How to capitalize titles

General Rule: Title Case

As discussed there are some exceptions to the rule; however, here is one general rule that you can apply for capitalizing titles. Capitalize the first, last and any important words in a title, which is known as Title Case or Headline Style.

In Titles: Do Capitalize

Generally, these parts of speech are capitalized in titles.

• Nouns (man, bus, book)
• Adjectives (angry, lovely, small)
• Verbs (run, eat, sleep)
• Adverbs (slowly, quickly, quietly)
• Pronouns (he, she, it)
• Subordinating conjunctions (as, because, that)

In Titles: Do Not Capitalize

As you have probably noticed “small’ words are generally lowercase in titles, unless they are the first or last words in a title. However, some title styles that do capitalize these words.

Generally, we do not capitalize:

• Articles: a, an, the

• Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, or, for, nor, etc.

• Prepositions (fewer than five letters): on, at, to, from, by, etc.

When in doubt and you do not have a reference guide in front of you, here is one general rule to remember recommended by The U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual: "Capitalize all words in titles of publications and documents, except a, an, the, at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up, and, as, but, it, or, and nor."