Do we capitalize can in a title

If you come across a title that contains a hyphenated compound with a prefix that cannot stand as a word on its own, the second element of the compound should be written in lowercase unless it is a proper noun or proper adjective. Examples of this include such words as "Co-owner" and "Re-elect.

When a spelled-out number or simple fraction is used in a title, both components require capitalization. You're getting to be an expert with title case capitalization, so instead of rehashing what we have already learned, let's move on, shall we? This is one of those picky rules that is easy to overlook. This rule will most often apply to the titles of academic works in the medical or scientific fields.

If you are working with a title that contains the scientific name of a species, then the second portion of the name must be lowercased. The rules outlined above are the usual conventions when it comes to title case capitalization rules, but make sure that you check the specific style guide that you are using. In addition to formatting, many style guides have established their own rules for the proper use of title case. And though many of these style guides follow the basic rules outlined in this article, there are some variations that you definitely must consider.

For example, remember the previous point about prepositions always being written in lowercase? Well, let's compare two style guides to clarify some of the differences that exist.

According to The Chicago Manual of Style 8. However, some style guides allow words that are longer than five letters to be capitalized such as the style guide of the Associated Press. Here are some useful links that provide more information on the rules for title case capitalization according to various style guides:.

Though properly capitalizing a title of your own might be difficult, we hope that this guide has eliminated some of the confusion regarding what to capitalize in a title. The majority of the rules are pretty straightforward, but others such as the capitalization of prepositions vary among style guides. Make sure you know which style guide you want to use and that you stick to it.

Scribendi's in-house editors work with writers from all over the globe to perfect their writing. They know that no piece of writing is complete without a professional edit, and they love to see a good piece of writing transformed into a great one.

Scribendi's in-house editors are unrivaled in both experience and education, having collectively edited millions of words and obtained nearly 20 degrees. They love consuming caffeinated beverages, reading books of various genres, and relaxing in quiet, dimly lit spaces. English is not my first language. I need English editing and proofreading so that I sound like a native speaker. I need to have my journal article, dissertation, or term paper edited and proofread, or I need help with an admissions essay or proposal.

I have a novel, manuscript, play, or ebook. I need editing, copy editing, proofreading, a critique of my work, or a query package. I need editing and proofreading for my white papers, reports, manuals, press releases, marketing materials, and other business documents. I need to have my essay, project, assignment, or term paper edited and proofread.

I want to sound professional and to get hired. I have a resume, letter, email, or personal document that I need to have edited and proofread. Toggle navigation. Infographics Videos Podcasts Articles. Written by Scribendi Confused about what to capitalize in a title?

Download our capitalization rules guide If you're curious to learn more, download our guide to capitalization rules. Download our Capitalization Rules Guide. Make your writing shine with professional proofreading. These examples will show you:. In all three styles, you should not capitalize articles in the title unless they are the first or last word in the title. Articles include "the," "a," and "an," as you can see here:.

Short coordinating conjunctions like "and," "but," "or," "for," or "nor" are lowercase in titles in all three styles. Here are a few examples:. While you will find similarities between each guide, it's important to pay attention to their differences.

These are the specific rules and special cases you should consider for each style. In the AP Stylebook, all words with three letters or fewer are lowercase in a title. However, if any of those short words are verbs e. In Chicago style, all prepositions are lowercase unless they are the first or last word of the title. These include the lengthier ones, such as "between," "among," and "throughout. In MLA style, words with three letters or fewer are always lowercase.

The exception here is if they are the first or last word of the title. In sentence case, the title is written as if it were a sentence. This is considered a more casual style and is commonly used in newspapers and on the web for headline capitalization.

There are a couple reasons why writers choose sentence case over title case:. Ordinary nouns and pronouns are not capitalized in sentence case. However, proper nouns within the title are still capitalized:. One of the complexities of the English language is that, for every rule you learn, there's probably an exception. Here are some advanced rules for title capitalization. Capitalize subsequent elements unless they are articles, prepositions, or coordinating conjunctions and, but, for, or, nor :.

Do not capitalize the second element if the first element is a prefix that could not stand alone by itself such as anti- or pre-. An open compound comes to life when a modifying adjective is used in conjunction with a noun. This creates a new noun. Hopefully, warning bells will signal in your mind, as nouns are almost always capitalized. Both Chicago and AP Stylebook guidelines say you should capitalize the first word after a colon in title case:. In sentence case, you should capitalize the first word after a colon if it begins an independent clause.

In sentence case do not capitalize the first word after a colon if the clause cannot stand alone. Barr, C. Style Guide, St. CC BY 2. Her popular LinkedIn Learning courses help people write better to communicate better. Jump to Navigation. Capitalizing Titles.

Which words should you capitalize? By Mignon Fogarty Grammar Girl. June 9, We are currently experiencing playback issues on Safari. If you would like to listen to the audio, please use Google Chrome or Firefox. As an Amazon Associate and a Bookshop. About the Author. Follow Facebook Linkedin Pinterest. Subscribe Podcast Spotify Google Stitcher. You May Also Like