Title capitalization shouldn’t feel like a trap door. You write a solid paper, you polish your Works Cited, then a tiny word like to or according to makes you second-guess everything.
This guide breaks down MLA title case rules, the standard capitalization rules derived from the MLA Handbook, in plain language, with a copy-paste list, a quick table, and lots of real examples (including tricky ones like hyphenated terms and phrasal verbs). Use it for essay titles, headings, and source titles in MLA.
What MLA title case is (and how it’s different from sentence case)
MLA title case is the headline style you see in many books and academic papers: you capitalize the main words and lowercase short helper words (most of the time). MLA uses this specific title case for titles of English-language works in your academic writing and in your Works Cited list. If you also need a reminder on how MLA treats titles (italics vs quotation marks), Scribbr’s overview of formatting and capitalizing MLA titles is a handy reference.
Sentence case is different. In sentence case, you capitalize the first word and proper nouns, and the rest stays lowercase like a normal sentence. A quick comparison looks like this:
- Sentence case: How to write a works cited entry
- MLA title case: How to Write a Works Cited Entry
That difference matters because instructors often notice titles first, and inconsistent capitalization can make a Works Cited page look rushed.
One more thing: title case rules change across style guides. While academic writing often requires MLA title case, other style guides like APA style or the Chicago Manual of Style have different capitalization rules. For example, you capitalize or lowercase words based on each style’s guidelines. If you switch between classes, it helps to keep a short style reference bookmarked, like this comparison of title case styles. When you’re unsure, MLA’s own explanations are worth checking, including why MLA capitalizes certain words in titles.
MLA title case rules you can apply in 10 seconds
Think of MLA title case like a spotlight. Major words stand in the light, minor words fade into the background, unless they land in a spotlight position (first, last, or right after certain punctuation). These rules focus on major words as key parts of speech.
Copy-paste list: what to capitalize in MLA title case
Capitalize these major words (when they appear in a title):
- Nouns (dog, history, freedom)
- Pronouns (she, you, our, who)
- Verbs (is, are, was, be, run, writing)
- Adjectives (short, main, academic)
- Adverbs (quickly, very, still, out when it acts like an adverb)
- Subordinating conjunctions (because, although, while)
Lowercase these (unless they hit an “always capitalize” situation below):
- Articles: a, an, the
- Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet (remember FANBOYS as a mnemonic for these coordinating conjunctions)
- Prepositions (in, on, of, to, with, under, between, against, according to)
Quick reference table (MLA title case)
| Capitalize | Lowercase |
|---|---|
| Nouns (Book, Students, Research) | Articles (a, an, the) |
| Pronouns (My, Your, Who) | Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) |
| Verbs (Is, Are, Be, Become) | Prepositions of any length (of, between, against) |
| Adjectives (New, Better, Self-Reported) | The word to in an infinitive (to Write) |
| Adverbs (Now, Too, Up when it’s adverb use) | Two-word prepositions (according to, other than) |
MLA is strict about prepositions, even long ones. It also treats two-word prepositions as lowercase in the middle of a title (for example, “according to”). MLA discusses this directly in its post on capitalizing two-word prepositions in titles.
Always capitalize when…
Even “minor” words get capital letters in these spots, so always capitalize them:
- First and last words of the title (even The, A, To)
- First word after a colon (common in titles with subtitles)
- First word after an em dash (if your title uses one)
- Proper nouns and official names (Shakespeare, New York, Modern Language Association, other proper nouns)
If to keeps tripping you up, this quick explainer on capitalizing “to” in titles can help you decide fast, especially with infinitives and end-of-title cases.
Edge cases that trip people up (with copy-ready examples)
Most MLA title case mistakes come from the “it looks important” words that are still grammar “minor” words. Prepositions are the biggest culprit, especially long ones like between or against. In MLA title case, prepositions usually stay lowercase regardless of length unless they’re first or last.
Hyphenated compounds are another common snag. In MLA title case, capitalize the first part, and usually capitalize the second part too if it’s a major word (Self-Report, Two-Part). If the second part is a minor word (like and, to, of), it stays lowercase.
Phrasal verbs can feel like a loophole. Words like up, out, off, and on might be prepositions, or they might act like adverbs (as particles in a verb phrase). MLA title case follows grammar. If the word functions like an adverb in context, capitalize it; if it’s a true preposition, it’s lowercase. When in doubt, keep it simple and check whether it has an object (prepositions usually do).
Here are 16 example titles that cover common edge cases (all styled in MLA title case):
- The World according to Garp (two-word preposition stays lowercase)
- A Tale of Two Cities (article and preposition lowercase)
- Waiting for Godot (preposition lowercase)
- From Here to Eternity (first word capitalized, “to” lowercase)
- How to Write a Works Cited Entry (“to” in an infinitive lowercase)
- Rules for Self-Report Measures in First-Year Writing (hyphenated compound)
- The Well-Known Problem of Small Words (hyphenated adjective)
- “To Be or Not to Be”: A Study of Rhythm (quoted title plus subtitle)
- “The Art of War” in Modern Classrooms (quoted title inside a title)
- Grammar in the Age of AI: What Students Should Know (colon subtitle)
- Between You and Me: Notes on Audience (preposition first, so capitalized)
- On and Off: The Switch That Won’t Quit (coordinating conjunction lowercase)
- Looking Up Words in Old Dictionaries (phrasal verb feel, but “Up” capitalized)
- Turn On the Lights and Sit Down (particles capitalized as adverbs)
- Research with Sources: An Guide to the Basics (preposition lowercase, article lowercase)
- Editing in Real Time: Tips for Peer Review (preposition lowercase, noun capitalized)
If you want a library-style cross-check, Midland College’s guide on MLA capitalization and styling for titles is another clear summary.
Conclusion
MLA title case is simple once you treat it like a sorting task: capitalize the big grammar words, lowercase the helper words, then capitalize the “always capitalize when…” positions. Keep the table handy, copy the list when you’re rushing, and check edge cases like to, hyphenated terms, and two-word prepositions before you submit. Clean titles don’t just look nice; they signal MLA title case control at a glance. Mastering title case is essential for professional academic writing.
