One capital letter can make an APA reference look wrong. That happens all the time with journal articles because the APA 7th edition uses two different capitalization patterns in the same entry.
APA title capitalization can feel inconsistent, but following the APA 7th edition style guide requirements makes it straightforward in APA style. The article title uses one rule, and the journal name uses another. Once that split is clear, your references get much easier to format.
Key Takeaways
- In APA 7th edition references, use sentence case for journal article titles: capitalize the first word, first word after a colon (subtitle), and proper nouns like “COVID-19” or “New York,” but lowercase minor words.
- Use title case and italics for the journal name, capitalizing major words (nouns, verbs, etc.) while lowercasing short prepositions, articles, and conjunctions unless at the start or end.
- Italicize the journal name and volume number together, but keep the issue number in parentheses without italics; never use quotation marks or italics on the article title.
- Always adjust capitalization from publisher or database sources—do not copy title case for article titles, as this is a common error that makes references look wrong.
Use sentence case for the article title
In APA 7, as detailed in the publication manual, the title of a journal article appears in sentence case in the reference list. That means you capitalize the first word of the title, the first word of the subtitle, and any proper nouns. Minor words and other articles are usually lowercase.
This is where many students slip. The title on the publisher’s page may appear in title case, but you don’t copy that capitalization into your reference. APA’s reference list entry elements spell this out clearly. If you apply APA title case rules to the article title in a reference entry, you’ll usually capitalize too much.
Use these rules for the journal article title:
- Capitalize the first word of the title.
- Capitalize the first word of the subtitle.
- Keep proper nouns and acronyms capitalized, such as “New York,” “Google,” or “COVID-19.”
- Do not italicize the article title.
- Do not put the article title in quotation marks.
A short example helps:
- Correct article title format: Effects of sleep quality on memory in college students.
- Not correct for APA references: Effects of Sleep Quality on Memory in College Students.
That difference looks small, but it changes the whole reference. In other words, the article title should read like a normal sentence, not like a headline. These are the standard capitalization rules for titles in this section.
Use title case for the journal name
Now switch to the journal name. In the same APA reference, the journal title appears in title case and in italics. So, for journal titles and other periodicals, major words are capitalized in title case, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns, while minor words such as articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions of three letters or fewer usually stay lowercase unless they begin the title or are the last word.
APA makes a clean distinction here. The article title is part of the work. The journal title is the source that published it. You can see that pattern in APA’s journal article reference examples.
In an APA journal reference, the article title is sentence case. The journal name is title case and italicized.
A few related details matter too. The volume number is italicized along with the journal title. The issue number goes in parentheses right after the volume, and it is not italicized. Then add the page range or article number.
For example:
Journal of Educational Psychology, 117(2), 145-160
Confusion is common because different style guides handle titles differently. If you want a side-by-side comparison, title case styles including APA can help you spot the difference between APA and other systems. Major words stand out in this headline style approach, unlike sentence case.
One more point: keep the journal’s spelling as published. If the journal uses British spelling in its title, keep it.
Before-and-after examples in APA style
Examples make the rule stick. Below, each “wrong” version shows a common capitalization mistake. Each “correct” version demonstrates APA style, contrasting sentence case for the article title with title case for the journal name.
- Wrong: Garcia, L. (2024). Social Media Habits and Sleep in College Students. journal of american college health, 72(3), 210-219.
Correct: Garcia, L. (2024). Social media habits and sleep in college students. Journal of American College Health, 72(3), 210-219. - Wrong: Patel, R. (2025). Teaching Statistics Online: What Helps First-Year Students Succeed. Computers & education, 201(4), 104820.
Correct: Patel, R. (2025). Teaching statistics online: What helps first-year students succeed. Computers & Education, 201(4), 104820. - Wrong: Lee, M. (2023). Understanding Covid-19 Messaging in New York Communities. Health communication, 38(7), 900-912.
Correct: Lee, M. (2023). Understanding COVID-19 messaging in New York communities. Health Communication, 38(7), 900-912. - Wrong: Chen, A. (2022). Self-Report Measures of Burnout Among Nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(11-12), 1550-1562.
Correct: Chen, A. (2022). Self-report measures of burnout among nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(11-12), 1550-1562.
Notice what changes each time. Proper nouns (such as COVID-19 and New York), hyphenated words (like self-report and first-year), and the first word of a subtitle after the colon stay capitalized where needed.
Quick checklist and common errors
For a one-page model, APA’s reference list handout is a useful backup for these capitalization rules. Still, this short checklist will catch most errors fast. Note that book titles and other periodicals are treated similarly to journal articles.
Quick-reference checklist
- Put the article title in sentence case.
- Put the journal title in title case and italics. In title case, capitalize major words including subordinating conjunctions; lowercase articles, short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions unless they begin or end the title or follow a colon. For compound modifiers, capitalize both elements if they function as major words.
- Italicize the volume number.
- Keep the issue number in parentheses, without italics.
- Leave out quotation marks around the article title.
- Keep proper nouns, acronyms, and branded terms capitalized.
- Capitalize the first word after a colon in the article title.
Common mistakes students make
Many writers copy the title exactly as it appears in a database. That usually leaves too many capital letters in the article title.
Others mix the two title styles because they sit next to each other in one reference. As a result, the article title gets title case, or the journal title gets sentence case.
A smaller mistake is lowercasing words that should stay uppercase, such as “APA,” “COVID-19,” or “New York.” Another common one is forgetting that the first word of a subtitle still takes a capital letter. Writers often struggle with which prepositions or articles to capitalize in title case, or whether longer prepositions deserve capitals, and even a coordinating conjunctions error can flag a paper as non-compliant with the style guide. Prepositions and articles trip up many because the rules hinge on length and position.
Frequently Asked Questions
What capitalization rule applies to journal article titles in APA references?
Journal article titles use sentence case in APA 7th edition. Capitalize only the first word of the title, the first word of the subtitle (after a colon), and proper nouns or acronyms. Lowercase all other words, even if the publisher shows title case—this ensures your reference matches APA style exactly.
How should I format the journal name in an APA reference?
The journal name uses title case with italics. Capitalize major words like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs; lowercase short prepositions (three letters or fewer), articles, and coordinating conjunctions unless they start or end the title. Keep the journal’s original spelling, including British variants if used.
Do I italicize the article title or use quotation marks?
No, leave the article title without italics or quotation marks in APA references. Italics apply only to the journal name and volume number. This keeps the focus on the source formatting correctly.
What are common capitalization mistakes with APA journal references?
Many copy the title case from databases or publisher pages into the article title, overcapitalizing it. Others mix styles by applying sentence case to the journal name or forgetting proper nouns like “COVID-19.” Always double-check with the checklist: sentence case for titles, title case for journals.
Conclusion
Most APA capitalization mistakes come from one mix-up in APA title capitalization within APA style: treating the article title and journal name the same way. They are not the same in a reference entry.
Keep the article title in sentence case. Then switch to title case and italics for the journal name, the source. Once that pattern becomes automatic, your APA references look clean, accurate, and ready to submit. For complex scenarios involving major words, consult the style guide.
