What do you not capitalize in titles? This is a common question among writers, editors, and anyone who deals with creating headings or titles for documents, books, or online content. Proper capitalization in titles is essential for maintaining consistency and readability, but it can also be quite confusing if you’re not sure of the rules. In this article, we’ll explore the key guidelines to help you determine what should and shouldn’t be capitalized in titles.
Titles can vary greatly in style and format, from formal academic papers to casual social media posts. However, there are some general rules that apply to most situations. One of the most important rules to remember is that only the first word, the last word, and any proper nouns should be capitalized in a title. This rule applies to both sentence-style titles and those that are written in sentence fragments.
First, let’s discuss the first word. Regardless of whether the title begins with a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb, the first word should always be capitalized. For example, “The Great Gatsby” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” both follow this rule. However, if the title is a question, the first word should still be capitalized, as in “What Happens to the Mouse?”
The last word in a title should also be capitalized, regardless of its part of speech. This is true even if the last word is a preposition or conjunction. For instance, “The Cat in the Hat” and “The Night Before Christmas” both adhere to this rule.
Next, we come to proper nouns. These are names of specific people, places, organizations, and things. Proper nouns should always be capitalized in titles. For example, “The White House,” “Mount Everest,” and “Apple Inc.” are all proper nouns that should be capitalized.
However, not all nouns are proper nouns. Common nouns, which refer to general categories of people, places, or things, do not need to be capitalized in titles unless they are the first word or the last word. For example, “The Great Gatsby” does not capitalize “Gatsby” because it is a common noun, but “The Gatsby” would be incorrect because “Gatsby” is not the first word.
Another important rule to consider is the capitalization of articles, conjunctions, and prepositions. In most cases, these words should not be capitalized unless they are the first or last word in the title. For example, “The Cat in the Hat” does not capitalize “in” or “the,” but “A Christmas Carol” does capitalize “A” because it is the first word.
It’s also worth noting that some style guides have specific rules for capitalizing titles. For example, the MLA style guide recommends capitalizing the first and last words of a title, as well as all principal words that contain four or more letters. On the other hand, the APA style guide suggests capitalizing only the first word, the last word, and all principal words.
In conclusion, understanding what not to capitalize in titles is crucial for maintaining clarity and consistency in your writing. By following the general rules of capitalizing the first word, the last word, and proper nouns, and being mindful of the capitalization of articles, conjunctions, and prepositions, you can ensure that your titles are both effective and readable. Remember to consult the specific style guide relevant to your field or publication to ensure compliance with their specific guidelines.
