capital/capitol/Capitol

I have a capital idea. Let's clarify the proper way to use this trio.

Capital refers to something that is "the best" or "the most important." You can have a capital letter, a state capital (as in a city), capital punishment, or, as in my case, a capital idea.

The word capitol (without a capital letter) is the actual building that houses the state legislature. Senators called an emergency meeting at the capitol in the capital city of Des Moines.

Then we have Capitol (with a capital letter). Yikes! I'm tired of saying capital, capitol, and Capitol. In this instance, we are referring to the building that houses the United States legislature in Washington, D.C.

Representative Smith left the Capitol to head back to the capitol building in the capital city of his home state.

Come to think of it, maybe this wasn't such a capital idea after all.