Understanding the rules of capitalization in titles can be quite the puzzle, especially with words like ‘them’. Different style guides like Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP offer varied directives, leaving many scratching their heads. If you’ve been wondering whether ‘them’ deserves a big letter at the start or is just fine in its lowercase form in your next headline, this is where it gets demystified. Learn the nuts and bolts about capitalizing function words and get ready to title like a pro!
According to Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP writing styles, the word ‘them’ is not capitalized in a title unless it is the first word or follows a colon. Precise rules can vary slightly, so checking specific style guidelines is recommended.
Understanding Capitalization in Titles
When you write a title, capitalizing the right words is super important. It makes titles look professional and grabs attention. But knowing which words to capitalize can be a bit tricky. In most title capitalization styles, small and common words like ‘and’, ‘but’, ‘or’, ‘for’, ‘the’, and ‘a’ are not capitalized unless they are the first or last word in a title.
Is ‘Them’ Capitalized?
No matter which writing style you’re using – whether it’s Chicago, MLA, APA, or AP – the word ‘them’ gets special treatment. Normally, it’s not capitalized because it only has four characters. These styles generally say that only words with more than four letters need a capital letter unless they are an important part of the sentence. But rules have exceptions.
When You Should Capitalize ‘Them’
If ‘them’ is the first word in your title or the last, you hit that shift key and make it uppercase. Check it out: “Them: Stories of Adventure.” See how ‘Them’ starts with a big T? That’s the way to do it. If ‘them’ is hanging out in the middle of your title, it usually stays lowercase: “Inviting Them Over for Dinner.” Simple, right?
Examples for Better Clarity
When in doubt, here are examples to clear things up. “Gather Them: A Tale of Friendship” – here, ‘Them’ is at the beginning, so it gets a capital ‘T’. In “Learning to Understand Them,” ‘them’ is small because it’s not at the start or the end. But if the title was “The Story of Them,” that ‘Them’ would be capitalized because it’s chilling at the end of the title.
Remember, rules are different for each style, but this four-letter guideline is a quick check for title capitalization. Keep it handy and your titles will always look sharp.
Conclusion
When you’re deciding whether to capitalize the word ‘them’ in a title, remember that it depends on the style guide you’re following. In APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, ‘them’ is considered a minor word and is typically not capitalized unless it is the first or last word in a title. In contrast, the AP style capitalizes ‘them’ because it has four or more letters. Always keep your chosen style guide handy to ensure your titles shine with perfect grammar. Thank you for enriching your writing skills with this tip!
Want to learn about more specific capitalization rules for words?
