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When to capitalize the seasons
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Comments
Please do not hesitate to contact us at noslangues.ourlanguages@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca if you have any comments or suggestions about this feature.
Question:
I would like to know if the first letter of the seasons should be capitalized or not. I have come across both ways of writing them.
Answer:
The Canadian Style explains that the seasons are not capitalized unless they are part of an official name or personified (in poetry).
So, do not capitalize when referring to a season in general:
Cynthia loves to wear wool sweaters in the winter.
Capitalize when a season is part of an official name:
The Winter Palace in Russia was built as a residence for the tsars.
Capitalize when a season is personified (in poetry):
We will muse on Summer's ploys:
How no partial gifts are hers,
But now the palms and now the first
Are dozed with kisses balmy-sweet
From lips which breathe a pulsing heat.
— Charles Mair
