Mastering Title Capitalization: Navigating the Rules with Confidence

Understanding title capitalization rules is crucial for crafting polished and professional titles, whether for books, blog posts, articles, or various creative works. While navigating these rules may initially seem complex, breaking them down can simplify the process. Let’s explore the fundamental principles and some exceptions to guide you through the intricacies.

1. Capitalize the First and Last Words of a Title

The most straightforward rule: always capitalize the first and last words of a title. Regardless of the word’s length or grammatical function, this practice provides visual clarity and delineates the title’s boundaries.

Example: Andy Williams’s 1966 hit single, “Music to Watch Girls By”

2. Capitalize the First Word of the Subtitles

When a title includes a subtitle, the first word of the subtitle is also capitalized after a colon. This rule holds unanimous agreement across major style guides.

Example: Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar’s classic work, “The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination.”

3. Capitalize Verbs, Pronouns, Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs

Certain parts of speech are consistently capitalized in titles:

• Verbs: Including phrasal verbs, emphasizing the action aspect.
• Pronouns: Encompassing various types of pronouns.
• Nouns and Adjectives: All style guides agree on capitalizing these essential elements.
• Adverbs: Whether ending in -ly or not, all adverbs are capitalized.

Examples:

• “This Is How You Lose the Time War”
• “Their Eyes Were Watching God”
• “A Fairly Honourable Defeat”
• “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”

4. Don’t Capitalize Articles, Coordinating Conjunctions, or Prepositions

Avoid capitalizing articles (e.g., the, a), coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but), and prepositions (e.g., in, on) unless they are the first or last words of the title. This rule ensures consistency and readability.

Examples:

• “In Search of Lost Time”
• “Crime and Punishment”
• “The Catcher in the Rye”
• “Again, but Better”

5. Capitalize Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions, which introduce dependent clauses, are capitalized in titles. Coordinating conjunctions, in contrast, are not capitalized.

Examples:

• “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke”
• “As Good As Dead”
• “What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions”

6. Refer to Your Style Guide for Specifics

Different style guides may have nuanced variations in capitalization rules. For precise guidance, refer to the specific style guide relevant to your writing context. Here’s a brief overview of what commonly used style guides recommend:

• Chicago Manual of Style (CMS): Capitalize verbs, pronouns, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Don’t capitalize articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions, except if they are the first or last words of the title.
• Modern Languages Association (MLA): Similar to CMS, MLA advises capitalizing the same elements.
• American Psychological Association (APA): Capitalize the first and last words of a title, along with verbs, pronouns, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Additionally, capitalize words with more than four letters, including conjunctions and prepositions. Do not capitalize articles and prepositions shorter than four letters.
• Associated Press (AP) Stylebook: AP aligns with APA in capitalizing words with more than four letters, including conjunctions and prepositions. The first and last words of a title, along with verbs, pronouns, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, are capitalized.

Mastering title capitalization empowers you to create titles that are both grammatically correct and visually appealing. Whether you’re adhering to a specific style guide or crafting titles in a more general context, applying these rules will enhance the professionalism of your writing.