Should Days like Monday Tuesday Be Capitalized?

TL;DR

Yes, days of the week like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday should always be capitalized. Days of the week are proper nouns in English, which means they must begin with a capital letter regardless of where they appear in a sentence. This rule applies across all major style guides including AP Style, Chicago Manual of Style, and MLA.

Whether you are writing a professional email, a cover letter, an academic paper, or a casual text message, days of the week require capitalization. There are no exceptions to this rule in standard English writing.

Key Takeaways

• Always capitalize: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are proper nouns.

• No exceptions for position: Whether at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, days remain capitalized.

• Abbreviations too: Shortened forms like Mon., Tue., Wed. also require capitalization.

• All style guides agree: AP Style, Chicago, MLA, and APA all require days to be capitalized.

• Same as months: Days follow the same capitalization rules as months—always capitalized.

Why Are Days of the Week Capitalized?

Days of the week are classified as proper nouns in English grammar. Proper nouns name specific, unique entities—whether people, places, or specific units of time. Just as you capitalize names of people (Sarah, John) and places (Paris, New York), you capitalize days because they refer to specific, named periods.

The seven days have origins in ancient cultures. Many derive from Norse and Roman mythology: Sunday from the Sun, Monday from the Moon, Tuesday from Tyr, Wednesday from Woden (Odin), Thursday from Thor, Friday from Frigg, and Saturday from Saturn. Because these are specific names with historical significance, they are treated as proper nouns.

Understanding this classification helps you remember the rule. When writing formal letters or job applications, correct capitalization demonstrates attention to detail.

The Grammar Rule Explained

English capitalization rules distinguish between common nouns and proper nouns. Common nouns refer to general categories (day, week, month), while proper nouns refer to specific, named instances (Monday, January, Easter).

Proper Nouns vs. Common Nouns

This distinction is important for professional writing where grammatical accuracy reflects your communication skills.

Position in a Sentence Does Not Matter

Days are capitalized regardless of where they appear:

• Beginning: "Monday is my favorite day."

• Middle: "The meeting is scheduled for Thursday afternoon."

• End: "Please submit your report by Friday."

• After comma: "If it rains, Wednesday's event will be canceled."

All Days of the Week: Correct Capitalization

Here is every day with correct capitalization and example sentences. This reference is useful when writing professional emails or starting emails properly.

What Major Style Guides Say

Every major English style guide agrees: days of the week must be capitalized.

AP Style

The AP Stylebook, used by most journalists, clearly states that days should be capitalized. Abbreviations: Sun., Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat.

"Capitalize the days of the week. Do not abbreviate except in tabular format."

— AP Stylebook

Chicago Manual of Style

Chicago Manual treats days as proper nouns requiring capitalization in all instances.

MLA and APA Style

Both MLA (humanities) and APA (social sciences) require days to be capitalized, regardless of sentence position.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding these mistakes is important for professional communication and cover letter writing.

Mistake 1: Lowercase Days

Incorrect: "Let's meet on tuesday for coffee."

Correct: "Let's meet on Tuesday for coffee."

Mistake 2: Lowercase Abbreviations

Incorrect: "The office is closed sat. and sun."

Correct: "The office is closed Sat. and Sun."

Mistake 3: Inconsistent Capitalization

Incorrect: "The schedule runs Monday through friday."

Correct: "The schedule runs Monday through Friday."

Mistake 4: Capitalizing 'Weekend'

Incorrect: "I prefer working on Weekdays."

Correct: "I prefer working on weekdays."

While specific day names are proper nouns, general terms like "weekend" and "weekday" are common nouns and remain lowercase.

Mistake 5: Confusion with Seasons

Days in Professional Writing

Correct capitalization is essential in professional contexts. Whether writing a cover letter or application letter, proper grammar enhances credibility.

In Cover Letters

When mentioning availability or interview dates:

"I am available for an interview on Tuesday or Thursday of next week."

"I can start as early as Monday, January 15th."

For perfectly formatted cover letters with correct grammar, try our AI cover letter generator.

