A headline is like a storefront sign. If the letters look random, people hesitate. If the AP Style capitalization is consistent, readers trust what they see and keep going.
AP style title capitalization is the standard for headlines in many newsrooms, blogs, and press releases because it’s simple, scannable, and familiar. The catch is that “simple” doesn’t mean “obvious”, especially with short words, hyphens, and quoted titles.
AP guidance can be updated from edition to edition, so when something feels disputed in your team, confirm the latest wording in the Associated Press Stylebook, such as AP Stylebook Ask the Editor highlights.
The core AP style title capitalization rules (the “4-letter” idea, explained)
AP uses Title Case for headlines and many titles. The quickest way to think about it is: capitalize the Principal Words that carry meaning, and don’t over-capitalize the Minor Words. This approach sets Title Case apart from Sentence case, where only the first word and proper nouns typically get capitalized.
Here are the rules you’ll use most:
Capitalize the First and Last Words, no matter what they are.
Capitalize Nouns, pronouns, Capitalize Verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Verbs count even when they’re short (yes, forms of “to be” get capped).
Lowercase articles (a, an, the), coordinating Conjunctions (and, but, or, nor), and Prepositions of three letters or fewer (to, of, in, on, at, by, for, up, per, via), unless they’re the first or last word.
Capitalize Prepositions and Conjunctions of four letters or more (Over, Into, Through, With, From, After).
Also, remember that AP style evolves in places that surprise people. For example, AP has treated internet and web as common nouns for years (often lowercase in running text), and those preferences can ripple into how teams expect to see terms handled. When you want a fast check for AP headline case, an AP-specific converter can help as a second set of eyes, like this AP style title capitalization tool.
A few quick “feel” examples (correct AP style):
- Back to School: Districts Are Short on Bus Drivers
- Why Prices Are Up in 2026
- New Rules for Tax Breaks in Texas
- What to Know About the Flu
- A Guide to Cooking With Cast Iron
- Talks Resume After Storm Knocks Out Power
- Students Ask for More Time to Learn
Copyable AP style title capitalization cheat sheet (keep this near your draft)
If you only remember one thing, remember this: short function words usually stay lowercase, unless position forces them to be capped.
Use this cheat sheet while you write, then copy and tweak the examples below. These rules are part of larger Style Guides for journalism and publishing.
- Always capitalize: first word, last word
- Capitalize: nouns (City, Plan), pronouns (You, Their), verbs (Is, Are, Be, Get), adjectives (New, Better), adverbs (Fast, Now)
- Lowercase (usually): a, an, the, and, but, or, nor, plus prepositions 3 letters or fewer (to, of, in, on, at, by, for, up)
- Capitalize long prepositions: Over, Into, Through, After, Under, With, From (unlike the MLA Handbook, which lowercases prepositions regardless of length)
- Infinitives: keep to lowercase (How to Apply, Plan to Expand)
- Hyphenated compounds: capitalize the first part, then capitalize the next part if it’s a major word (and lowercase it if it’s a short “glue” word)
- Proper nouns: follow the name’s capitalization (New York, iPhone, YouTube, McDonald’s)
30+ AP style headline and composition titles examples you can copy (including tricky ones)
- City Council Votes to Raise Parking Fees
- Mayor Says Taxes Are Up, Services Are Next
- Why Your Rent Is Rising in 2026
- What to Know Before You Buy a Used Car
- How to Apply for a Summer Internship
- Parents Want Schools to Add More Tutors
- The Plan to Cut Wait Times at the DMV
- Police Look for Suspect in Mall Theft
- Students Speak Out on Campus Safety
- Nurses Work Through the Night After Storm
- Team Rallies in Fourth Quarter to Win
- Flights Resume After Fog Closes Airport
- Tips for Eating Well on a Tight Budget
- Local Artists Team Up for Pop-Up Show
- A Tour of the New Museum Wing
- Investors Pour Money Into Clean Energy
- Dog Jumps Over Fence, Ends Up on Highway
- Volunteers Walk Into Floodwater to Help Neighbors
- Lawmakers Push Through Budget Deal Before Deadline
- Company Expands With New Hire in Chicago
- What It Means to “Be Ready” for Tax Season
- She Calls It “A Win for Workers”
- New Book Review: “To the Lighthouse” Returns
- “The Office” Fans Meet in Scranton
- Why “Good Enough” Is a Trap at Work
- A Step-by-Step Guide to First-Time Homebuying
- State-of-the-Art Lab Opens at Local College
- Well-Known Chef Opens Late-Night Diner
- Part-Time Workers Ask for Full-Time Hours
- Ex-Manager Returns to Lead Turnaround Plan
- Anti-Inflation Plan Faces Pushback in Senate
- CEO-to-Staff Memo Sparks Debate Online
- Parents of Teens Say Screen Time Is “Out of Control”
- Internet Rumors Spread Fast After Crash (note: first word is capped)
- Tips to Work With AI Tools at Work
Want a broader refresher on AP writing conventions beyond headlines? This roundup is handy: Writer’s Digest AP style rules.
