Many writers struggle with title capitalization because rules vary between style guides and feel inconsistent.
Understanding which words should not be capitalized in a title helps you appear polished, credible, and detail oriented.
| Title Word Type | Capitalize | Do Not Capitalize | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs | Yes | No | Include key concepts and actions |
| Articles (a, an, the) | No | Yes | Lowercase unless first word |
| Coordinating conjunctions (and, or, but) | No | Yes | Lowercase unless first word |
| Prepositions (in, on, at, between) | No | Yes | Lowercase regardless of length |
| Subordinating conjunctions (that, which, because) | No | Yes | Lowercase in the middle of a title |
capitalization rules across major style guides
Different style guides handle title capitalization in distinct ways, affecting headlines for web and print.
apa and chicago title case expectations
APA and Chicago recommend title case, which means capitalizing most words, including nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
associated press and modern language conventions
The Associated Press favors sentence case for news headlines, capitalizing only the first word and proper nouns, which suits online readability.
words that should never be capitalized in titles
Certain parts of speech almost always stay lowercase, even in title case, to maintain clarity and visual balance.
articles, coordinating conjunctions, and short prepositions
Keep articles like a, an, and the lowercase, along with coordinating conjunctions such as and, but, or, nor, for, yet, and so.
subordinating conjunctions and function words
Subordinating conjunctions like that, which, who, and because should remain lowercase unless they start the title.
exceptions and style guide variations
Knowing when to break standard lowercase rules ensures your titles remain both polished and adaptable.
first and last words always capitalized
Capitalize the first and last words of a title regardless of their part of speech, including short prepositions or conjunctions.
four letter or longer prepositions
Some guides capitalize prepositions with four or more letters, such as with, above, and between, even in otherwise lowercase environments.
optimizing titles for platforms and audiences
Adjusting title capitalization for SEO, branding, and reader expectations improves click-through and comprehension.
seo best practices for title capitalization
Use a clear pattern that balances keyword prominence with readability, favoring sentence case for many digital channels.
brand voice and visual consistency
Align your capitalization style with your brand guidelines so headlines feel familiar across articles and campaigns.
applying title capitalization rules consistently
Establishing clear habits for capitalization makes your titles faster to write and easier to audit.
- Follow a single style guide for consistency across platforms.
- Capitalize the first and last words, along with all nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
- Keep articles, coordinating conjunctions, and short prepositions lowercase.
- Review first and last words to ensure required capitalization is applied.
- Adjust for brand or platform exceptions while maintaining readability.
FAQ
Reader questions
should short prepositions always be lowercase in a title
Yes, keep prepositions like in, on, at, and to lowercase in most style guides unless they are the first or last word.
what if a preposition has four letters or more
Some style guides capitalize longer prepositions such as with, over, and between, so check your target style manual.
do i capitalize the word the in a headline
Generally, keep the lowercase even when it appears in the middle of a title, but capitalize it if it starts the title.
how should i handle but and or in titles
Treat these coordinating conjunctions as lowercase unless they begin the title, following most major style guides.