In Business Emails

Professional emails require correct capitalization. When ending an email professionally, ensure days are properly capitalized:

Subject: Meeting Reschedule - Tuesday to Thursday

Hi Team,

Due to a conflict, I need to move our Monday meeting to Wednesday. Please confirm your availability.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

In Meeting Invitations

• "Weekly Team Sync - Every Tuesday at 10 AM"

• "Project Review - Friday, March 15th"

• "One-on-One Meeting - Monday Mornings"

Writing Dates with Days

When combining days with dates, proper formatting matters. This is important in formal letters and official documents.

Comma Placement

• Day before date: "Tuesday, March 15"

• Full format: "Tuesday, March 15, 2025"

• Day only: "The meeting is on Tuesday" (no comma)

Days in Different Languages

Capitalization rules vary by language:

When writing in English, always capitalize days regardless of your native language.

Expert Insights

"Proper capitalization is one of the first things employers notice in written communication. Errors with basic rules like capitalizing days suggest carelessness and can hurt your chances."

— Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Professor of Business Communication

"In my 20 years of reviewing resumes and cover letters, capitalization mistakes are surprisingly common. Getting it wrong signals a lack of attention to detail."

— James Rodriguez, Senior HR Director

"Grammar and spelling are non-negotiables in professional writing. Proper capitalization shows you care about quality."

— Lisa Chen, Hiring Manager

Related Capitalization Rules

Understanding day capitalization is part of mastering English writing. Here are related rules useful for good sentence starters and professional correspondence:

Months

Like days, months are always capitalized: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

Job Titles

Job title capitalization is complex. See our guide on whether job titles should be capitalized.

Holidays

Named holidays are capitalized: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter. However, "the holidays" remains lowercase.

Seasons

Seasons are NOT capitalized: spring, summer, fall, winter. Only capitalize when part of a proper name (Winter Olympics).

Quick Reference Table

Proofreading Tips

Before sending any document, follow these strategies. These also apply when reviewing cover letters and application letters.

1. Search for day names: Use find function to verify each day's capitalization.

2. Check abbreviations: Ensure Mon, Tue, Wed are capitalized.

3. Review dates: Any date mentioning a day should be properly capitalized.

4. Read aloud: Helps catch errors your eyes might skip.

5. Use grammar tools: Grammarly and similar tools flag capitalization errors.

Days in Digital Communication

Professional Emails

Always capitalize days in professional emails, including subject lines:

Subject: Project Update - Due Friday

Please submit all updates by Thursday evening.

Calendar Events

• "Team Meeting - Tuesday, 2 PM"

• "Deadline: Report Due Friday"

• "Client Call - Wednesday Morning"

Text Messages

While informal, maintaining capitalization shows professionalism:

• Correct: "Can we meet Tuesday instead of Monday?"

• Also correct: "Tuesday works for me."

Days in Academic and Formal Writing

Academic papers, research documents, and formal reports require precise capitalization. Whether writing for publication or submitting coursework, correct day capitalization is essential. Journals and academic institutions expect adherence to style guides, and capitalization errors can affect credibility. When referencing study dates, deadlines, or scheduling information in academic contexts, always capitalize days: "The study was conducted on Tuesday, March 15" or "Submissions are due every Friday."

For students writing application letters or academic essays, attention to capitalization reflects the care and diligence expected in scholarly work. Similarly, when preparing scholarship applications, correct grammar throughout—including proper day capitalization—demonstrates the professionalism that selection committees look for.

Special Cases and Edge Scenarios

Days in Titles and Headlines

In titles and headlines, days of the week follow standard title case rules while maintaining their required capitalization. Whether using sentence case or title case, days always start with a capital letter. Examples include: "Friday Sales Report Shows Growth," "Monday Morning Motivation Tips," and "What to Expect on Wednesday."

Days in Compound Words

When days appear in compound words or phrases, they retain capitalization. Examples include: "Monday-morning meeting," "Friday-night plans," and "Sunday-best outfit." The day portion remains capitalized even when hyphenated with other words.

Days in Quotes and Dialogue

When quoting speech or writing dialogue, days retain their capitalization. Whether in fiction, journalism, or reporting, the rules remain consistent: "She said she would call on Wednesday" and "He asked if Monday worked better" both require capitalized days.

