Result
Yes. "Using" is a form of the verb "use," working as a gerund ("Using AI in the Classroom") or a participle ("Teaching Using Games"). Verb forms are major words, so every style guide capitalizes "using" in a title.
"Using" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "Using" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Capitalize | Verb forms are major words |
| APA | Capitalize | Verb forms are major words |
| Chicago | Capitalize | Verb forms are major words |
| MLA | Capitalize | Verb forms are major words |
| AMA | Capitalize | Verb forms are major words |
| Bluebook | Capitalize | Verb forms are major words |
Examples in Chicago Style
- Using Data to Tell Better Stories
- How to Write Faster Using Templates
- Teaching Math Using Games
- Using Title Case in Email Subject Lines
Why People Lowercase "Using"
In titles like "Build a Site Using Astro," "using" does the job of "with" or "by," so writers sometimes treat it like a preposition and lowercase it. Style guides capitalize it anyway, because it is still a form of a verb. If you are unsure, ask whether the word ends in -ing and comes from a verb. If it does, capitalize it.
A small set of -ing words, such as "regarding" and "concerning," are often classed as prepositions. "Using" is not usually listed among them, so treat it as a verb form.
Related Words
"Use" is a verb or a noun and is capitalized for the same reason. Compare it with "with", a true preposition, which Chicago and MLA keep lowercase.
"Using" in Sentence Case
APA reference lists, many news sites, and most UI text use sentence case instead of title case. There, only the first word and proper nouns get capitals, so "using" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "Using data to tell better stories." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "using" be capitalized in a title?
Yes. "Using" is a verb form, and every style guide capitalizes verbs in title case.
Is "using" capitalized in APA?
Yes. It is a verb form and also has five letters, so APA capitalizes it on both counts.
Is "using" capitalized in Chicago style?
Yes. Chicago lowercases prepositions, but "using" is a participle or gerund, not a preposition.