A colon in a title is like a signpost, it tells readers, “Here comes the angle.” But it also triggers one of the easiest places to slip up with capitalization.
If you’ve ever stared at a subtitle and wondered whether the first word after the colon should be capped, you’re not alone. The good news is that title case after colon is usually simpler than people fear, as long as you follow one clean rule and stay consistent.
The rule that solves most “title case after colon” problems
When a colon separates a main title from a subtitle, most style conventions treat what comes after the colon as a fresh start. In plain terms: capitalize the first word after the colon, even if it’s a short “minor” word you’d normally lowercase.
That means these are standard in title case:
- “Guide: To Better Sleep”
- “Report: In Two Weeks”
- “Update: For New Users”
- “Story: A Winter Walk”
After that first word, apply your usual title case rules to the rest of the subtitle (capitalize major words like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs; lowercase most short articles, conjunctions, and prepositions, depending on your style guide).
A quick reality check: rules vary by guide and context. Chicago’s guidance for capitalization after a colon in running text depends on whether what follows is a full sentence (see the Chicago Manual of Style Q&A on capitalization after a colon). But for titles with subtitles, the common convention is to start the subtitle with a capital letter.
If you want a fast refresher on how major styles define “major” and “minor” words, this comparison is helpful: title case styles and when to use them.
What AP, Chicago, MLA, and APA usually do with subtitles after a colon
Most writers run into colons in headlines, article titles, book titles, video titles, and H2s. In those cases, the mainstream approach is consistent: the subtitle starts with a capital letter.
Where things get messy is what happens after that first subtitle word:
- Chicago and MLA-style title case: Often lowercase shorter prepositions and articles inside the subtitle (unless they’re first or last). If you’re writing academic or book-style titles, this is the look many readers expect.
- AP headlines: AP has its own headline rules (and many newsrooms add house rules). AP commonly capitalizes the first word after a colon because it reads like a new phrase in a headline.
- APA: APA uses title case for many headings, but APA reference list entries for articles use sentence case. So you may write a title one way on the page, and another way in citations.
For a simple summary of how capitalization after colons is commonly taught across guides, TCK Publishing’s overview is a solid starting point: capitalization after colons across style guides. For MLA-specific punctuation and title handling, MLA’s own site is worth bookmarking: MLA guidance on punctuation with titles.
50 copy-paste examples (correct Title Case after a colon)
Use these as ready-made templates. Each line is written as a correct title with a subtitle after a colon. If you get stuck on small words inside subtitles, these quick answers help: capitalizing “of” in a title and capitalizing “for” in a title.
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Keeping capitalization consistent in CMS fields and sentence-case environments
Most title problems aren’t grammar problems, they’re workflow problems. Pick one approach and apply it everywhere readers will see the title.
- Match your H1 and SEO title tag: If your page title is title case, keep the colon subtitle in title case too.
- Watch sentence-case containers: Email subject lines, app UI labels, and some CMS “headline” fields may enforce sentence case. In those spots, don’t half-convert. Either keep the whole thing sentence case, or keep the whole thing title case.
- Standardize templates: If you publish a series, lock the format early (same colon spacing, same capitalization style).
- Don’t trust auto-formatting: Some editors “fix” capitalization on paste. Always re-check the first word after the colon.
A colon is small, but it’s loud. With one consistent rule, your subtitles will look intentional, not accidental. Title case after colon works best when you treat the subtitle like a fresh title and keep your chosen style guide steady from draft to publish.