Days in Legal Documents

Legal documents, contracts, and official communications require meticulous grammar. Days appearing in effective dates, deadlines, or scheduling clauses must be capitalized: "This agreement shall commence on Monday, April 1, 2025" and "Payment is due every Friday following the invoice date."

Teaching Day Capitalization

For educators and parents teaching English writing conventions, day capitalization is a fundamental concept. Children typically learn this rule in elementary school as part of proper noun instruction. The key teaching points include: days are names (like people names), names always start with capital letters, and this rule never changes regardless of where the day appears in a sentence.

Practicing with real-world examples helps reinforce the concept. Students might write about their weekly schedule ("On Monday, I have math class. Tuesday is art day.") or plan activities ("We visit Grandma every Sunday"). These exercises build automatic correct usage.

Impact on Professional Reputation

In professional contexts, grammar errors—including capitalization mistakes—can significantly impact how others perceive you. Studies suggest that hiring managers and recruiters often use writing samples to assess candidates, and basic errors like lowercase days can signal carelessness. When submitting cover letters for teaching positions, customer service roles, or any other job, ensuring flawless grammar demonstrates the attention to detail employers value.

Business communications with clients, partners, and colleagues also reflect on your professionalism. A simple email scheduling a meeting for "tuesday" instead of "Tuesday" might seem minor, but repeated errors create a cumulative impression of sloppiness. Using tools like our AI cover letter generator ensures professional-quality writing without grammatical oversights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are days of the week always capitalized?

Yes. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are proper nouns and must always be capitalized, regardless of position in a sentence.

Should I capitalize days in text messages?

While texts are informal, it is correct to capitalize days. In professional contexts, always capitalize. In casual texts, lowercase is more forgivable but technically incorrect.

Are abbreviated days capitalized?

Yes. Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat., and Sun. all require capitalization.

Do I capitalize 'weekday' or 'weekend'?

No. These are common nouns and remain lowercase unless starting a sentence.

Why are days proper nouns?

Days name specific time periods derived from celestial bodies and mythological figures (Sun, Moon, Tyr, Thor, etc.), giving them proper noun status.

Do all languages capitalize days?

No. English and German do, but Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese do not.

Should I capitalize 'tomorrow' or 'yesterday'?

No. These are relative time references, not proper nouns.

How do I format dates with days?

Standard format: Day, Month Date, Year (Tuesday, March 15, 2025). For more on formal formats, see our formal letter guide.

Do I capitalize days in email subjects?

Yes. Email subject lines should use proper capitalization. See our guide on email subject lines.

What about 'judgment day'?

Common phrases remain lowercase. However, official holiday names containing "Day" are capitalized: Independence Day, Labor Day.

Are seasons capitalized like days?

No. Seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter) are common nouns. Only capitalize when part of proper nouns: Winter Olympics, Spring Break.

How do I remember this rule?

Think of days as names. Just as you capitalize "Sarah" or "Paris," capitalize "Monday" or "Friday." They are names of specific time periods.

Conclusion

The rule is simple: days of the week—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—should always be capitalized. This applies to full forms, abbreviations, and any context.

Key points:

• Days are proper nouns: They name specific periods, like names of people or places.

• Position does not matter: Capitalize at beginning, middle, or end of sentences.

• Abbreviations count: Mon., Tue., Wed. all require capitals.

• All style guides agree: AP, Chicago, MLA, and APA require day capitalization.

• Professional impact: Correct capitalization demonstrates attention to detail.

When writing professional cover letters or job applications, proper capitalization reflects your communication skills. These seemingly small details contribute to the impression you make on employers.

For more help with professional writing, explore our cover letter templates or use our AI-powered cover letter generator to create perfectly formatted documents. We also offer guides on professional email etiquette, how to start emails, nursing cover letters, and more.

Whether scheduling a meeting for Tuesday, setting a Friday deadline, or mentioning your Monday start date, now you know: always capitalize days of the week. It is a small detail that speaks volumes about your professionalism.