When it comes to writing titles, capitalization can be a tricky subject. Not only does it help make the title more attractive and professional, but it also helps to make the title clear and easy to read.
In this blog post, we will explore the main rules for capitalising titles, including the capitalisation of the first word, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions, as well as special cases such as foreign words, acronyms, proper nouns and brand names.
We will also cover the capitalisation of subtitles and quotes within titles. By the end of this post, you’ll clearly understand how to capitalise titles correctly and create professional and attractive titles that are easy to read and understand.
Whether you’re a writer, editor, or simply someone who wants to ensure their titles are correctly capitalised, this post is for you.
Overview of the main rules for capitalising titles
The main rules for capitalising titles are as follows:
| Capitalise the first word of the title, regardless of its part of speech. |
| Capitalise nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions. |
| Do not capitalise prepositions, conjunctions, or articles, unless they are the first or last word of the title. |
| Capitalise subtitles, which come after a colon or a dash in a title. |
| Capitalise quotations, both the first word of the quotation and the first word after the quotation marks. |
| According to your style guide, handle special cases, such as foreign words and acronyms. |
Some style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising titles, but most follow the general principles outlined above.
Additionally, capitalisation rules might vary across different genres, such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc.
Why should the first word of a title always be capitalised?
The first word of the title should always capitalise the first word of a title because it is a standard convention in the English language. Capitalising the first word of a title helps to make the title more noticeable and to set it apart from the rest of the text. Capitalising the first word of a title also gives it more emphasis and draws attention to it.
This is particularly important for titles of books, articles, and blog posts, as it can help to attract readers and increase visibility.
Furthermore, capitalising the first word of a title also helps to make it clear that the title is a proper noun and should be treated as such.
This helps avoid confusion for the reader, as it may not be clear what words should be emphasised or taken as proper nouns.
Capitalising the first word of a title is a standard convention in the English language that helps to make the title more noticeable, gives it more emphasis and makes it clear that the title is a proper noun.
Examples of titles with the first word capitalised
Titles are like the first impression of a book, article, or blog post; they must be striking and memorable.
One of the critical elements of making a title stand out is capitalising the first word of it.
This simple yet powerful convention can make your title more noticeable, emphasise its importance and make it clear that the title is a proper noun.
Think of it like this: Imagine browsing through a bookstore and seeing two books with very similar titles. But one has the first word capitalised, and the other doesn’t.
Which one would you pick? The capitalised one, of course! It stands out, looks more professional, and catches your eye.
Here are some examples of classic titles that have stood the test of time and have the first word capitalised:
“The Great Gatsby”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Pride and Prejudice”, “The Cat in the Hat”, “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, and many more.
These titles are not only memorable but also have become literary masterpieces.
Capitalising the first word of a title is a simple yet powerful technique that can help make your title stand out and be more memorable.
So, next time you’re thinking about creating a title, remember to capitalise the first word of it!
Capitalisation of Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, and Subordinating Conjunctions
In addition to capitalising the first word of a title, it is also a standard convention to capitalise nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions within a title.
This helps to emphasise important words and make the title more readable.
Nouns are words that name a person, place, thing, or idea, such as “book”, “dog”, “city”, or “love”.
Pronouns are words that take the place of a noun, such as “he”, “she”, “it”, “them”, and “mine”.
Adjectives are words that describe a noun or pronoun, such as “big”, “red”, or “happy”.
Verbs are words that express an action or state of being, such as “run”, “is”, and “was”.
Adverbs are words that describe a verb, adjective, or other adverbs, such as “quickly”, “well”, or “extremely”.
Subordinating conjunctions are words that connect a dependent clause to an independent clause, such as “because”, “although”, and “while”.
For example, in the title “The Cat in the Hat”, “Cat” and “Hat” are capitalised because they are nouns, and “in” is not capitalised because it is a preposition.
In the title “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Kill” is capitalised because it is a verb, “Mockingbird” is capitalised because it is a noun, and “To” and “a” are not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
We must remember that different style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising these parts of speech in titles.
Some style guides might have different rules for capitalising words such as “the” and “a” even when they are not the first word in the title.
Why Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, and Subordinating Conjunctions be capitalised in titles
Capitalising nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions in a title helps to emphasise important words and make the title more readable.
