Be Capitalized Free — Should Autumn

Dear Sir or Madam, she wrote. For years I have believed that seasons are not proper nouns. But last night, I met autumn—no, Autumn—in the street. She wore gold on her sleeves and smelled of apples. And I realized: we capitalize what we respect, what we love, what we welcome like a guest. Autumn has a personality, a presence, a promise. She deserves the dignity of a capital letter.

The next morning, Clara sat at her desk. She opened the style guide, then closed it. She took out a fresh sheet of paper and wrote a letter to the editor of the grammar column she secretly admired. should autumn be capitalized

Perhaps grammar is not about correctness. Perhaps it is about attention. And Autumn, I think, has earned ours. Dear Sir or Madam, she wrote

Clara opened her mouth to explain grammar, but something stopped her. She looked at the drawing again. The capital A stood there, bold and bright, like a tiny crown on the season’s head. She wore gold on her sleeves and smelled of apples

She signed her name and, for the first time in her career, added a postscript:

P.S. I am capitalizing Autumn from now on. You can fire me if you like. But I suspect Autumn will still arrive, with or without your permission, and she will still be magnificent.