Is "Need" Capitalized in a Title?

Yes. "Need" is a verb or a noun ("All You Need Is Love," "A Real Need"), and every style guide capitalizes it in a title.

"Need" by Style Guide

Style guide	"Need" 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

• Everything You Need to Know
• Do You Need a Style Guide
• What Writers Need Most
• The Need for Speed

In "Need to," "Need" is capitalized and "to" stays lowercase: "What You Need to Know."

For the short list of words that do stay lowercase, see the full list of words that stay lowercase.

"Need" 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 "need" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "Everything you need to know." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.

Quick Answers

Should "need" be capitalized in a title?

Yes. "Need" is a verb, and every style guide capitalizes verbs in title case.

Is "need" capitalized in APA?

Yes. APA capitalizes major words, including verbs, regardless of length.