What Is Title Case?

Definition of "Title Case"

Title case is a convention for writing titles. With title case, only the first word and the principal words start with a capital letter.

Table of Contents

Common Styles for Titles
Common Title Conventions
(1) Uppercase Titles
(2) Title Case Titles
Why Title Case Is Important
Test Time!

Common Styles for Titles

In business documents, titles are commonly written in uppercase or title case. For example:

THE TITLE OF THE DOCUMENT

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The Title of the Document

Notice that title case is a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. In title case, only the first word and the principal words are given capital letters. Prepositions (e.g.,in, on, under, at) and articles (i.e., the, a, an), and conjunctions (e.g., and, or, but) are written with lowercase letters. using capital letters in titles

Common Title Conventions

Here is some more information about uppercase titles and title case.

(1) Uppercase Titles

Here are some examples of titles in full uppercase:

INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE
THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS
BANK HOLIDAYS AND NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

With uppercase titles, all words are capitalized. Often, they are bolded and underlined. Whatever style you use, be consistent.

Also, when a pluralized abbreviation features in an uppercase title, it is acceptable to use an apostrophe to show the plural. Be aware, however, that this might annoy some of your readers.

HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR CD'S
HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR CDs

(2) Title Case Titles

Here are some examples of titles in title case:

Interview with a Vampire
The Last of the Mohicans
Bank Holidays and National Holidays

With title-case titles, only the principal words are capitalized. Prepositions (here, with, of), articles (here, a, the) and conjunctions (here, and) are written with lowercase letters. Title case titles can be bolded and underlined too. Whatever style you use, be consistent.

When one of the non-principal words (i.e., a preposition, an article, or a conjunction) starts the title, it is given a capital letter. For example:

And Then Came Love

And

The Last of the Summer Wine

The

In the Name of the Father

Why Title Case Is Important

Understanding title case allows you to write titles using an acceptable (and defendable) convention. It's pretty handy because it removes the need to think about how to write titles.

There are four noteworthy issues related to title case.

(Issue 1) Giving a two-letter but principal word a capital letter

You will find that two-letter words often look awkward written with a capital letter, but don't worry about that awkwardness. Stick to the rules.

I read "How to be Black" in a day.

(Issue 2) Adhering to official versions that break the rules of title case

Be aware that not everyone uses title case. You should copy official versions if you know them.

The Light Between Oceans (2016 period-drama film)
A River Runs Through It (1976 semi-autobiographical novel)

In these titles, the prepositions Between and Through have been given capital letters. It is not uncommon for the rules of title case to be broken for aesthetic reasons. Also, be aware that some style guides recommend, purely for aesthetics, giving capital letters to non-principal words with more than three letters.

Remember that title case is useful because it gives you an acceptable (and defendable) convention if you find yourself floundering with a title. (Typically, this will be with a document title or a paragraph title in something you're writing, so there won't be an official version to copy.)

(Issue 3) Using titles as compound adjectives.

A title (written in title case) is often used mid-sentence as a compound adjective (i.e., an adjective made up of more than one word).

Did you get the Interview with a Vampire tickets?
I love your Thomas the Tank Engine bag.

The words in a compound adjective are usually joined with hyphens (e.g., free-range eggs) to group them, making it clear they're all part of the same adjective. As this grouping effect is achieved with title case, there is no need to use hyphens in a compound adjective that is also a title.

Also, make sure you stop applying title case when you've finished writing your title.

I love your Thomas the Tank Engine Bag.

Bag

bag

The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights document details how to implement the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework.

document

Framework

(Issue 4) Deleting "The" if it starts a title used as a compound adjective.

When The is the first word of a title used as an adjective, logical thinkers might feel the need to use the word the twice.

The award was won by the The Last of the Mohicans director, Michael Mann.

This is logically sound, but it's messy. Have the confidence to break logic.

The award was won by the Last of the Mohicans director, Michael Mann.

the

Key Points

When writing a title, capitalize the first word and then just the principal words (i.e., not the articles, conjunctions, or prepositions).
If a "principal" word is short, stick to the rules. Give it a capital letter.
When writing an established title (e.g., the title of a book or a film), copy the capitalization in the official version. (If you can't find it, stick to title case.)