Result
Yes. "Its" is a possessive pronoun, and every style guide capitalizes it in a title. So is "it's," the contraction of "it is" or "it has." The two are spelled differently but capitalized the same way.
"Its" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "Its" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Capitalize | Pronouns, including possessives, are major words |
| APA | Capitalize | Pronouns, including possessives, are major words |
| Chicago | Capitalize | Pronouns, including possessives, are major words |
| MLA | Capitalize | Pronouns, including possessives, are major words |
| AMA | Capitalize | Pronouns, including possessives, are major words |
| Bluebook | Capitalize | Pronouns, including possessives, are major words |
Examples in Chicago Style
- The City and Its Secrets
- A Brand and Its Voice
- Why It's Time to Update Your Old Posts
- SEO and Its Limits
"Its" Versus "It's"
- Its shows possession: "The Company and Its Founders."
- It's means "it is" or "it has": "It's Not You, It's the Headline."
Both are capitalized in title case, so the only thing to check is the apostrophe. The capital goes on the first letter only: "It's," not "It'S."
Related Words
"It" is capitalized as a pronoun, and so are the other possessives: "his", "her", "their", and "our".
"Its" 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 "its" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "The city and its secrets." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "its" be capitalized in a title?
Yes. "Its" is a possessive pronoun and is capitalized in every style guide.
Is "it's" capitalized in a title?
Yes, as "It's." Only the first letter is capitalized.