Mastering MLA Title Capitalization: When Less is More
When you're crafting a title for your essay, paper, or research project according to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, you might wonder about capitalization. It's not as simple as capitalizing every single word. MLA has specific rules to ensure a consistent and professional look. This guide will break down exactly what words should *not* be capitalized in your MLA titles, making the process clear and straightforward for the average American reader.
The Core Rule: Subordinating the Small Stuff
The fundamental principle in MLA title capitalization is to capitalize the major words and leave the minor ones in lowercase. This creates a visually appealing and grammatically correct title. Let's dive into the specifics of which words fall into the "minor" category and should therefore be left lowercase.
Words That Should *Not* Be Capitalized in MLA Titles:
These are the categories of words that, unless they are the first or last word of the title or subtitle, should generally be written in lowercase:
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Articles: These are words like "a," "an," and "the." They are common words that don't carry significant meaning on their own and are typically subordinated.
Example: "The Raven" would be "the Raven" if "the" were not the first word. -
Coordinating Conjunctions: These are conjunctions that join words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank. The most common ones are "for," "and," "nor," "but," "or," "yet," and "so" (often remembered by the acronym FANBOYS).
Example: "War and Peace" would be "War and Peace" if "and" were not the second word. -
Prepositions: These words show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in the sentence. This includes short prepositions (typically four letters or fewer) like "at," "by," "for," "in," "of," "on," "to," "up," etc.
Example: "The Lord of the Rings" would be "The Lord of the Rings" if "of" were not a preposition.
Exceptions to the Rule: When Small Words Get Promoted
While the rule about not capitalizing articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions is strong, there are a few crucial exceptions you need to remember:
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The First Word of the Title: The very first word of your title *always* gets capitalized, no matter what type of word it is.
Example: If your title is "a history of dogs," it should be "A History of Dogs." -
The First Word of a Subtitle: If your title has a subtitle (separated by a colon), the first word of the subtitle also *always* gets capitalized.
Example: "The Great Gatsby: A Novel of the Jazz Age" becomes "The Great Gatsby: A Novel of the Jazz Age." The "A" in the subtitle is capitalized because it's the first word. -
Longer Prepositions: While most short prepositions (four letters or fewer) are lowercased, longer prepositions (five letters or more) are typically capitalized. This includes prepositions like "through," "between," "against," "without," etc.
Example: "Journey Through the Stars" is correct. The preposition "Through" is capitalized because it has more than four letters. -
Proper Nouns: Any word that is a proper noun should always be capitalized, regardless of its grammatical function. This includes names of people, places, organizations, specific events, and titles of specific works.
Example: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" – "Tom" and "Sawyer" are proper nouns and are capitalized.
Putting It All Together: Examples
Let's look at a few more examples to solidify your understanding:
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Incorrect: the catcher in the rye
Correct: The Catcher in the Rye
Explanation: "The" (first word) is capitalized. "Catcher" and "Rye" are major words. "in" and "the" are short prepositions and articles, respectively, and are left lowercase. -
Incorrect: pride and prejudice
Correct: Pride and Prejudice
Explanation: "Pride" (first word) and "Prejudice" are major words. "and" is a coordinating conjunction. While usually lowercased, in this title, it appears between two capitalized words, but the rule is still to lowercase it unless it's the first or last word. -
Incorrect: a tale of two cities
Correct: A Tale of Two Cities
Explanation: "A" (first word) is capitalized. "Tale" and "Cities" are major words. "of" is a short preposition and is left lowercase. "Two" is a number, which is generally considered a major word.
When in Doubt, Refer to the Source
MLA style guidelines can be found in the official MLA Handbook. When you're unsure about a specific word or a complex title, consulting the handbook or a reliable online MLA citation generator can provide the definitive answer. However, by following these core principles – capitalize the first and last words, and all major words, while leaving short articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions lowercase – you'll be well on your way to correctly formatted MLA titles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I decide what constitutes a "major" word?
Generally, major words include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and words that are part of a proper noun. Think of them as the words that carry the primary meaning of the title. Minor words are primarily articles, short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions.
Why does MLA have these specific capitalization rules?
The goal of these rules is to create consistency and professionalism in academic writing. By adhering to a standardized system for title capitalization, readers can easily identify the key components of a title and the overall structure of the work.
What about hyphenated words in titles?
If a hyphenated word is a compound adjective or part of a compound noun, you should capitalize both parts if they are considered major words. For example, "Self-Reliance" would be capitalized as "Self-Reliance" because both "Self" and "Reliance" are significant parts of the term. If the second part is a preposition or article, it would remain lowercase, such as "The Twenty-First Century."
Are there any exceptions for very short titles?
The rules apply regardless of the title's length. Even for a very short title like "Art," "Art" would be capitalized because it is the first word. For a title like "On Art," it would be "On Art" because "On" is a preposition, and if it were a longer preposition (five letters or more), it would be capitalized. If it were "Of Art," it would be "Of Art" as "Of" is a short preposition.
