When and how to capitalize titles of works and titles of formal rank or professional status can remain a common question. We’ll focus on that topic today for additional clarity.<\/p>\n
(Note that style for capitalizing titles can vary among stylebooks and in-house style guidelines. What we share here offers a baseline that you can follow; the rules are not absolute. If you would like further insight into the subject, you can review our related topics using the links at the end of this article.)<\/p>\n
For titles of books, screenplays, stories, TV shows, songs, and so on, capitalize:<\/p>\n
first and last words<\/p>\n
all nouns, pronouns (including it<\/em>), verbs (including to be <\/em>verbs such as is<\/em>), adjectives, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions (e.g., whether, since, before<\/em>)<\/p>\n
longer prepositions (usually four or five letters and more based on preference, such as over <\/em>or between<\/em>)<\/p>\n
any word that follows a dash, colon, or question mark<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Do not capitalize the following unless they are the first or last words of the title:<\/p>\n
articles (e.g., a<\/em>, an<\/em>, the<\/em>)<\/p>\n
short conjunctions (e.g., and<\/em>, but<\/em>, yet<\/em>)<\/p>\n
short prepositions (e.g., in<\/em>, on<\/em>, at<\/em>)<\/p>\n
the word to<\/em> in infinitive phrases<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n\n\n
\n Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”<\/td>\n “Married with Children”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n For Whom the Bell Tolls<\/em><\/td>\n “The Boy Born to Run”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n To Kill a Mockingbird<\/em><\/td>\n “As Time Goes By”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/blockquote>\n If a title has a subtitle, use a colon after the main title and the same capitalization guidelines for the subtitle, including capitalizing the first and last words: My Climb up Mount Kilimanjaro: Lessons to Learn From<\/em>.<\/p>\n
If a title includes a hyphenated compound, capitalize the first word. Capitalize the following word if it is a noun or a proper adjective or if it is equal in importance to the first word.<\/p>\n
Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Building Your Company A-Team<\/u> <\/em>(noun)<\/p>\n
The<\/em> Spanish-American<\/u> War <\/em>(proper adjective)<\/p>\n
“Midwestern Bed-and-Breakfast<\/u> Getaways” (parallel words)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
A second word in a hyphenated compound that is descriptive in a title (i.e., an adjective) might not be capitalized: “Achieving an Iron-rich<\/u> Diet.”<\/p>\n
Capitalizing Titles: Formal Rank or Professional Status<\/h2>\n
Capitalize titles of honor or rank\u2014governmental, military, ecclesiastical, royal, or professional\u2014when they precede names. When these titles do not precede names, they are typically not capitalized.<\/p>\n
Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
President George Washington; George Washington, the president<\/p>\n
King Louis XIV; Louis XIV, the king<\/p>\n
Washington Governor Jay Inslee; Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington<\/p>\n
U.S. General William Y. Smith; William Y. Smith, a general in the U.S. military<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Also keep in mind that occupational descriptions differ from titles of rank or professional status. For example, we would write author Stephen King<\/em> but Senator Joseph Hill<\/em>, as well as football coach<\/em> Bobby Petrone <\/em>but Queen Elizabeth II.<\/em><\/p>\n
On occasion, we might capitalize an occupational title if it replaces a first name: professor Richard Drew <\/em>but Professor Drew.<\/em><\/p>\n
Capitalizing Titles: Direct Address<\/h2>\n
We would typically capitalize titles of rank, status, occupation, or kin if addressing the person directly in a way that identifies him or her.<\/p>\n
Examples<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
We hope you can come to the birthday party, Dad.<\/p>\n
Will you be taking any further questions, Madame President?<\/p>\n
Do you have any other recommendations, Doctor?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We would similarly capitalize titles that stand in for a person’s name: Do you know if Mom<\/u> is here yet? <\/em>Titles in family names also are capitalized when they precede a name: Uncle Buck, Grandpa Joe<\/em>.<\/p>\n
An exception to this guideline can include a direct address that is more general, descriptive, or nonspecific: Okay, buster<\/u>, we caught you red-handed this time<\/em>; Thank you, dear<\/u><\/em>.<\/p>\n
Capitalizing Titles: Academic Courses<\/h2>\n
Capitalize the names of specific course titles but not general academic subjects.<\/p>\n
Examples<\/strong><\/em>
\nI must take at least one mathematics course as well as Biology 101.<\/em>
\nShe has a double major in economics and political science.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nRelated Topics<\/h3>\n
Capitalizing Composition Titles: The Lowdown<\/a>
\nCapitalization Rules<\/a>
\nCapitalization of Job Titles<\/a><\/p>\nPop Quiz<\/h2>\n
Using what you understand from the discussion, either capitalize the title properly or correct the title if it is not properly capitalized.<\/p>\n
1. “the man who knew too much”<\/p>\n
2. “too Close for Comfort”<\/p>\n
3. Jimmy Carter, former U.S. President and U.S. Navy Lieutenant<\/p>\n
4. “Enhancing your Time-management Skills”<\/p>\n
5. “I know, mom, but you and dad said I could drive the Porsche.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pop Quiz Answers<\/h3>\n
1. “The Man Who Knew Too Much”<\/p>\n
2. “Too Close for Comfort”<\/p>\n
3. Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president and U.S. Navy lieutenant<\/p>\n
4. “Enhancing Your Time-Management Skills”<\/p>\n
5. “I know, Mom, but you and Dad said I could drive the Porsche.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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