"Into" is a 4-letter preposition. It sits exactly on the boundary of the most common cutoff rule (lowercase 3-letter prepositions, capitalize 4-letter prepositions), so it gets capitalized in length-based guides and lowercased in category-based guides. The short answer: capitalize "Into" in length-based style guides like APA and AP, but keep it lowercase in Chicago and MLA.
This guide covers how Chicago, MLA, APA, AP, AMA, the New York Times, Wikipedia, and Bluebook each treat "into", with real examples and the common mistakes that trip writers up.
Quick Reference: "Into" by Style Guide
| Style Guide | Capitalize "Into"? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (CMOS) | No | Lowercase prepositions of any length |
| MLA | No | Lowercase prepositions regardless of length |
| APA (7th edition) | Yes | Capitalize words of 4 or more letters |
| AP (Associated Press) | Yes | Capitalize prepositions of 4 or more letters |
| AMA | Yes | Capitalize words of 4 or more letters |
| New York Times | Yes | Capitalize prepositions of 4 or more letters |
| Wikipedia | Yes (if 5+ letters) | Capitalize prepositions of 5 or more letters |
| Bluebook | Yes (if 5+ letters) | Capitalize prepositions of 5 or more letters |
"Into" gets capitalized in length-based guides (APA, AP, AMA, NYT, Wikipedia, Bluebook) and stays lowercase in category-based guides (Chicago, MLA).
Chicago Manual of Style
Chicago lowercases prepositions of any length. "into" stays lowercase mid-title regardless of how long it is.
MLA Style
MLA follows the same logic as Chicago: lowercase prepositions regardless of length. "into" is lowercase unless it is the first or last word.
APA Style
APA capitalizes words of 4 or more letters. "Into" has at least 4 letters, so APA capitalizes it.
AP Style
AP capitalizes prepositions of 4 or more letters. "Into" passes the threshold and gets capitalized in headlines.
AMA Style
AMA capitalizes words of 4 or more letters. "Into" is capitalized in AMA-style titles.
New York Times Style
NYT capitalizes prepositions of 4 or more letters. "Into" is capitalized in Times headlines.
Wikipedia Manual of Style
Wikipedia uses a 5-letter cutoff for prepositions. "Into" of 4 letters lands right at the edge; check the latest Wikipedia MoS for specifics.
Bluebook (Legal Writing)
Bluebook uses a 5-letter cutoff. "Into" of 4 letters is typically lowercased in Bluebook, but verify against the latest edition.
Real Titles That Use "Into"
- Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. First word.
- A Window Into the Past. Preposition mid-title.
- Eyes Into Memory. Preposition mid-title.
- Step Into the Light. Preposition mid-title.
Common Mistakes
The split between style guides causes most "into" errors. Writers following Chicago or MLA who capitalize "into" are using the wrong rule. Writers following AP or APA who lowercase it are doing the same in reverse. Pick one guide and apply it across every title in the document, and do not change rules between headlines on the same site.
Apply the Rules Automatically
Paste your title into the free title case converter at the top of the page. Pick your style and the tool handles "into" along with every other word in the title.