However, style guides might have slightly different rules for capitalising these parts of speech.
Examples of Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, and Subordinating Conjunctions titles with these words capitalised.
Here are some examples of titles with nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions capitalised:
- “The Cat in the Hat” – “Cat” and “Hat” are capitalised because they are nouns.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” – “Kill” is capitalised because it is a verb, and “Mockingbird” is capitalised because it is a noun.
- “Pride and Prejudice” – “Pride” and “Prejudice” are capitalised because they are nouns.
- “The Great Gatsby” – “Great” is capitalised because it is an adjective.
- “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” – “Adventures” and “Finn” are capitalised because they are nouns.
- “The Catcher in the Rye” – “Catcher” is capitalised because it is a noun.
- “The Picture of Dorian Gray” – “Picture” and “Dorian” and “Gray” are capitalised because they are nouns.
- “The Diary of a Young Girl” – “Diary” and “Girl” are capitalised because they are nouns.
- “The Old Man and the Sea” – “Old” and “Man” and “Sea” are capitalised because they are nouns.
- “The Color Purple” – “Color” and “Purple” are capitalised because they are nouns.
As you can see from these examples, the titles have nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions capitalised, making the titles more readable and informative.
Capitalisation of Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Articles
In general, prepositions, conjunctions, and articles are only capitalised in titles if they are the first or last words of the title.
This standard English language convention helps make the title more readable and consistent with the rest of the text.
Prepositions are words that indicate the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence, such as “in”, “on”, “at”, or “with”.
Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses, such as “and”, “or”, and “but”.
Articles are words that indicate the presence of a noun, such as “a”, “an”, and “the”.
For example, in the title “The Cat in the Hat”, “in” and “the” are not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
In the title “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “to” and “a” are not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
It’s worth noting that some style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in titles.
Some style guides might have different rules for capitalising words such as “the” and “a” even when they are not the first word in the title.
In short, prepositions, conjunctions, and articles are generally not capitalised in titles unless they are the first or last words of the title.
This standard English language convention helps make the title more readable and consistent with the rest of the text.
However, style guides might have slightly different rules for capitalising these parts of speech.
Why Capitalization of Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Articles should not be capitalised in titles
There are several reasons why We should refrain from capitalising prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in titles.
First, capitalising these words would make the title less readable and more difficult to understand.
Lowercasing prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in titles make them clearer and easier to understand, as these words are not typically considered necessary in the title.
Correctly capitalising titles makes them more attractive and professional. Lowercasing prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in titles are correct, as these words are not typically considered important in the title.
Proper capitalisation is a language convention; not following it can make the title look unprofessional or sloppy.
Third, capitalising prepositions, conjunctions, and articles would create a level of inconsistency with the rest of the text, making the title less coherent and more challenging to understand.
Correct capitalisation makes titles more readable, attractive, and coherent. Lowercasing prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in titles are proper, as these words are not typically considered necessary in the title. Capitalising them would create an inconsistency with the rest of the text.
Examples of titles with these words not capitalised
Here are some examples of titles with prepositions, conjunctions, and articles not capitalised:
- “The Cat in the Hat” – “in” and “the” is not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” – “to” and “a” are not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
- “The Great Gatsby” – “the” is not capitalised because it is an article.
- “Pride and Prejudice” – “and” is not capitalised because it is a conjunction.
- “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” – “of” is not capitalised because it is a preposition.
- “The Catcher in the Rye” – “in” and “the” is not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
- “The Picture of Dorian Gray” – “of” is not capitalised because it is a preposition.
- “The Diary of a Young Girl” – “of” and “a” are not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
- “The Old Man and the Sea” – “and” and “the” are not capitalised because they are conjunctions and articles, respectively.
- “A Tale of Two Cities” – “of” and “a” are not capitalised because they are prepositions and articles, respectively.
As you can see from these examples, the titles have prepositions, conjunctions, and articles not capitalised, making the titles more readable and consistent with the rest of the text.
Capitalisation of Subtitles
Subtitles are additional phrases or clauses that come after a colon or a dash in a title. They provide further information about the main title and can help make it more informative.
In general, subtitles should be capitalised. This is a standard convention in the English language.
