Chicago style, called headline-style capitalization in The Chicago Manual of Style, capitalizes the first and last words and all major words. It lowercases articles, every preposition regardless of length, and five coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, and nor. The rules are in CMOS paragraph 8.159.
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Chicago Title Case Rules
Capitalize:
- The first and last words of the title and subtitle.
- Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
- Subordinating conjunctions: If, Because, Although, That, Before (when a clause follows).
- The conjunctions "so" and "yet." Chicago does not include them in its lowercase list.
- Prepositions used as adverbs or adjectives: "Look Up," "Turn Down," "The On Button."
Lowercase (unless first or last):
- Articles: a, an, the.
- Prepositions of any length: of, in, to, with, from, about, between, through.
- The coordinating conjunctions and, but, for, or, and nor.
- "To" in any function, including infinitives: "How to Write."
- "As" in any function.
The preposition rule is what sets Chicago apart. AP and APA capitalize long prepositions like "About" and "Between." Chicago keeps them lowercase: "What to Know about the Flu."
Hyphenated Words
Capitalize the first part of a hyphenated compound, and any later part unless it is an article, a preposition, or a coordinating conjunction: "Step-by-Step," "Long-Term," "Up-to-Date." See hyphenated words in titles for edge cases.
Examples in Chicago Style
| Typed | Chicago style |
|---|---|
| what to know about the flu | What to Know about the Flu |
| the difference between branding and brand voice | The Difference between Branding and Brand Voice |
| how to set up a style guide for your team | How to Set Up a Style Guide for Your Team |
| work so you can rest | Work So You Can Rest |
| a river runs through it | A River Runs through It |
"Set Up" keeps its capital because "up" works as part of the verb. "So" is capitalized because Chicago lowercases only and, but, for, or, and nor.
How Chicago Differs From Other Styles
| Typed | AP | APA | Chicago | MLA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gone with the wind | Gone With the Wind | Gone With the Wind | Gone with the Wind | Gone with the Wind |
| small yet mighty | Small yet Mighty | Small yet Mighty | Small Yet Mighty | Small yet Mighty |
| what dreams are made of | What Dreams Are Made Of | What Dreams Are Made of | What Dreams Are Made Of | What Dreams Are Made Of |
MLA is closest to Chicago. The main split is "so" and "yet," which MLA lowercases. Turabian follows Chicago exactly.
Common Chicago Mistakes
- Capitalizing long prepositions such as "About," "Between," or "Through." Chicago lowercases them mid-title.
- Lowercasing "so" and "yet." They are not on Chicago's list.
- Lowercasing the particle in a phrasal verb. "Set Up," "Log In," and "Give In" keep the capital.
- Capitalizing "to" in an infinitive. Chicago lowercases "to" in every use.
Quick Answers
Does Chicago capitalize prepositions?
Not mid-title. Chicago lowercases prepositions of any length unless they are first or last, or used as an adverb or adjective.
Does Chicago capitalize "so" and "yet"?
Yes. Chicago lowercases only five conjunctions: and, but, for, or, and nor.
Does Chicago capitalize the last word?
Yes. The first and last words of a title or subtitle are always capitalized, as in "What Dreams Are Made Of."
Is "with" capitalized in Chicago style?
No. "With" is a preposition, so it stays lowercase mid-title: "Gone with the Wind."
For any single word, see the full list of words that stay lowercase.