Result
It depends on the style guide. "If" is a subordinating conjunction, and the guides disagree about those. Chicago, MLA, and AMA capitalize subordinating conjunctions regardless of length, so they write "If." AP, APA, and Bluebook lowercase short conjunctions, so "if" stays lowercase there mid-title.
"If" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "If" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Lowercase | Conjunctions of three or fewer letters stay lowercase |
| APA | Lowercase | APA lists "if" among the short conjunctions it lowercases |
| Chicago | Capitalize | Subordinating conjunctions are capitalized |
| MLA | Capitalize | Subordinating conjunctions are capitalized |
| AMA | Capitalize | Subordinating conjunctions are capitalized |
| Bluebook | Lowercase | Conjunctions of four or fewer letters stay lowercase |
The Same Headline in Four Styles
| Style | "catch me if you can" |
|---|---|
| AP | Catch Me if You Can |
| APA | Catch Me if You Can |
| Chicago | Catch Me If You Can |
| MLA | Catch Me If You Can |
| Style | "what to do if your site loses traffic" |
|---|---|
| AP | What to Do if Your Site Loses Traffic |
| APA | What to Do if Your Site Loses Traffic |
| Chicago | What to Do If Your Site Loses Traffic |
| MLA | What to Do If Your Site Loses Traffic |
The film's official title is "Catch Me If You Can," which matches the Chicago and MLA treatment.
When "If" Is Capitalized Everywhere
- First word: "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler."
- Last word: "What If" in AP, Chicago, and MLA.
- As a noun: "No Ifs, Ands, or Buts" uses "Ifs" as a noun, which is always capitalized.
Related Words
Other subordinating conjunctions such as "when", "while", "since", and "because" are long enough that AP and APA capitalize them too. "As" is the other short one that splits the guides.
Real Titles With "If"
- Catch Me If You Can (2002 film): capitalized mid-title
- If on a Winter's Night a Traveler (Italo Calvino): first word
"If" 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 "if" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "What to do if your site loses traffic." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "if" be capitalized in a title?
In Chicago, MLA, and AMA, yes. In AP, APA, and Bluebook, no, unless it is first or last.
Is "if" capitalized in APA?
No. APA lowercases short conjunctions, and "if" is on its list.
Is "if" capitalized in Chicago style?
Yes. Chicago capitalizes subordinating conjunctions like "if," "because," and "when."