For example, in the title “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of Mischief and Fun”, “A Story of Mischief and Fun” is the subtitle and is capitalised. Similarly, in the title “To Kill a Mockingbird – A Novel of Race and Justice”, “A Novel of Race and Justice” is the subtitle and is capitalised.
It’s important to note that different style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising subtitles. Some style guides might have different rules for capitalising the first word after the colon or dash.
In short, subtitles should be capitalised, a standard English convention that helps make the title more informative. However, different style guides might have slightly different rules for capitalising subtitles.
How to capitalise subtitles within a title
Capitalising subtitles within a title is a simple process that can help to make the title more informative and readable.
First, when creating a title with a subtitle, use a colon or dash to separate the main title from the subtitle. For example, “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of Mischief and Fun” or “To Kill a Mockingbird – A Novel of Race and Justice.”
Second, capitalise the first word of the subtitle, regardless of its part of speech. This helps to emphasise the important words in the subtitle and make the title more readable. For example, “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of Mischief and Fun” or “To Kill a Mockingbird – A Novel of Race and Justice.”
Third, Capitalise all the other words of the subtitle: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions. This helps to emphasise the important words in the subtitle and make the title more readable. For example, “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of Mischief and Fun” or “To Kill a Mockingbird – A Novel of Race and Justice.”
Finally, be consistent and follow the same capitalisation rules for the subtitle as you would for any other part of the title.
Note: Different style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising subtitles. Some style guides might have different rules for capitalising the first word after the colon or dash.
In short, to capitalise subtitles within a title, use a colon or dash to separate the main title from the subtitle, capitalise the first word of the subtitle and the words that are nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions, and be consistent and follow the same capitalisation rules for the subtitle as you would for any other part of the title.
Examples of titles with subtitles
Here are some examples of titles with subtitles:
- “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of Mischief and Fun”
- “To Kill a Mockingbird – A Novel of Race and Justice”
- “The Great Gatsby: A Study of the Roaring Twenties”
- “Pride and Prejudice: A Classic Love Story”
- “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Coming of Age Tale”
- “The Catcher in the Rye: A Portrait of Adolescence”
- “The Picture of Dorian Gray: A Study of Vanity and Corruption”
- “The Diary of a Young Girl: The True Story of Anne Frank”
- “The Old Man and the Sea: A Story of Perseverance and Triumph”
- “A Tale of Two Cities: A Novel of the French Revolution”
As you can see from these examples, the titles have subtitles that provide additional information about the main title and are capitalised, making the titles more informative and readable.
Capitalisation of Quotations
When capitalising titles in quotation marks, it depends on the style guide you are following. Still, generally, the first word of the title within the quotation marks is capitalised, regardless of whether it is an article, preposition, or any other part of speech.
For example, in the title “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of “Mischief and Fun”, the first word of the quotation mark “Mischief” is capitalised.
It’s worth noting that style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising titles within quotation marks. For instance, in the Chicago Manual of Style and The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, the first word of the title within quotation marks should always be capitalised. But in The Associated Press Stylebook, it should be lowercase if it’s not the first word of the sentence.
Capitalising titles within quotation marks depends on the style guide you follow. Still, the title’s first word within quotation marks should be capitalised, regardless of whether it is an article, preposition, or any other part of speech. However, style guides might have slightly different rules for capitalising titles within quotation marks.
Explanation of how to capitalise quotes within a title
Capitalising quotes within a title depends on the style guide you are following. Still, generally, the first word of the quote within the title should be capitalised, regardless of whether it is an article, preposition, or any other part of speech. This helps emphasise the quote’s important words and makes the title more readable.
Here are some examples of how to capitalise quotes within a title:
- “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of “Mischief and Fun” – the first word of the quote “Mischief” is capitalised.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird – A Novel of “Race and Justice” – the first word of the quote “Race” is capitalised.
- “The Great Gatsby: A Study of the “Roaring Twenties’” – the first word of the quote “Roaring” is capitalised.
It’s worth noting that style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising quotes within a title. For instance, in the Chicago Manual of Style and The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, the first word of the quote within the title should always be capitalised. But in The Associated Press Stylebook, it should be lowercase if it’s not the first word of the sentence.
