Capitalization and Formatting in Titles

The overall rule for capitalization

Capitalize the first word of the title and all the other main words. Do not capitalize the little words unless they are the first word of the title.

Specifically, capitalize the following, according to MLA (Modern Language Association) format

1. Capitalize the first word of the title [and of the subtitle if one is included]

Example: The Art of Patience: What My Family Taught Me

2. Capitalize all nouns and pronouns

Example: Spring Is Blooming Everywhere

Example: He Said He Didn’t Know

3. Capitalize all verbs

Example: Swim for Exercise

4. Capitalize all adjectives and adverbs

Example: The Beautiful Spring Blooms Bountifully

5. Capitalize all subordinating conjunctions —after, although, because,when, if…

Example: It’s True Because I Said So

Do NOT capitalize any of the following (unless they are the first word of a title or subtitle)

1. Articles [a, an, the]

Example: A Time for Work, a Time for Play

2. Prepositions —by, for, on, to, etc.

Example: Trial by Fire

3. Coordinating conjunctions—and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet

Example: Fire and Ice: Two Possibilities

4. The word “to” when used as part of an infinitive verb phrase—to run, to find, etc.

Example: Eighteen Ways to Understand Reality

What if I don’t know what part of speech a word is?

1. Consult an English dictionary or handbook of grammar.

2. Consult a reliable online grammar resource, for example, this Parts of Speech Overview at the Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Formatting of your own title—as it would appear at the top of your own essay or assignment

  • Use the same font style and size as the rest of your assignment.
  • Do NOT underline or put in bold or italics or in a different-sized font.
  • Center your title above the text of your assignment.
  • I repeat, do NOT underline or put in bold or italics or in a different-sized font. It looks tacky and unprofessional.

Formatting of the titles of works by other authors

In your writing, you will frequently have to refer to essays, articles, books, or other works. The MLA guidelines require these to be formatted in certain ways.

Italicize the titles of lengthy or voluminous works

Books: The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

Anthologies, books of poems: 50 Essays; Blow-out, by Denise Duhamel

Newspapers(paper or online): The New York Times, The Times-Picayune

Encyclopedias or other Reference Works: The Oxford English Dictionary, Wikipedia

Movies, Television Shows, plays: Hidden Figures, House of Cards, Hamilton

Music Albums: Lemonade

Put the titles of smaller, shorter works in quotation marks

Chapters within books: “The Law of Club and Fang” (a chapter in The Call of the Wild)

Works within anthologies: “The Ugly Tourist” (an essay in 50 Essays)

Poems: “Ode to Autumn,” by John Keats

Articles in newspapers:“F.B.I. Is Investigating Trump’s Russia Ties, Comey Confirms”

Articles in encyclopedias, reference works (paper or online): “Pacific Chorus Frogs”

Episodes of TV shows: “The Lying Detective” (an episode of Sherlock)

Songs: “Pray You Catch Me”; “Aaron Burr, Sir”