The Bluebook's capitalization rule for headings and titles is Rule 8(a). Capitalize the first word, the first word after a colon, and every other word except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions of four or fewer letters. It applies to headings in legal documents and to the titles of works you cite.
Bluebook Title Case Rules
- Capitalize the first word of the heading or title.
- Capitalize the first word after a colon.
- Lowercase articles: a, an, the.
- Lowercase conjunctions of four or fewer letters: and, as, but, for, if, nor, or, so, yet.
- Lowercase prepositions of four or fewer letters: at, by, for, from, in, into, like, of, on, onto, over, to, up, upon, with.
- Capitalize everything else.
The cutoff is four letters, one more than AP and APA. So "with," "from," and "into" stay lowercase in Bluebook headings, while "About," "Under," and "Between" are capitalized. Rule 8(a) lists only two exceptions for short words: the start of the title and the word after a colon.
For capitalization questions the Bluebook does not answer, it points to The Chicago Manual of Style or the U.S. Government Publishing Office Style Manual.
Rule 8 vs. Table T6
Table T6 lists abbreviations for words in case names and institutional authors, such as "Ass'n" and "Dep't." It does not govern capitalization. Use Rule 8(a) for capitals and T6 for abbreviations.
Examples in Bluebook Style
| Typed | Bluebook |
|---|---|
| the case against qualified immunity | The Case Against Qualified Immunity |
| standing to sue in federal court | Standing to Sue in Federal Court |
| judicial review from marbury to today | Judicial Review from Marbury to Today |
| contracts with minors: a survey | Contracts with Minors: A Survey |
| motion for summary judgment | Motion for Summary Judgment |
"Against" has seven letters and is capitalized. "From" and "with" have four and stay lowercase. "A" after the colon is capitalized.
Common Bluebook Mistakes
- Capitalizing four-letter prepositions such as "With," "From," or "Into." Rule 8 keeps them lowercase.
- Lowercasing five-letter prepositions such as "About," "Under," or "After." They are capitalized.
- Citing Table T6 for capitalization. T6 covers abbreviations only.
Quick Answers
Is "with" capitalized under the Bluebook?
No. "With" is a four-letter preposition, so it stays lowercase unless it starts the title or follows a colon.
What Bluebook rule covers title capitalization?
Rule 8(a), which covers headings and titles.
Does the Bluebook capitalize the word after a colon?
Yes. The first word after a colon is always capitalized.
For legal styles outside the U.S., see OSCOLA. For broader rules, see legal writing capitalization and the full list of words that stay lowercase.