Title Case Converter
Convert any text to properly formatted title case following AP, APA or Chicago style.
Title Case Rules by Style Guide
Title case is simple until a short word appears in the middle. Style guides handle those words differently, which is why two correct headlines can look a little different. This converter gives you practical presets for General, APA, Chicago and MLA-style capitalization. Treat them as fast writing helpers, not as a replacement for a full style manual.
What Most Title Case Rules Agree On
- Capitalize the first and last word of the title
- Capitalize nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs
- Lowercase short articles such as a, an and the unless they start the title
- Keep short conjunctions and prepositions lowercase when the selected style calls for it
- Capitalize the first word after a colon
Why Short Words Cause Trouble
Words like "to," "for," "as" and "with" create most title case mistakes. Some styles treat them as small words. Others capitalize them when they are long enough or when they act as part of a verb phrase. That is why a converter should always be followed by one human glance, especially for formal publishing.
Which Style Should You Pick?
Use General when you just need a clean title fast. Use APA for academic work when your assignment asks for it. Use Chicago for book-style titles, essays and long-form editorial work. Use MLA when your class, journal or department asks for MLA. The most important habit is consistency. Pick one style and use it across the whole page.
How to Use
- Enter your title or heading in the text field.
- Select your preferred style guide (AP, APA, Chicago).
- The tool converts your title automatically.
- Copy the formatted title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I capitalize "is" in a title?
Always - "is" is a verb, and every major style guide capitalizes verbs. Same for "am," "are," "was," "be" and "been." Short words aren't automatically lowercase; it depends on the part of speech.
Which title case style should I use?
Use General for everyday web copy. Use APA, Chicago or MLA when a class, editor or publication asks for that style. If nobody gave you a rule, consistency matters more than the label.
What about hyphenated words in titles?
Generally, capitalize both parts if they're major words. Write "Self-Driving Cars" not "Self-driving Cars." Chicago Style has the most detailed rules on this - check their manual if you need specifics.
Why does "With" get capitalized but "with" doesn't sometimes?
"With" is 4 letters. In AP and APA style, prepositions with 4 or more letters get capitalized. In Chicago style, all prepositions stay lowercase regardless of length. It depends entirely on which style guide you follow.
Does this handle subtitles after colons?
The first word after a colon gets capitalized - most style guides require it, and APA calls it out explicitly. The converter applies the rule automatically.