Ever wondered about the rules that grip the seemingly simple task of capitalizing words in titles? Embarking on writing ventures, you might stumble upon the tiny yet impactful word ‘can.’ Should it stand tall with a capital ‘C’ or remain lowercase amidst its more prominent neighbors? With the guidelines of Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP styles weaving a complex web around title capitalization, navigating the dos and don’ts can feel like cracking a linguistic code. Discover the nuances of title capitalization and never second-guess your decision on whether ‘can’ gets a capital letter at the beginning again.
In titles, the term ‘can’ should indeed be capitalized according to most major style guides, including MLA, APA, Chicago, and AP. Capitalize ‘Can’ is a fundamental rule in title capitalization, as ‘can’ serves as an auxiliary verb, which are always capitalized in titles.
When you’re deciding whether ‘can’ should be capitalized in a title, it’s crucial to understand that different style guides have different rules. Whether ‘can’ gets a capital letter depends on the style you’re following.
Chicago Style
In Chicago Style, ‘can’ is not capitalized in a title unless it is the first or last word. This guide recommends capitalizing all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, but ‘can’ is considered an auxiliary verb, which are not capitalized unless they are part of a verb phrase that is used as a noun, or they are the first or last word in a title.
MLA Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style also suggests not capitalizing ‘can’. MLA style capitalizes verbs in titles, but since ‘can’ functions as an auxiliary, or helping, verb rather than a main verb, it remains in lowercase unless it starts or ends the title.
APA Style
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), ‘can’ is a verb and should be capitalized in a title. In APA style, all words of four letters or more are capitalized, regardless of their part of speech.
AP Style
The Associated Press (AP) has a simpler approach. ‘Can’ is not capitalized in the AP style because it is a conjunction, preposition, or an auxiliary verb, and these are lowercase unless they begin a title or subtitle.
Let’s look at an example for each style:
- Chicago Style: “Why You Can Learn Anything You Put Your Mind To”
- MLA Style: “We Can Change the World Together”
- APA Style: “You Can Make a Difference: A Comprehensive Guide”
- AP Style: “What can You Accomplish in a Day?”
Remember, always check the specific guidelines of the style you’re using. If you’re writing a title and need to decide if ‘can’ should be capitalized, look at the style guide relevant to your work and follow its rules. This will keep your writing polished and professional.
Conclusion
In conclusion, remember when you write a title, the word ‘can’ is usually not capitalized, making it one of the little words that remain in lowercase. This falls in line with most title capitalization rules, notably MLA, APA, and Chicago, unless it is the first or last word in a title. Keep your titles polished and your grammar sharp by following these simple guidelines. Thanks for taking the time to read and clear up any confusion around this common question. Your titles are about to get even better!
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