Discover the nuts and bolts of title capitalization with a focus on the verb ‘are’. Whether it’s an essay heading or a blog post title, knowing which words to capitalize can be tricky. Different style guides like MLA, APA, and Chicago have their own rules, and it’s easy to get tangled up. Dive in to unravel the mystery behind capitalizing ‘are’ and master the art of perfect titles that stand out while adhering to proper grammar rules. Get ready to give your writing the professional polish it deserves.
Yes, the word ‘are’ should be capitalized in a title according to all major style guides including Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP. This is due to the rule that pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns are always capitalized in titles.
When you’re deciding if ‘are’ should be capitalized in a title, it’s crucial to know which style guide you’re following. Each style guide has specific rules for capitalization in titles.
Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago)
If you follow Chicago style, you capitalize ‘are’ in a title because it’s a verb, and verbs are always capitalized. For example, in Chicago style, a title would be written as “We Are the Champions.”
Modern Language Association (MLA)
MLA style also requires you to capitalize ‘are’ because it’s a verb. Titles following MLA rules would have ‘are’ capitalized, such as “Things Are Looking Up.”
American Psychological Association (APA)
With APA style, ‘are’ gets capitalized because this style capitalizes all words of four letters or more in titles. So, a title in APA style would read “You Are What You Eat.”
Associated Press Stylebook (AP)
AP style is different from the others. It suggests that you only capitalize words that are three letters or longer, which means ‘are’ should be capitalized in a title. Take this title for an example: “They Are Not Alone.”
So, regardless of whether you’re using Chicago, MLA, APA, or AP styles, you should capitalize ‘are’ in a title. Remember, rules can change, so it’s always best to double-check the most recent editions of style manuals for any updates. If you do this, you’ll make sure your titles shine!
Conclusion
Understand that when crafting titles, consistency with style guides is key. For titles in APA, Chicago, and MLA formats, ‘are’ is usually capitalized because it’s a verb and plays a crucial role in the meaning of the title. However, in AP style, ‘are’ is not capitalized unless it’s the first word or comes after a colon, because it’s considered too short, being only three letters. Keep these simple rules in mind to ensure your titles are polished and professional. Thank you for reading and remember, attention to detail can make your writing stand out!
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