Capitalising quotes within a title depends on the style guide you follow. Still, generally, the first word of the quote within the title should be capitalised, regardless of whether it is an article, preposition, or any other part of speech. This helps emphasise the quote’s important words and makes the title more readable. However, style guides might have slightly different rules for capitalising quotes within a title.
Examples of titles with quotes
Here are some examples of titles with quotes:
- “The Cat in the Hat: A Story of “Mischief and Fun”
- “To Kill a Mockingbird – A Novel of “Race and Justice”
- “The Great Gatsby: A Study of the “Roaring Twenties”
- “Pride and Prejudice: A Classic Love Story “Of Sense and Sensibility”
- “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: “Mark Twain’s Masterpiece”
- “The Catcher in the Rye: A Portrait of Adolescence “Through the Eyes of Holden Caulfield”
- “The Picture of Dorian Gray: A Study of Vanity and Corruption “Through the Eyes of Oscar Wilde”
- “The Diary of a Young Girl: The True Story of Anne Frank “The Holocaust’s Hidden Child”
- “The Old Man and the Sea: A Story of Perseverance and Triumph “In the Face of Adversity”
- “A Tale of Two Cities: A Novel of the French Revolution “A Story of Love and Redemption”
As you can see from these examples, the titles have quotes that provide additional information about the main title and are capitalised, making the titles more informative and readable.
Capitalisation of Special Cases
A few exceptional cases when capitalising titles need to follow the general rules. These include:
- Capitalisation of acronyms and initialisms: Acronyms and initialisms are typically capitalised, regardless of their position in the title. For example, “NASA” in “NASA’s Mission to Mars” or “AIDS” in “AIDS Research and Treatment.”
- Capitalisation of proper nouns: Proper nouns, such as names of people, places, and organisations, should always be capitalised, regardless of their position in the title. For example, “John” in “John’s Diary” or “Paris” in “A Guide to Paris.”
- Capitalisation of brand names: Brand names, such as product names, company names, and trade names, should always be capitalised, regardless of their position in the title. For example, “Coca-Cola” in “The History of Coca-Cola” or “Google” in “The Impact of Google on Search Engine Optimisation.”
It’s important to note that different style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising exceptional cases.
In short, when capitalising exceptional cases, acronyms and initialisms, proper nouns and brand names should always be capitalised, regardless of their position in the title. However, style guides might have slightly different rules for capitalising on exceptional cases.
Explanation of how to handle exceptional cases, such as foreign words and acronyms
It depends on the style guide you are following when handling exceptional cases, such as foreign words and acronyms in titles. But in general, the following rules apply:
- Foreign words: Foreign words commonly used in English should be capitalised like any other. For example, “Bonjour” in “Bonjour, Comment ça va?” should be capitalised because it is a commonly used French word. But, foreign words that are not widely used in English should be left in their original form and capitalisation.
- Acronyms: Acronyms should be capitalised regardless of their position in the title. For example, “NASA” in “NASA’s Mission to Mars” or “AIDS” in “AIDS Research and Treatment.”
It’s worth noting that different style guides may have slight variations in their rules for handling exceptional cases, such as foreign words and acronyms in titles. For example, the Chicago Manual of Style and The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association recommend capitalising all words in acronyms. In contrast, The Associated Press Stylebook capitalises only the first word and any proper nouns in an abbreviation.
In short, handling exceptional cases such as foreign words and acronyms in titles depends on the style guide you are following. But in general, We should capitalise foreign words commonly used in English like any other English word, and acronyms should be capitalised regardless of their position in the title. However, different style guides have slightly different rules for handling exceptional cases in titles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, capitalising titles correctly is vital for making them readable and attractive. The main rules for capitalising titles include the following:
- Capitalising the first word of the title, regardless of its part of speech
- Capitalising nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions in the title
- Not capitalising prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in the title
- Capitalising subtitles, which are additional phrases or clauses that come after a colon or a dash in a title
- Capitalising quotes within a title
Additionally, there are exceptional cases, such as foreign words, acronyms, proper nouns and brand names, that should always be capitalised, regardless of their position in the title. However, different style guides may have slight variations in their rules for capitalising titles and exceptional cases, so it is crucial to be familiar with the style guide that you are using. Following these rules and guidelines will help you to create professional and attractive titles that are easy to read and understand.
