Result
It depends on the style guide. "Between" is a seven-letter preposition. AP, APA, AMA, and Bluebook capitalize prepositions that long, so they write "Between." Chicago and MLA lowercase prepositions at any length, so "between" stays lowercase there unless it is the first or last word.
"Between" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "Between" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Capitalize | Prepositions of four or more letters are capitalized |
| APA | Capitalize | Words of four or more letters are capitalized |
| Chicago | Lowercase | Prepositions are lowercase at any length |
| MLA | Lowercase | Prepositions are lowercase at any length |
| AMA | Capitalize | Prepositions longer than three letters are capitalized |
| Bluebook | Capitalize | Prepositions longer than four letters are capitalized ("between" has seven) |
The Same Headline in Four Styles
| Style | "the difference between title case and sentence case" |
|---|---|
| AP | The Difference Between Title Case and Sentence Case |
| APA | The Difference Between Title Case and Sentence Case |
| Chicago | The Difference between Title Case and Sentence Case |
| MLA | The Difference between Title Case and Sentence Case |
| Style | "talks between two writers" |
|---|---|
| AP | Talks Between Two Writers |
| APA | Talks Between Two Writers |
| Chicago | Talks between Two Writers |
| MLA | Talks between Two Writers |
"Between" Versus "Among"
"Among" splits the guides the same way. Choosing between the two words is a meaning question (two things versus a group), not a capitalization one.
When "Between" Is Capitalized Everywhere
- First word: "Between the World and Me."
- First word of a subtitle: "Two Cities: Between the Lines."
For the full cutoff rules, see title case prepositions.
"Between" in Sentence Case
APA reference lists, many news sites, and most UI text use sentence case instead of title case. There, only the first word and proper nouns get capitals, so "between" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "The difference between title case and sentence case." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "between" be capitalized in a title?
In AP, APA, AMA, and Bluebook, yes. In Chicago and MLA, no, unless it is first or last.
Is "between" capitalized in APA?
Yes. APA capitalizes words of four letters or more.
Is "between" capitalized in Chicago style?
No. Chicago lowercases prepositions at any length.