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Q: A question for ESL teachers...
Why don't we capitalise names of the seasons - summer, winter, spring, autumn.... but, we capitalise the days of the week, the months of the year.. and of course, other unque names?
Obviously, answers of 'no why' are unacceptable!
10 years 6 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
'Cause seasons are not proper nouns, and days and months are named after the Norse gods, so they are proper nouns.
I do cap. seasons, and till now I didn't know that's not necessary.
icnif77:
I'm not that good!
Today is my off day, so I guess I had to 'teach' somebody some Grammar.
This Q is widely discussed on Internet.
Capital Letters and the Seasons
The four seasons are not normally written with capital letters. However, if a season is given a human trait (i.e., personified), then – under an old ruling – it can be given a capital letter.
Examples:
He was touched by Winter's icy breath. 
(winter given a human trait - use a capital letter) Where are you going this winter?
(no human trait - use a lowercase letter) The leaves had been subjected to Autumn's touch.
(human trait -A is correct) The trees were all the colours of autumn.
(no human trait -a is correct) This is the second time I have been skiing this Winter. 
(no human trait -W should be w)
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/capital_letters_spring_summer_autumn_winter_seasons.htm#7APxLAXcERfq3vmr.99
Shining_brow:
However, isn't a 'proper noun' almost an arbitrary feature? 'No', you say, but if days and months ARE, then logically, so should the seasons!! I'm not seeing a logical reason for why a season isn't considered to have a proper name!
icnif77:
Because sun and moon were considered gods, and days and months are named after the gods, and seasons aren't. Add-it: 'Go to Church, now!'
Shining_brow:
Months... while Jan - Aug are named after people/gods, Sept-Dec are purely numeric...
Seasons are not proper nouns (capitalized) because they are informal names for a period of time between solstices (Summer and Winter) and equinoxes (Spring and Autumnal) - note the caps there.
Sinobear:
THE Winter Solstice, THE Summer Solstice, THE Vernal Equinox, THE Autumnal Equinox.
...summer, winter, spring, autumn, equinox, solstice.
