What Words Should Be Capitalized in a Headline?
By: Cynthia Marinakos
Tags: Headline Hacks, Business, Productivity, Creativity, Writing

Comparison Between Styles Using Real Headlines

Here’s what each style looks like when applied to the headline:

All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities Around the World

AP: All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities Around the World

APA: All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities Around the World

CMOS: All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities around the World

MLA: All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities around the World

NYT: All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities Around the World

WP: All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities Around the World

The main difference between them all is the Chicago Manual of Style and MLA write “around” with a lower case “a” — because “it is probably used as a preposition (as in ‘traveling around the world’). However, it can also be used as an adverb (‘come around soon’), in which case it must be capitalized.”

The title converter includes a helpful explanation about why each word is capitalized or not. So for instance, in AP style, the heading is formatted as All the Silicon Valley Copycat Cities Around the World because:

All

is capitalized because it is the first word of the title. the

is not capitalized because it is an article. Silicon

is capitalized because it is neither an article, a coordinating conjunction nor a preposition with fewer than four letters. Valley

is capitalized because it is neither an article, a coordinating conjunction nor a preposition with fewer than four letters. Copycat

is capitalized because it is neither an article, a coordinating conjunction nor a preposition with fewer than four letters. Cities

is capitalized because it is neither an article, a coordinating conjunction nor a preposition with fewer than four letters. Around

is capitalized because it is neither an article, a coordinating conjunction nor a preposition with fewer than four letters. the

is not capitalized because it is an article. World

is capitalized because it is the last word of the title or subtitle.

Screenshot: Explanation for headline formatting. Source: Title Case Converter

Other headline comparisons

Headline: CN Rail to Shut Eastern Canada Network Amid Protests

AP: CN Rail to Shut Eastern Canada Network Amid Protests

APA: CN Rail to Shut Eastern Canada Network Amid Protests

CMOS: CN Rail to Shut Eastern Canada Network amid Protests

MLA: CN Rail to Shut Eastern Canada Network amid Protests

NYT: CN Rail to Shut Eastern Canada Network Amid Protests

WP: CN Rail to Shut Eastern Canada Network amid Protests

Comparison:

For AP, APA, NYT: Amid is capitalized because it is neither an article, a coordinating conjunction, nor a preposition with fewer than four letters.

FOR CMOS, MLA and WP: amid is not capitalized because it is a preposition with four letters.

Headline: Genius Crackle You Must Try at Burwood Rooftop Farm

AP: Genius Crackle You Must Try at Burwood Rooftop Farm

APA: Genius Crackle You Must Try at Burwood Rooftop Farm

CMOS: Genius Crackle You Must Try at Burwood Rooftop Farm

MLA: Genius Crackle You Must Try at Burwood Rooftop Farm

NYT: Genius Crackle You Must Try at Burwood Rooftop Farm

WP: Genius Crackle You Must Try at Burwood Rooftop Farm

Comparison: Same in all styles.

Headline: Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Kids’ Playroom and It’s Jaw-Dropping

AP: Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Kids’ Playroom and It’s Jaw-Dropping

PA: Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Kids’ Playroom and It’s Jaw-Dropping

CMOS: Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Kids’ Playroom and It’s Jaw-Dropping

MLA: Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Kids’ Playroom and It’s Jaw-Dropping

NYT: Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Kids’ Playroom and It’s Jaw-Dropping

WP: Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Kids’ Playroom and It’s Jaw-Dropping

Comparison: Same in all styles.

Headline: I Quit My Job and Now My Partner Pays Our Bills. Here’s How It’s Affected Us.

AP: I Quit My Job and Now My Partner Pays Our Bills. Here’s How It’s Affected Us.

APA: I Quit My Job and Now My Partner Pays Our Bills. Here’s How It’s Affected Us.

CMOS: I Quit My Job and Now My Partner Pays Our Bills. Here’s How It’s Affected Us.

MLA: I Quit My Job and Now My Partner Pays Our Bills. Here’s How It’s Affected Us.

NYT: I Quit My Job and Now My Partner Pays Our Bills. Here’s How It’s Affected Us.

WP: I Quit My Job and Now My Partner Pays Our Bills. Here’s How It’s Affected Us.

Comparison: Same in all styles.

Headline: Counting Calories Is Basically Pointless. So Why Are We Still Doing It?

AP: Counting Calories Is Basically Pointless. So Why Are We Still Doing It?

APA: Counting Calories Is Basically Pointless. So Why Are We Still Doing It?

CMOS: Counting Calories Is Basically Pointless. So Why Are We Still Doing It?

MLA: Counting Calories Is Basically Pointless. So Why Are We Still Doing It?

NYT: Counting Calories Is Basically Pointless. So Why Are We Still Doing It?

WP: Counting Calories Is Basically Pointless. So Why Are We Still Doing It?

Comparison: Same in all styles.

Headline: What Valentine’s Day Is Like After Marriage, As Told in 26 Tweets

AP: What Valentine’s Day Is Like After Marriage, As Told in 26 Tweets

APA: What Valentine’s Day Is Like After Marriage, As Told in 26 Tweets

CMOS: What Valentine’s Day Is like after Marriage, as Told in 26 Tweets

MLA: What Valentine’s Day Is like after Marriage, As Told in 26 Tweets

NYT: What Valentine’s Day Is Like After Marriage, as Told in 26 Tweets

WP: What Valentine’s Day Is like After Marriage, As Told in 26 Tweets

Comparison:

In AP, APA, MLA, and WP: “As” is capitalized because it is probably used as an adverb (e.g., “delivered as promised”). However, it can also be used as a preposition (e.g., “working as a teacher”) or conjunction (e.g., “cold as ice” or “do as I do”), in which case it must be lowercased.

In CMOS and NYT: “as” is not capitalized because it is always lowercased according to the Chicago Manual of Style and the New York Times style manual.