"Than" introduces a comparison. Even though it is technically a conjunction, it has four letters and functions as a principal word in titles. The short answer: yes, capitalize "Than" in any title position across every major style guide.
This guide covers how Chicago, MLA, APA, AP, AMA, the New York Times, Wikipedia, and Bluebook each treat "than", with real examples and the common mistakes that trip writers up.
Quick Reference: "Than" by Style Guide
| Style Guide | Capitalize "Than"? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (CMOS) | Yes | 4-letter conjunctions like 'than' are typically capitalized |
| APA (7th edition) | Yes | Capitalize words of 4 or more letters |
| MLA | Yes | Comparative conjunctions act as principal words |
| AP (Associated Press) | Yes | Conjunctions of 4 or more letters are capitalized |
| AMA | Yes | Capitalize words of 4 or more letters |
| New York Times | Yes | Conjunctions of 4+ letters are capitalized |
| Wikipedia | Yes | Comparative conjunctions capitalized as major words |
| Bluebook | Yes | Conjunctions of 4+ letters are capitalized in case titles |
Across every major style, "Than" is capitalized in any title position. Pronouns, verbs, and conjunctions of 4+ letters are principal words and never get lowercased.
Chicago Manual of Style
Chicago capitalizes "Than" as a 4-letter comparative conjunction. The "lowercase short conjunctions" rule applies to coordinating conjunctions like "and" and "but", not comparatives.
MLA Style
MLA treats "Than" as a principal word and capitalizes it in any title position.
APA Style
APA capitalizes words of 4 or more letters. "Than" passes the threshold and stays capitalized.
AP Style
AP capitalizes conjunctions of 4 or more letters. "Than" is always capitalized in headlines.
AMA Style
AMA capitalizes words of 4 or more letters. "Than" is capitalized in medical journal titles.
New York Times Style
NYT capitalizes conjunctions of 4 or more letters. "Than" is capitalized in Times headlines.
Wikipedia Manual of Style
Wikipedia capitalizes comparative conjunctions as major words. "Than" stays capitalized.
Bluebook (Legal Writing)
Bluebook capitalizes conjunctions of 4 or more letters. "Than" is capitalized in legal titles.
Real Titles That Use "Than"
- Greater Than Yesterday. Comparative mid-title.
- More Than Words by Extreme song. Comparative mid-title.
- Bigger Than Life by 1956 film. Comparative mid-title.
- Older Than Time. Comparative as last segment.
Common Mistakes
The dominant mistake is treating "than" like a short preposition and lowercasing it. "Than" is a four-letter conjunction and stays capitalized in every major style. Watch for the "than" vs "then" confusion too: "than" handles comparisons, "then" handles sequence, and both are capitalized in title case.
Apply the Rules Automatically
Paste your title into the free title case converter at the top of the page. Pick your style and the tool handles "than" along with every other word in the title.
