When you craft titles, every word counts. You might wonder if small words like ‘among’ get a big letter at the start. The rules can be tricky, and they change based on the style guide you’re using. Some guides like APA have different ideas than others like MLA. Get ready to dive into the world of title capitalization and clear up the confusion around this common word. Unlock the secret to perfect titles and make your writing stand out.
In most cases, the word ‘among’ is not capitalized in a title, according to major style guides like APA, MLA, Chicago, and AP. They suggest only capitalizing the first word, the last word, and all principal words in titles. ‘Among’ falls under prepositions which are typically lowercase, unless they’re the first or last word.
When you’re deciding whether to capitalize the word among in a title, it’s good to know the rules used by different style guides. The word among falls into a category known as prepositions, which are often lowercased in titles, but there’s more to it.
Capitalize ‘Among’ or Not?
Think about the style guide you’re following. Each one has its own rules:
- Chicago Manual of Style: Lowercase among unless it’s the first or last word in the title.
- APA (American Psychological Association): Capitalize among if it’s more than four letters long.
- MLA (Modern Language Association): Lowercase among since it’s a preposition.
- AP (Associated Press): Capitalize among since it’s more than three letters.
With APA and AP styles, among gets capitalized because of its length. But in Chicago and MLA, it stays lowercase based on its role as a preposition. If you’re not following a specific style, consider a simple rule: prepositions with fewer than five letters can be lowercased.
Examples in Action
See how among is treated in different title examples:
- Chicago or MLA: A Walk Among the Trees
- APA or AP: A Walk Among The Trees
In both, among is not the first or last word, so its capitalization depends on the style’s specific guidelines.
Conclusion
Understand that whether you capitalize ‘among’ in a title depends on the style guide you follow. With Chicago, MLA, and APA styles, you do not capitalize ‘among’ since it’s a preposition with fewer than five letters. However, the AP style suggests capitalizing all prepositions in titles, regardless of length. Always check the specific rules of the writing style you’re using to be sure your title shines. Thank you for expanding your writing knowledge!
Want to learn about more specific capitalization rules for words?
