Usually, no. In Associated Press, Chicago, and APA title case, “as” often stays lowercase when it sits in the middle of a title.
But that isn’t the whole story. The right choice depends on what job “as” is doing, specific style guide rules, and whether it appears as the first or last word. That’s why you may see it lowercase in one title and capitalized in another.
If you need to capitalize as title words correctly, grammar matters more than guesswork.
A good shortcut is this: in title case, capitalize “as” when it starts or ends a title, and check its grammatical role when it appears in the middle.
Key Takeaways
- Usually lowercase mid-title: In AP, Chicago, and APA title case, “as” stays lowercase when acting as a preposition or short conjunction, like in Working as a Team.
- Capitalize at edges: Always capitalize “as” if it’s the first or last word, or after a colon, regardless of its usual role.
- Grammar first: Check part of speech—capitalize if adverb or subordinating conjunction; short prepositions and coordinating conjunctions stay lowercase in the middle.
- APA special case: Title case for headings, but sentence case in references keeps mid-title “as” lowercase unless starting title/subtitle.
- Pro tip: Position and grammar trump word length for consistent, clean titles across styles.
The rule starts with grammar, not word length
Tiny words cause big trouble because they can wear different hats. The word “as” can act as different parts of speech, including prepositions, conjunctions, or adverbs. Each role can affect capitalization.
Here are the three jobs to watch:
- In “Working as a Team,” “as” is one of the prepositions.
- In “As We Planned,” “as” is a subordinating conjunction.
- In “Still as Strong as Ever,” the first “as” works as one of the adverbs.
That matters because title case does not treat every short word the same way. Short words like articles, short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions often count as minor words and stay lowercase in the middle. Others, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions, count as major words and get a capital letter. Major words always take priority in title case rules.
So, don’t ask only, “How short is it?” Ask, “What part of speech is it here, and is it a coordinating conjunction or something else?” That one shift clears up most title-case mistakes.
If short connector words keep tripping you up, this guide to preposition rules across style guides helps show where AP, Chicago, and APA split. For an outside explanation focused on this exact word, this discussion of how “as” changes by word class is also useful.
Position matters too. In all three styles, the first and last words are capitalized. So even if “as” would normally stay lowercase in the middle, it changes when it lands at the edge of the title.
How AP, Chicago, and APA treat “as”
AP style
AP Stylebook title capitalization is common in headlines, blog posts, and news-style copy. In the AP Stylebook, “as” is usually lowercase in the middle of a title when it works as a short preposition or conjunction.
So you would write Working as a Team Under Pressure. But you would also write As Storm Warnings Grow, Schools Close, because “As” starts the title.
In practice, the AP Stylebook often rewards simple pattern recognition, but grammar still matters. If the word acts like a major word such as nouns, verbs, or adjectives, editors may review it more closely, contrasting it with short prepositions. For a newsroom-focused refresher, see these AP style title capitalization rules.
Chicago style
Chicago headline style also cares about word function. In standard usage per the Chicago Manual of Style, mid-title “as” is usually lowercase when it acts as a short connective word, as in Life as a Novelist.
The Chicago Manual of Style still capitalizes the first and last word, so As History Repeats Itself starts with a capital A. When an edge case looks odd, Chicago editors go back to grammar rather than relying on a blanket “short words stay lowercase” idea. For broader comparison, the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook offers similar guidance on handling short prepositions in titles. Chicago’s own FAQ on headlines and titles is a solid reference when a title feels uncertain.
APA style
APA style works a little differently because it uses both title case and sentence case, depending on the context. In APA style title case, “as” is usually lowercase in the middle because short conjunctions and short prepositions count as minor words.
That means a paper title would read Stress as a Predictor of Burnout. If “as” begins the title or subtitle, capitalize it, as in As Children Learn: A Longitudinal Study.
Here is the extra wrinkle that catches students all the time: many titles in an APA reference list use sentence case, not title case. So the same source title may appear in sentence case as Stress as a predictor of burnout in references. For a quick refresher, keep APA 7th edition title case rules nearby, and compare them with UNC Charlotte’s APA title formatting guide.
AP vs. Chicago vs. APA at a glance
This table shows the usual treatment of “as” in the middle of a title in title case and sentence case.
| Style | Mid-title “as” | What changes it | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP | Usually lowercase | Capitalize first and last words, and check grammar in edge cases | Working as a Team Under Pressure |
| Chicago | Usually lowercase | Capitalize first and last words, review grammar when role shifts | Life as a Novelist |
| APA title case | Usually lowercase | Capitalize first and last words, or first word after a colon | Stress as a Predictor of Burnout |
| APA sentence case | Lowercase in most cases | Capitalize only if first word of title or subtitle, or a proper noun | Stress as a predictor of burnout |
The big takeaway is simple: AP, Chicago, APA, and the AMA Manual of Style usually lowercase mid-title “as,” but position and grammatical function can change the answer.
FAQ about capitalizing “as” in titles
What if “as” comes after a colon?
Capitalize it. In title case, the first word after a colon usually gets a capital letter. So write A Writer’s Habit: As Drafts Improve, Fear Shrinks.
What if “as” is the first or last word?
Capitalize it. Position beats the normal lowercase rule in title case. The start and end of the title get special treatment.
Does sentence case change the answer?
Yes. This matters most in APA references. In sentence case, “as” stays lowercase unless it begins the title or subtitle, or is part of a proper noun.
What if “as” is part of a hyphenated compound?
Treat it based on its role in title case. Prepositions like “as” in hyphenated compounds, such as “as-needed,” typically stay lowercase unless the compound acts as a major word like a noun or adjective.
What if my company or professor uses house style?
Follow the house style first. Style guides set the baseline, but schools, brands, and publishers sometimes make their own rules for consistency. Always check the specific style guide for exceptions.
The safest rule is still the same: don’t judge “as” by size alone. In title case, nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are typically capitalized while prepositions like “as” are not. Check its role, then check its position.
That one habit saves time, stops second-guessing, and makes your titles look clean the first time.
