The word "capitalized" can be written as /ˈkæpɪtəlaɪzd/. The initial sound is /k/, followed by the short vowel sound /æ/. The next sound is the voiceless consonant /p/ and the sound /ɪ/. After that, there is the voiceless alveolar fricative /t/ and the stressed vowel /ə/. The final letters are /l/, /aɪzd/, which represent the inflectional ending "-ized." The meaning of "capitalized" can refer to the act of writing a word with a capital letter or to turning an asset into capital.
"Capitalized" is a term that primarily pertains to finance and accounting, but it can also be used in other areas such as grammar and software development. In the financial context, it refers to the process of recording an expense or an asset as a capital expenditure, as opposed to an ordinary expense.
When an expense is capitalized, it means that its cost is spread over a longer period of time, usually multiple years, rather than being fully deducted from the company's income in the year it is incurred. This practice is generally applied to significant expenses that provide value and benefits beyond one accounting period, such as the purchase of long-term assets like buildings, machinery, or patents. By capitalizing these expenses, companies can match the cost with the revenue they generate over time, leading to a more accurate representation of the company's financial health.
Outside of the financial domain, "capitalized" can also refer to the act of writing or typing a word with its initial letter in uppercase, while the remaining letters are in lowercase. In grammar and formal writing, capitalization rules determine when to use uppercase letters, such as at the beginning of a sentence or for proper nouns. In software development, "capitalized" may describe a programming convention where certain letters or words are typed in capital letters to indicate their special significance or designation within the code.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "capitalized" derives from the Latin word "capitalis", which comes from "caput", meaning "head". In its original Latin form, the word referred to the head or top of something, such as a column or pilaster. Over time, "capitalis" evolved and took on several meanings, including "of the greatest importance" or "chief".
In the context of writing and typography, the term "capitalized" emerged in the early 19th century, referring to the practice of using capital or uppercase letters at the beginning of sentences, proper nouns, and titles. This usage is derived from the idea that uppercase letters were seen as more prominent, emphasizing their importance in written communication. Hence, "capitalized" came to signify the act of employing these prominent letters.