Capitalising titles

Key Notes:

Key Points on Capitalizing Titles

  1. Basic Rules:
    • Capitalize the first and last words of a title.
    • Capitalize all major words, including nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions.
    • Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor), and prepositions (in, on, at, etc.) unless they are the first or last word.
  2. Types of Works:
    • Titles of books, movies, songs, and other creative works are capitalized.
    • Example: The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, Rolling in the Deep.
  3. Subtitles:
    • In titles with subtitles, capitalize the first word of the subtitle.
    • Example: The Art of War: Strategies for Success.
  4. Quotations:
    • If a title is part of a quotation, follow the same capitalization rules.
    • Example: He quoted the book The Catcher in the Rye.
  5. Style Guides:
    • Different style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) may have specific rules. Familiarize students with the style guide they are required to use.
  6. Hyphenated Words:
    • Capitalize both parts of a hyphenated word if it is used in the title.
    • Example: The Well-Deserved Reward.
  7. Consistency:
    • Maintain consistency in capitalization throughout the work, especially if multiple titles are referenced.
  8. Examples for Practice:
    • Provide examples for students to practice capitalizing titles correctly, such as:
      • a tale of two cities
      • the lord of the rings: the return of the king

let’s practice! 🖊️