If you’re working on a headline or title, you might be scratching your head about whether tiny words like ‘than’ deserve a capital letter. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! This question trips up a lot of folks, from students to seasoned writers. The truth is, the answer isn’t always straightforward since it depends on which style guide you’re following. Knowing the rules for capitalization can make all the difference in your writing, and in just a moment, you’ll discover the right way to style those tricky little words to make your titles shine.
In title capitalization, the word ‘than’ often follows the rules of prepositions. While in the AP Style it’s capitalized, in the Chicago, MLA, and APA styles, ‘than’ isn’t capitalized unless it begins the title.
When you’re crafting a title, every word counts, but not every word gets the capital letter treatment. Words like ‘than’ might seem tricky. Think of ‘than’ as a connector in your sentences. It’s a preposition, and in titles, these small words usually stay lowercase.
Following Style Guides
Different style guides might have their own rules, but most agree on one point: avoid capitalizing small conjunctions, articles, and prepositions—like ‘than’—unless it’s the first or last word of the title.
Examples in Different Styles
In Chicago style, you’ll keep ‘than’ lowercase unless it starts or ends the title, as in “Other Than the Obvious.” For APA style, that’s also true, even if your title is part of a reference list entry. MLA and AP, while having differing title capitalization rules, both agree that ‘than’ should not be capitalized if it falls in the middle of a title.
Think about a book called “Smarter Than Your Average Bear”. ‘Than’ is in the middle, connecting two ideas, so it stays in lowercase. What if it’s a song title, and the style is more flexible? Even then, ‘than’ isn’t usually given a capital letter unless it’s meant for emphasis or stylistic choice.
Capitalize With Purpose
Use capital letters to give important words a spotlight. ‘Than’ usually isn’t the star of the show, so keep it modest with a lowercase. Do this unless your specific style guide tells you otherwise. Remember that the first and last word rule is a safety net if you’re ever in doubt.
For expert writers or beginners, mastering title capitalization is a small but mighty tool in your writing kit. So the next time you write a title, know that words like ‘than’ typically don’t get a capital boost. Instead, focus on the big-hitters: nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. They’re the ones that often need that capital ‘oomph’.
Conclusion
Understanding how to capitalize words in titles is key to making them stand out correctly. In styles such as Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP, small conjunctions, articles, and prepositions usually aren’t capitalized unless they begin a title. With this in mind, consider that ‘than’ is a conjunction. So, it should not be capitalized in a title unless it’s the first word. Keeping ‘than’ lowercase helps maintain proper title casing and ensures that your writing is polished and professional. Make sure your titles follow these guidelines for a sharper look in all your documents. Thank you for reading and always remember these simple tips for your next writing project!
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