Result
No. "But" is a coordinating conjunction ("Small but Mighty") or occasionally a preposition meaning "except" ("Nothing but the Truth"). Both uses are on every guide's lowercase list, so "but" stays lowercase in the middle of a title in AP, APA, Chicago, MLA, AMA, and Bluebook.
"But" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "But" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Lowercase | Conjunctions of three or fewer letters stay lowercase |
| APA | Lowercase | Short conjunctions stay lowercase |
| Chicago | Lowercase | One of the five lowercase coordinating conjunctions |
| MLA | Lowercase | Coordinating conjunctions stay lowercase |
| AMA | Lowercase | Coordinating conjunctions stay lowercase |
| Bluebook | Lowercase | Conjunctions of four or fewer letters stay lowercase |
Examples in Chicago Style
- Small but Mighty
- Nothing but the Truth
- Slow but Steady Growth
- Last but Not Least
When "But" Is Capitalized
- First word: "But Why Does It Work."
- First word of a subtitle: "Rules: But Not Too Many."
- Last word: AP, Chicago, and MLA capitalize any final word.
- As a noun: "No Ifs, Ands, or Buts" treats "Buts" as a noun.
"But" Versus "Yet"
The two can mean the same thing ("Simple but Effective," "Simple yet Effective"), but Chicago treats them differently: "but" is one of its five lowercase conjunctions, while "yet" is not. In AP, APA, and MLA, both stay lowercase. See also "and" and "or".
Real Titles With "But"
- Nothing but the Truth (2008 film): preposition, lowercase
- All but My Life (Gerda Weissmann Klein): preposition, lowercase
"But" 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 "but" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "Small but mighty." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "but" be capitalized in a title?
No, not mid-title. Every major guide keeps "but" lowercase unless it is first, last, or starts a subtitle.
Is "but" capitalized in Chicago style?
No. "But" is one of the five coordinating conjunctions Chicago lowercases.
Is "but" capitalized in APA?
No. APA lowercases short conjunctions.