When you’re giving your masterpiece a title, every word counts, and knowing which ones to capitalize can be tricky. Whether it’s for an essay, article, or book, capitalization rules shape your title’s presentation and impact. Ever wondered if small words like ‘should’ get a big letter at the start? Dive into the maze of title capitalization as this blog post unpacks the dos and don’ts based on style guides like Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP. Grab the key to polishing your titles into perfection!
In title case, the word ‘should’ is capitalized. This applies to various style guides such as Chicago, APA, MLA, and AP. When creating a title, it is crucial to consider these formatting rules to maintain professionalism and consistency in your writing.
Capitalize ‘should’ in titles when following most style guides. In title case, which is used in styles like APA, Chicago, and MLA, ‘should’ is a verb, and verbs are always capitalized.
When to Capitalize ‘Should’
When you’re writing a title, your job is to make sure every word is in its proper place. Think of your title as a mini-map for your readers. Each word should stand out, but not every word needs to be capitalized. In styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago, capitalize ‘should’ because it’s a verb and verbs give action to your title.
Examples in Different Styles
Consider these examples:
- APA & Chicago: “You Should Learn to Dance”
- MLA: “Why You Should Travel the World”
Even in AP style, which often uses a more down-to-earth approach with a lowercase style for conjunctions and prepositions, ‘should’ is capitalized because it’s a verb, not a conjunction or preposition.
Exceptions to the Rule
There are styles that use sentence case for titles, like the AP style in some contexts, which would not capitalize ‘should’. In sentence case, only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized. Here, ‘should’ would be lowercase if it’s not the first word:
- “You should learn to dance”
- “Why you should travel the world”
But remember, these are exceptions, and you’re more likely to see ‘should’ capitalized in a properly formatted title.
Conclusion
Wondering if the word ‘should’ gets a big letter at the start in titles? In most title capitalization rules, like APA, MLA, and Chicago, ‘should’ is seen as an important word and yes, it does get capitalized. That’s because ‘should’ is a verb and plays a key role in what you’re saying. When using AP style, it’s a little different because it’s not very long – remember, it has just 6 letters – so it might not get capitalized unless it’s at the start or the end of a title. So, next time you’re making a title standout, remember this simple tip to make sure your titles look perfect. Thank you for reading and good luck with your writing!
Want to learn about more specific capitalization rules for words?
