i know i sound like a elementary school language arts teacher. but please.
Captal with an A and Capitol with an O are two different words. (Merrian Webster article on clarification between the two.) Capitol has a very narrow meaning (usually a specific building) while capital has several different meanings and is the more commonly used word.
I don't know exactly why Collins chose to call it the Capitol with an O, but I suspect it is to make the Capitol itself sound more important than it is. This is the place where government is done. The Districts? Nothing so important is done there! (Nevermind the food and technology and power is important!)
Also capitol with an o comes from Latin. Capitolium was the name of the temple of Jupiter at Rome on the Capitoline (see? o) hill. Thus the Capitol associates itself with Rome, the temple of the gods, and--the building I am most used to seeing called "the Capitol"-- Capitol Hill in America. (Aka "The Capitol was stormed on January 6th.")
But most people are more familiar with being taught the captials of each state. "I live in New York. The captial is Albany." So I understand why you might think the capital of Panem is the Captial, but it's not. It's the Capitol.
I have seen several fics (I don't want to call anyone out) doing this. I apologize for being pedantic but you are not being pompous and self important enough.
(And now that I type this post out I bet I will find an incorrect usage in my fics, but don't do what I do. Do as I say. /old lady)
