Result
Not as a preposition, which is how "by" works in most titles ("Death by Chocolate," "Stand by Me"). It is two letters long, and every major guide lowercases short prepositions. When "by" has no object and finishes the verb, as in "Stop By" or "Stand By," it is an adverb and gets a capital.
"By" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "By" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Lowercase | Prepositions of three or fewer letters stay lowercase |
| APA | Lowercase | Short prepositions (three or fewer letters) stay lowercase |
| Chicago | Lowercase | Prepositions are lowercase at any length |
| MLA | Lowercase | Prepositions are lowercase at any length |
| AMA | Lowercase | Prepositions of three or fewer letters stay lowercase |
| Bluebook | Lowercase | Prepositions of four or fewer letters stay lowercase |
Examples in Chicago Style
- Murder by Death
- Step by Step
- Made by Hand
- Design by Committee
"Stand by Me" Versus "Stand By"
In "Stand by Me," "by" has an object ("me"), so it is a preposition and stays lowercase. In "Please Stand By," nothing follows it, so it is an adverb and is capitalized. The same test works for "Drop By," "Come By," and "Get By."
When "By" Is Capitalized
- First word: "By the Sea."
- First word of a subtitle: "Bread: By Hand and by Heart."
- Last word: AP, Chicago, and MLA capitalize it ("Words to Live By").
Related Words
"From" and "with" are four letters, so they split the guides. "To", "of", and "in" are lowercase everywhere, like "by."
Real Titles With "By"
- Stand by Me (Ben E. King): preposition, lowercase
- Murder by Death (1976 film): preposition, lowercase
"By" 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 "by" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "Made by hand." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "by" be capitalized in a title?
Not as a preposition. All six major guides keep it lowercase mid-title.
Is "by" capitalized in APA?
No. APA lowercases prepositions of three letters or fewer.
Is "by" capitalized at the end of a title?
In AP, Chicago, and MLA, yes: "Words to Live By."