing allows for more flexibility, deviating from the standard capitalization of days of the week may be perceived as unconventional or incorrect. Consistency is generally preferred unless there is a specific artistic reason to deviate.
Business Communication
In professional business communication, the proper capitalization of days of the week demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism. It is essential for maintaining credibility and clarity in all written materials, including emails, reports, and presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some frequently asked questions about capitalizing days of the week.
- Why are days of the week capitalized?
Days of the week are capitalized because they are proper nouns, which are specific names of particular days. Capitalization helps distinguish them from common nouns and ensures clarity in writing.
- Are abbreviations of days of the week capitalized?
Yes, abbreviations of days of the week (e.g., Mon., Tue., Wed.) are always capitalized. The capitalization rule applies even when the word is shortened.
- Do I capitalize days of the week in titles?
Yes, days of the week are capitalized in titles according to standard title capitalization rules, which generally capitalize all major words.
- What happens if I don’t capitalize days of the week?
Failing to capitalize days of the week is considered a grammatical error and can make your writing appear less professional and less credible. It can also create confusion for the reader.
- Are plural forms of days of the week capitalized?
Yes, plural forms of days of the week (e.g., Mondays, Tuesdays) are capitalized when referring to recurring events or activities that happen on those days.
- Is it ever acceptable to not capitalize days of the week?
Generally, no. While creative writing may allow for some flexibility, it is almost always best to capitalize days of the week to adhere to standard English grammar conventions.
- What about seasons? Are they also capitalized?
No, seasons (spring, summer, autumn/fall, winter) are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence or are part of a title. They are common nouns, not proper nouns like days of the week.
- How does capitalization of days of the week differ in other languages?
Capitalization rules vary by language. In some languages, days of the week are not capitalized. It’s important to follow the conventions of the language you are writing in.
- Does the position of the day of the week in a sentence affect its capitalization?
No, the position of the day of the week in a sentence does not affect its capitalization. Whether it appears at the beginning, middle, or end, it should always be capitalized.
- Are there any exceptions to the rule of capitalizing days of the week?
There are very few exceptions. In highly stylized or artistic contexts, a writer might choose to deviate, but for standard English writing, the rule should be followed.
Conclusion
Mastering the capitalization of days of the week is a crucial aspect of English grammar and writing. This article has provided a comprehensive guide, covering definitions, structural breakdowns, examples, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises.
By understanding that days of the week are proper nouns and should always be capitalized, you can ensure clarity and professionalism in your written communication.
Remember to consistently apply the rules you’ve learned and pay attention to detail in your writing. Practice identifying and correcting common mistakes to reinforce your understanding.
With these skills, you’ll be well-equipped to write accurately and confidently in any context. Continue to review and practice these concepts to solidify your understanding and improve your overall writing proficiency.