Quick Answer
It depends on how "since" is working and on the guide. As a subordinating conjunction ("Since You Asked"), Chicago and MLA capitalize it. As a preposition ("Every Rule Since 1990"), those two lowercase it, because both lowercase prepositions of any length. APA and AP capitalize "Since" either way, since it runs to five letters and both capitalize words of four letters or more.
You can also paste any title into the free title case converter at the top of the page to apply these rules automatically.
Understanding how to capitalize words in titles is key to creating polished and professional-looking text. Looking at the word 'since', it's clear it has five characters. But does that determine whether it's capitalized in a title? Not quite.
Capitalize 'Since' in a Title?
For title case, which is often used in book titles, article headings, and other important texts, specific style guides have certain rules. In title case, you capitalize major words, including nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. However, you often do not capitalize smaller words, like conjunctions, articles, and prepositions.
Now, 'since' can be both a preposition and an adverb or a conjunction. But don't get tricked by its roles. Despite its function in a sentence, 'since' almost always gets capitalized in a title because it has five letters or more. This is the simple rule of thumb for many styles, including APA, MLA, and Chicago. However, the AP style is more flexible - it suggests capitalizing words with four or more letters. But, even in AP style, 'since' would still be capitalized.
For example, in the title "Stories Since the Turn of the Century," 'Since' is capitalized because it fits the criteria of having more than three letters. In contrast, small words like 'the', 'of', and 'a', often remain lowercase in a title.
Examples
Here are several examples to cement the concept:
- In APA, MLA, and Chicago styles: "Adventures Since Dawn"
- In AP style: "Since We Last Spoke"
Always remember that specifics can vary so it's important to check the guidelines of the style you are using.
Final Thoughts
Remember that word length is a handy guide in figuring out capitalization rules for titles. If 'since' appears in your title, feel confident in capitalizing it, following the general principles of title capitalization across different style guides.
Understand that style guides like Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP have their own rules, but they agree on one thing: capitalize words that are important in titles. Now, 'since' is not a major word like a noun or verb, it's a preposition, and these are usually not capitalized. However, the word 'since' is also a conjunction and an adverb, and it can be capitalized if it's important in the title. If 'since' is at the start of a title or is crucial to the meaning, you can give it a capital 'S'. But if it's just linking ideas, keep it lowercase. Make sure you check the specific rules of the style you're using for your title. This little detail can make your writing look polished and professional. learning how to perfect your titles!
For a deeper breakdown of how each guide handles capitalization, see the title case styles guide.