Tricky cases that trip people up (plus a fix-it table and headline templates)
Some titles and headlines are easy until you add one “small” word. These are the spots where teams argue, edits loop, and deadlines creep closer. The rules apply across headlines, subheadings, formal titles, job titles, and more.
Hyphenated words and modifiers
In AP headlines, hyphens often show up in compound modifiers (they act like one adjective). Capitalize the major parts, and keep short glue words lowercase. Watch numerals and abbreviations here for consistent AP formatting.
Examples (correct AP style):
- A State-of-the-Art Clinic Opens Downtown
- Up-to-Date Travel Rules for Spring Break
- A Two-Story Home Sells in One Day
- A 20-Year-Old Tradition Returns
- The CEO-to-Staff Note That Changed Policy
Prepositions like over, into, through (and why they change case)
The “length” rule matters most here. Over, Into, Through, With, From, After are capitalized. Short prepositions like to, of, in, on stay lowercase.
Examples (correct AP style):
- Hikers Push Through Snow to Reach Cabin
- Donations Pour Into Shelter After Fire
- Dog Leaps Over Gate in Busy Park
- Changes to Policy Go Into Effect Friday
Formal titles and job titles
Formal titles and job titles follow specific AP rules: capitalize them when used directly before a name, but lowercase them when following a name or standing alone. Occupational titles, military titles, and professional titles count as formal titles.
Examples (correct AP style):
- President Biden Addresses Nation
- Gen. Smith Leads Troops (military title)
- Dr. Patel Joins Hospital Staff (professional title)
- Joe Biden, president, spoke at event (job title after name)
- The editor reviewed the story (job title alone)
AP style avoids the serial comma in titles unless clarity demands it. Use abbreviations sparingly in formal titles and job titles (like CEO or Gen.).
Common mistakes vs correct AP style
| Common mistake | Correct AP version |
|---|---|
| How To Build a Budget | How to Build a Budget |
| The Best Tips For New Parents | The Best Tips for New Parents |
| What’s New In Health Care | What’s New in Health Care |
| A Guide To the Galaxy | A Guide to the Galaxy |
| Storm Moves Through The City | Storm Moves Through the City |
| Well Known Actor Wins Award | Well-Known Actor Wins Award |
| Internet Trends In 2026 | Internet Trends in 2026 |
| President biden Speaks | President Biden Speaks |
| “To” Always Capitalized | “To” Always Capitalized (but: How to Write Titles) |
Ready-to-copy AP style headline templates (blog and press releases)
- [Company] Announces [Product] for [Audience]
- [City] Approves Plan to [Action]
- New Report: [Finding] in [Industry]
- What to Know About [Topic] in 2026
- How to [Do Thing] in [Number] Steps
- [Person/Team] Wins After [Event]
- [Brand] Expands Into [Market], Adds [Feature]
- Q&A: [Expert] on [Issue]
For a current-year AP overview that many teams use as a starting point (then verify edge cases in the Stylebook), see AP Style (Guide 2026).
Conclusion
AP headlines reward consistency. When you follow the core rules (capitalize key words, lowercase short connectors, watch hyphens), your titles read clean and professional, even under deadline.
Keep the cheat sheet handy, copy the examples, and when something feels unclear, check the latest AP Style guidance on Composition Names, since AP Style Title Capitalization Rules can be updated over time.
