Result
Yes. "May" is a helping verb ("You May Be Right") or the name of a month, and either way every style guide capitalizes it in a title.
"May" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "May" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Capitalize | Verbs are major words |
| APA | Capitalize | Verbs are major words |
| Chicago | Capitalize | Verbs are major words |
| MLA | Capitalize | Verbs are major words |
| AMA | Capitalize | Verbs are major words |
| Bluebook | Capitalize | Verbs are major words |
Examples in Chicago Style
- You May Be Overthinking Your Headlines
- What May Change Next Year
- May the Best Post Win
- Updates from May
As the month, "May" is a proper noun and is capitalized everywhere, not just in titles. As a verb, it follows the same rule as "can", "will", and "should".
For the short list of words that do stay lowercase, see the full list of words that stay lowercase.
"May" 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 "may" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "You may be overthinking your headlines." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "may" be capitalized in a title?
Yes. "May" is a verb, and every style guide capitalizes verbs in title case.
Is "may" capitalized in APA?
Yes. APA capitalizes major words, including verbs, regardless of length.