Is "Versus" Capitalized in a Title?

It depends on the style guide and on how you write it. Spelled out, "versus" is a six-letter preposition: AP, APA, AMA, and Bluebook capitalize it, while Chicago and MLA keep it lowercase. Abbreviated as "vs." or "v.," it stays lowercase in every guide.

"Versus" by Style Guide

Style guide	"Versus" mid-title	Why
AP	Capitalize	Prepositions of four or more letters are capitalized
APA	Capitalize	Words of four or more letters are capitalized
Chicago	Lowercase	Prepositions are lowercase at any length
MLA	Lowercase	Prepositions are lowercase at any length
AMA	Capitalize	Prepositions longer than three letters are capitalized
Bluebook	Capitalize	Prepositions longer than four letters are capitalized ("versus" has six)

The Same Headline in Four Styles

Style	"title case versus sentence case"
AP	Title Case Versus Sentence Case
APA	Title Case Versus Sentence Case
Chicago	Title Case versus Sentence Case
MLA	Title Case versus Sentence Case

Style	"title case vs. sentence case"
AP	Title Case vs. Sentence Case
APA	Title Case vs. Sentence Case
Chicago	Title Case vs. Sentence Case
MLA	Title Case vs. Sentence Case

Which Form to Use

Many titles use the abbreviation, which avoids the capitalization question entirely. Legal case names use "v." ("Brown v. Board of Education"), while most other titles use "vs." Spell it out when you want the title to read more formally.

"Versus" 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 "versus" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "Title case versus sentence case." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.

Quick Answers

Should "versus" be capitalized in a title?

Spelled out: yes in AP, APA, AMA, and Bluebook, no in Chicago and MLA. As "vs.": lowercase everywhere.

Is "vs." capitalized in a title?

No. The abbreviation stays lowercase in every guide.