Title Capitalization Tool

What is Title Capitalization?

Title Capitalization is a textual formatting technique used to determine which words in a title should be capitalized according to various style guidelines.

It's an important aspect of writing that impacts the readability and appearance of headlines, titles, and headers across different forms of content.

Proper capitalization ensures titles are professional, consistent, and comply with stylistic standards.

The basic principles involve capitalizing major words in a title, including the first and last words, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. The specifics can vary significantly between different style guides, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, and others, making it a confusing aspect for many writers and editors.

Examples of title capitalization

Using the Chicago Manual of Style, titles are capitalized as follows:

• Original text: "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
• Title Capitalization: "The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog"

Other formatting types might result in:

• Words Lower Case: "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
• Words Upper Case: "The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog"
• All Capitalized: "THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG"

Why you should focus on proper title capitalization

Accurate title capitalization plays a crucial role in various aspects, including:

• Consistency and Professionalism: Correct capitalization according to established style guides promotes a consistent and professional appearance across all written content.
• Reader Engagement: Titles with proper capitalization are more aesthetically pleasing and easier to read, which can positively influence reader engagement and interest.
• Adherence to Guidelines: In academic, journalistic, and professional writing, adhering to specific style guidelines is often required, making correct title capitalization a necessity.

How to use the title capitalization tool

Our Title Capitalizer simplifies the process of capitalizing titles, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.

1. Enter text: Type or paste your title into the title capitalizer.
2. See converted text: The capitalizer automatically applies the chosen capitalization style to your text.
3. Optional: Change formatting type: Select from Title Capitalization (using the Chicago Manual of Style), words lower case, Words Upper Case, or ALL CAPITALIZED according to your needs.
4. Click "Copy converted text" to copy to clipboard: Easily copy the correctly formatted title to use in your document.

What are the 10 rules of capitalization?

Here are 10 more or less standard rules to follow when working with title capitalization:

1. Capitalize the first word of a sentence: Always begin a sentence with a capital letter.
2. Capitalize proper nouns: Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, or things. For example, "John," "London," and “Eiffel Tower” should always be capitalized.
3. Capitalize titles and headings: When writing titles or headings for articles, books, or sections, capitalize the main words and important nouns. For example, "The Theory of Relativity."
4. Capitalize days of the week and months: Days of the week and months should always be capitalized. For example, “Saturday” and "December."
5. Capitalize nationalities, languages, and religions: Words like "German," "English," and “Buddhism” should be capitalized.
6. Capitalize the pronoun "I": The pronoun “I” should always be capitalized, regardless of its position in a sentence.
7. Capitalize important words in titles: Articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions (e.g., "the," "and," "in") are usually not capitalized in titles unless they are the first or last word. Other important words in titles should be capitalized.
8. Capitalize specific historical events and documents: Examples include "World War II," "Declaration of Independence," and "Magna Carta."
9. Capitalize brand names and trademarks: Capitalize brand names and trademarks to give them the appropriate recognition. For example, “Nike” and "iPhone."
10. Capitalize abbreviations and acronyms: Capitalize all letters in abbreviations and acronyms. For example, “NASA” and "DVD."

Follow these rules for accurate and consistent title capitalization. Review industry or publication guidelines for additional rules.

What words do you not capitalize in a title?

When crafting a title where you want to capitalize it, there are certain words, commonly referred to as "minor words," that should be left in lowercase. These include articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, or), prepositions (in, on, of, etc.), and short coordinating conjunctions (for, nor, so, yet, etc.).

By keeping these words in lowercase, you adhere to proper title capitalization rules and ensure a polished and cohesive presentation.