Capitalization Conundrum- Navigating the Rules for ‘Should That’ in Title Formatting

Should that be capitalized in a title? This question often arises when individuals are crafting headlines, titles, or headings for various written materials. Understanding the rules of capitalization in titles is crucial to maintain clarity, professionalism, and consistency in written communication. In this article, we will explore the guidelines for capitalizing words in titles and help you determine whether “that” should be capitalized or not.

The first step in deciding whether to capitalize a word in a title is to identify if it is a noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, or adverb. Typically, the first word, any proper nouns, and the last word in a title are always capitalized. However, when it comes to pronouns like “that,” the rules are a bit more nuanced.

In most cases, pronouns such as “that,” “this,” “these,” and “those” are not capitalized in titles. This is because they are functioning as determiners or pronouns within the title, rather than as the main subject or object. For example, in the title “That Book Was a Page-Turner,” the word “that” is used as a determiner to specify the book being discussed. Therefore, it should not be capitalized.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. If the pronoun “that” is being used to refer to a specific person, place, or thing, it should be capitalized. For instance, in the title “That Company is Leading the Industry,” the word “that” is referring to a specific company, making it a proper noun and thus requiring capitalization.

To summarize, when determining whether “that” should be capitalized in a title, consider the following guidelines:

1. If “that” is a pronoun used as a determiner or to refer to a general subject, it should not be capitalized.
2. If “that” is a pronoun referring to a specific person, place, or thing, it should be capitalized.

By following these rules, you can ensure that your titles are clear, professional, and grammatically correct. Remember, the key to proper title capitalization lies in understanding the context and function of the words within the title.