"Via" is a short preposition meaning "by way of." Like other short prepositions, it stays lowercase in the middle of a title across every major style guide, and gets capitalized only by position.
This guide covers how Chicago, MLA, APA, AP, AMA, the New York Times, Wikipedia, and Bluebook each treat "via", with examples and the mistakes that trip writers up.
Quick Answer
In Chicago, MLA, APA, AP, AMA, NYT, Wikipedia, and Bluebook, keep "via" lowercase in a title unless it is the first word, the last word, or directly follows a colon. As a short preposition (three letters), "via" falls below every length cutoff in use, so no guide capitalizes it mid-title.
You can apply this automatically with the title case converter at the top of the page.
Quick Reference: "Via" by Style Guide
| Style Guide | Capitalize "Via"? | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (CMOS) | No | Lowercase prepositions of any length |
| MLA | No | Lowercase prepositions regardless of length |
| APA (7th edition) | No | Under 4 letters, stays lowercase |
| AP | No | Short prepositions lowercase |
| AMA | No | Short prepositions lowercase |
| New York Times | No | Short prepositions lowercase |
| Wikipedia | No | Under 5 letters, lowercase |
| Bluebook | No | Prepositions of 4 or fewer letters lowercase |
Real Titles That Use "Via"
- Paris via the Back Roads. "via" lowercase mid-title.
- Via Dolorosa. "Via" capitalized as the first word.
- Getting There via Rail. "via" lowercase mid-title.
