Ever stumbled upon the tricky task of deciding whether the word ‘what’ deserves a capital letter in a title? You’re not alone! Mastering title capitalization can seem like a tricky puzzle, but it’s crucial for nailing that perfect first impression. Whether you’re crafting the headline for your next blog post, a school paper, or a formal report, knowing the rules for each style guide – Chicago, MLA, APA, AP – could be the difference between a title that stands out and one that falls flat. Get ready to dive into the straightforward rules that will make title capitalization a breeze.
In a title, the word ‘what’ is typically capitalized in accordance with most major style guides including Chicago, MLA, APA, and AP. Each of these standards encourages capitalizing all significant words, including ‘what,’ thereby ensuring clarity and consistency across written content.
When you’re writing a title, you might wonder if small words like “what” should start with a big letter. Whether “what” gets a capital letter depends on the style guide you’re using.
Chicago Style
In Chicago style, you make “what” big if it’s the first or last word in a title. If it’s not at the start or end and it’s used as part of a question or is an important word in the sentence, then it also gets a big letter. For example, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” makes “What” big because it’s the first word.
MLA Style
For MLA style, “what” gets a big letter if it’s the first word. Otherwise, it stays small unless it’s an important part of the title. For instance, in the title “What Is MLA Style?”, “What” is big because it’s the first word.
APA Style
In APA style, you also make “what” big if it’s at the start of a title or subtitle. Small words like “what” usually stay small if they’re in the middle of a title. So in “Discovering What Matters Most,” “What” stays small.
AP Style
AP style suggests that “what” should always be made big, no matter where it is in the title. So even in “The What and How of Writing,” you make “What” big.
Keep these tips in mind when you’re deciding whether to make “what” big or small in a title. Each style guide has its own rules, but always remember to be consistent in your writing. As a simple rule, if “what” is a key part of your title’s meaning, like in a question, go ahead and give it a capital letter.
Conclusion
Remember, when crafting titles, small words like ‘what’ follow specific rules in capitalization depending on the style guide you choose. In APA, MLA, and Chicago, you typically capitalize ‘what’ if it’s the first or last word, or if it acts as a noun, pronoun, verb, or is part of a verb phrase. In contrast, the AP style suggests not capitalizing it unless it’s the first word of the title. As you continue to refine your writing, this attention to detail will sharpen your titles, making them stand out and grab a reader’s interest. Thank you for diving into the nuances of title capitalization!
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