Result
Yes. In most titles, "will" is a helping verb that marks the future ("What Will Change in 2027"). It can also be a noun ("Where There's a Will"). Verbs and nouns are major words, so every style guide capitalizes it.
"Will" by Style Guide
| Style guide | "Will" mid-title | Why |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Capitalize | Verbs and nouns are major words |
| APA | Capitalize | Verbs and nouns are major words |
| Chicago | Capitalize | Verbs and nouns are major words |
| MLA | Capitalize | Verbs and nouns are major words |
| AMA | Capitalize | Verbs and nouns are major words |
| Bluebook | Capitalize | Verbs and nouns are major words |
Examples in Chicago Style
- What Will Change in Search Next Year
- The House Will Stand
- How AI Will Shape the Newsroom
- Where There Is a Will
Contractions and Negatives
"Won't" and "Will Not" are both capitalized. Contractions built on "will" keep the capital on the first word only: "We'll," "You'll," and "It'll."
Other Helping Verbs
The same rule covers "can", "should", "may", and "have". None of them are on any guide's lowercase list, so you can capitalize them without checking which style you use.
"Will" 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 "will" is lowercase unless it starts the title: "What will change in search next year." Pick one of the two styles for a whole set of headings rather than mixing them.
Quick Answers
Should "will" be capitalized in a title?
Yes. "Will" is a helping verb or a noun, and both are capitalized in title case.
Is "will" capitalized in APA style?
Yes. "Will" has four letters and is a verb, so APA capitalizes it on both counts.
Is "won't" capitalized in a title?
Yes. Contractions of verbs are capitalized: "I Won't Back Down."