That tiny word “is” can cause outsized headaches when following standard grammar rules. You’ve seen it both ways, “Life Is Good” and “Life is Good”, and you’re left wondering which one is right.
Here’s the bottom line: if you’re writing in Title Case, “is” is a verb, so it’s usually capitalized. The confusion starts because style guides don’t always use the same casing everywhere (and some people apply the wrong “short word” rule to verbs). If you want the quick answer first, see Is “is” capitalized in title case?
When do you capitalize “is” in titles?
Most title rules treat verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns as major words. “Is” is a verb (a linking verb), so it gets a capital letter in title case.
That means you capitalize it in common “headline style” systems, including AP and Chicago, and in APA’s title case contexts. As of February 2026, the core logic hasn’t changed: verbs get capped in title case.
Where writers get tripped up is this: people remember “don’t capitalize short words” and apply it to everything. In reality, many guides lower only certain minor words (articles, coordinating conjunctions, subordinate conjunctions, prepositions). Verbs are a different category.
If you’re switching between outlets, it helps to keep a simple mental model: word type beats word length for “is.”
AP vs APA vs Chicago: what each guide says about “is”
All three styles govern composition titles and can result in “Is”, but they differ in where they use title case and what they treat as “minor.”
Official references are worth bookmarking: AP Stylebook guidance lives in the Stylebook’s Q&A and updates (see AP Stylebook Ask the Editor highlights), APA Style summarizes the rule clearly (see APA title case capitalization), and Chicago Manual of Style’s Q&A covers headline and title treatment (see Chicago Manual of Style FAQ on headlines and titles).
Here’s a fast comparison for “is”:
| Style guide | If you’re using title case | What happens to “is” mid-title? |
|---|---|---|
| AP Stylebook | Headlines and many display titles use title case (Associated Press rules) | Capitalize (verb) |
| APA (7th) | Paper titles and headings use title case | Capitalize (verb) |
| Chicago | Headlines and titles use headline style (title case) | Capitalize (verb) |
One extra wrinkle: APA also uses sentence case in many reference list entries. In sentence case, “is” stays lowercase unless it starts the title.
For more AP Stylebook-specific reminders, keep AP style title capitalization rules handy, especially if your team argues about “short words.”
A 3-step checklist (and the two gotchas that matter)
Use this quick flow whenever you need to capitalize is in titles without second-guessing.
- Pick the casing your context requires. Is it title case (headline capitalization) or Sentence Case?
- If it’s title case, treat “is” as a verb. Capitalize it.
- Check position and punctuation. First and last word, and first word after a colon often get special treatment, depending on the guide.
Gotcha #1: APA can look inconsistent on purpose. Your paper title may be Title Case, but many reference list titles are sentence case, so “is” becomes “is.”
Gotcha #2: House style can override everything. Newsrooms, brands, and journals sometimes tweak AP, APA, or Chicago for consistency, particularly with quotation marks and abbreviations.
If you need a broader side-by-side refresher (AP vs APA vs Chicago and more), this comparison helps: title case styles comparison.
60 copy-paste examples (AP vs APA vs Chicago)
Below are ready-to-use titles. Each line is labeled with the style and the scenario.
AP examples (20)
- AP, news headline: This Is the Moment
- AP, blog headline: Why This Is Hard
- AP, formal titles, press release: Our Policy Is Changing
- AP, email subject: Your Order Is Ready
- AP, magazine cover line: Summer Is Here
- AP, report title: The Problem Is Growing
- AP, event listing: The Meeting Is Tuesday
- AP, campaign headline: Safety Is Everyone’s Job
- AP, podcast episode: This Is Your Sign
- AP, product update: What Is New Today
- AP, Q&A title: What Is a Tariff?
- AP, how-to title: When Is the Best Time
- AP, with subtitle: The Truth Is Clear: A Guide
- AP, with quotes: “This Is Fine,” He Said
- AP, list-style title: Five Reasons It Is Time
- AP, announcement: The Wait Is Over
- AP, alert headline: Water Is Unsafe to Drink
- AP, profile title with proper nouns: Who Is Maria Lopez?
- AP, explainer title: What Is Net Zero?
- AP, ending with “Is”: The Question Is
APA examples (20)
- APA, paper title for academic degrees (title case): Stress Is Linked to Sleep
- APA, paper title (title case): Why This Is Important
- APA, heading with common abbreviations (title case): What Is Measured
- APA, heading (title case): This Is Not Random
- APA, figure title with common abbreviations (title case): Pain Is Reduced After Treatment
- APA, table title with common abbreviations (title case): Response Is Higher in Group A
- APA, poster title for academic degrees (title case): Memory Is Affected by Noise
- APA, running head style: This Is a Short Title
- APA, subtitle (title case): The Result Is Clear: A Meta-Analysis
- APA, method section heading: Who Is Included
- APA, results heading: What Is Significant
- APA, discussion heading: Why It Is Plausible
- APA, appendix title: What Is in Appendix A
- APA, slide title: This Is the Key Finding
- APA, report title for academic degrees (title case): The Risk Is Higher Than Expected
- APA, lowercase reference list (sentence case): The problem is growing fast
- APA, lowercase reference list (sentence case): Why this is hard to measure
- APA, lowercase reference list (sentence case): The result is clear: a review
- APA, reference list (sentence case): When is the best time to test?
- APA, reference list (sentence case): This is not random
Chicago examples (20)
- Chicago, book title: This Is How It Works
- Chicago, chapter title with prepositions: The Answer Is in the Data
- Chicago, article title with quotation marks: What Is the Cost of Delay?
- Chicago, essay title with quotation marks: Why This Is a Bad Idea
- Chicago, headline with proper nouns: The Market Is Still Nervous
- Chicago, subtitle with punctuation: The Plan Is Simple: Start Small
- Chicago, with “is” first: Is This the New Normal?
- Chicago, with “is” last: All We Know Is
- Chicago, title with quotation marks and punctuation: “This Is Home,” She Wrote
- Chicago, catalog listing: Summer Is a State of Mind
- Chicago, newsletter subject: What Is Changing in 2026
- Chicago, review title with quotation marks: The Plot Is Better Than It Sounds
- Chicago, how-to title with abbreviations: When Is It Time to Quit?
- Chicago, academic title featuring nouns: Identity Is Formed Through Language
- Chicago, exhibit title: Art Is for Everyone
- Chicago, event title: The Talk Is at Noon
- Chicago, playbill title: This Is Our City
- Chicago, podcast title: Work Is Not Your Life
- Chicago, case study with abbreviations: The Fix Is Cheaper Than Expected
- Chicago, ending with “Is”: What the Future Is
Conclusion
If you’re writing title case in AP, APA (in-paper titles and headings), or Chicago, capitalize “Is” because it’s a verb. The only time “is” regularly stays lowercase is when you’re told to use sentence case, which comes up often in APA reference lists. For quick verification on whether a word is a verb, check the Merriam Webster Dictionary. Always follow your specific style guide, especially rules around lowercase and punctuation. Those who want to automate the process can use a convert case tool. Pick the style, apply it consistently, and let “is” stop stealing your time.
