Tiny words cause big headaches in titles. If you’ve searched capitalize of title, the plain answer is this: of is usually not capitalized in title case (unlike sentence case, which capitalizes only the first word) because it’s a short preposition. Keep it lowercase when it appears in the middle of a title.
That sounds minor, but readers notice messy capitalization fast. A clean title builds trust before the first sentence even starts. There are a few exceptions, though. Capitalize Of when it’s the first word, the last word, or the first word after a colon in a subtitle. Also, if your editor or style sheet says otherwise, follow that rule for capitalization in titles.
The quick rule for capitalizing “of”
Title case is the standard for most headlines, unlike sentence case. In most title case systems, small helper words stay lowercase unless their position changes the rule. “Of” falls into that group.
In title case, “of” usually stays lowercase unless it is one of the first and last words of the title.
This quick table makes the rule easy to scan.
| Situation | Capitalize “of”? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Middle of a title | No | The Art of Writing |
| First word of a title | Yes | Of Mice and Men |
| Last word of a title | Yes | What Are We Made Of |
| First word after a colon | Yes | A History of Science: Of Stars and Cells |
| Style guide says otherwise | Follow the style guide | Use your team’s rule |
So, the usual form is simple: write A Matter of Time, not A Matter Of Time. One small letter can make a title look polished or careless. Following a style guide is essential for consistency.
Why “of” is usually lowercase in title case
Title case works like a spotlight. Major words stand in the light. Minor words stay in the background. Since “of” is one of the short prepositions, it usually stays lowercase.
Most major style guides agree on this point. The Chicago Manual of Style, MLA Handbook, APA style, and Associated Press Stylebook all keep of lowercase when it appears in the middle of a title. Where these guides start to differ is with longer prepositions like “with,” “from,” or “through,” and also in their approaches to title case versus sentence case.
That’s where writers get tripped up. Someone learns that APA capitalizes many words with four letters or more, then assumes every preposition should be capitalized. But of is only two letters, so it still stays lowercase. In other words, “of” is one of the easier words, even when the guides vary elsewhere, as the Chicago Manual of Style confirms.
If you work across styles, it helps to keep a few stylebooks handy. These guides on MLA title case rules, APA title case rules, and AP headline capitalization rules show how small words behave in each system.
For a broad background on title case, that overview is useful. If you want a shorter grammar note on prepositions in titles, that explanation is easy to scan.
The main takeaway is consistency. Once you choose a style, use it the same way in every heading, title, and subtitle.
Correct and incorrect examples of “of” in titles
Examples make the rule stick. Here are common cases writers miss in book titles and composition titles.
- Correct: The Power of Habit
Incorrect: The Power Of Habit - Correct: A World of Difference
Incorrect: A World Of Difference - Correct: The Lord of the Rings
Incorrect: The Lord Of the Rings - Correct: Of Mice and Men
Incorrect: of Mice and Men - Correct: What Dreams Are Made Of
Incorrect: What Dreams Are Made of
Notice the pattern. In title case, “of” stays lowercase in the middle, as with other articles in titles and prepositions. At the start or end, the first and last words, it gets a capital letter.
Subtitles can trip people up too. If “of” starts the subtitle, capitalize it because it now sits in the first position after the colon. Write The Study of Memory: Of Loss and Recall, not The Study of Memory: of Loss and Recall.
Another easy mistake comes from treating all short words the same or confusing title case with sentence case. They don’t all follow one rule. Some small words are verbs, and verbs are usually capitalized. Others are articles or prepositions, so they stay lowercase unless position changes things.
That’s why The State of Play is correct, but What Is the Meaning of Life? also capitalizes Is. One is a preposition. The other is a verb. Grammar, not size alone, decides the case. Nouns and pronouns count among major words that are always capitalized.
A 10-second check before you publish
Before you publish, scan the title from left to right using these title capitalization rules. Most mistakes come from habit, not grammar and punctuation. Check proper nouns and hyphenated compounds, common tricky areas. Writers often capitalize every short word because it looks balanced, but title case doesn’t work that way. Sentence case is a common alternative for blogs that might cause confusion.
- Find “of”: If it’s in the middle, leave it lowercase.
- Check its position: If it starts or ends the title, capitalize it.
- Look after a colon: If “of” begins the subtitle, capitalize it.
- Match your guide: Use the same style for every title on the page.
Think of it like lane markings on a road. Once you know the word’s job and where it sits, the right choice becomes clear.
Quick FAQ for words like “is,” “in,” “for,” and “the”
Is “is” capitalized in a title?
Yes, usually. Is is a verb, and as one of the main parts of speech, title case normally capitalizes verbs, even short ones.
Write This Is the End, not This is the End.
Is “in” capitalized in a title?
Usually no. In is a short preposition, so it stays lowercase in the middle of a title.
Write A Day in the Life, not A Day In the Life. If it starts the title, capitalize it: In the Heat of the Night.
Is “for” capitalized in a title?
Usually no in Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, and AP, because for is a short preposition. For doubles as a coordinating conjunction, and short coordinating conjunctions along with subordinating conjunctions stay lowercase in the middle. Some style differences affect longer prepositions more than short ones; APA style capitalizes prepositions with five or more letters, while the Chicago Manual of Style capitalizes those with four or more letters. But “for” often stays lowercase in the middle.
Write A Plan for Growth in most title case styles.
Is “the” capitalized in a title?
Usually no, unless it is the first or last word. Since the is an article, articles in titles stay lowercase in the middle in headline style, according to major stylebooks.
Write The End of the Road, not The End of The Road. But at the start, capitalize it: The Shape of Water.
The bottom line
If you remember one rule for capitalization in titles, make it this: of is usually lowercase in title case because it’s a short preposition. Capitalize it only when position changes the rule, such as at the beginning, at the end, or after a colon. While sentence case is simpler, title case is preferred in many professional contexts. For automated checks, writers can use a title capitalization tool or a sentence case converter. Keep your style guide close, stay consistent, and your titles will look right at a glance.
