Quick Answer
The rule for "without" depends on the style guide. In Chicago and MLA, keep "without" lowercase in titles unless it is the first or last word, because both guides lowercase prepositions of any length. In APA and AP, capitalize "without" mid-title because both guides capitalize words of four or more letters.
You can also paste any title into the free title case converter at the top of the page to apply these rules automatically.
Understanding Title Capitalization
When you write titles, capitalization shows what words are important. Most of the time, small words stay lowercase, but bigger words get a capital letter. It's key to know which style guide to follow because they have different rules.
Is 'Without' Capitalized in a Title?
In titles, "without" often makes people wonder if it should be capitalized. This word has 7 characters, which makes it a bit tricky. Here is how different style guides say to handle it:
- APA (American Psychological Association) suggests capitalizing words that are four letters or longer. So, "without" does get a capital "W".
- MLA (Modern Language Association) and Chicago styles lowercase prepositions of any length, so "without" stays lowercase unless it is the first or last word.
- AP (Associated Press) capitalizes prepositions of four or more letters. So, "without" gets a capital "W" here too.
So the answer splits by guide: MLA and Chicago keep it lowercase, while APA and AP capitalize it. Let's see some examples:
- APA & AP: "Living Without Limits: A Guide to Personal Growth"
- MLA & Chicago: "Finding Peace without Giving Up"
Remember, the key is consistency. Pick a style guide and stick to it throughout your writing. This helps keep your titles looking professional and correct.
Remember the split: Chicago and MLA lowercase prepositions of any length, so "without" stays lowercase mid-title under both. APA and AP capitalize words of four or more letters, so "without" takes a capital W there. When deciding whether to capitalize "without" in your title, check which style guide you're following and apply it consistently.
For a deeper breakdown of how each guide handles capitalization, see the title case styles guide.
