Title Case Converter: Capitalize Titles and Headlines
Paste a title or headline into this title case converter and capitalize it in AP, APA, MLA or Chicago style. Edit the list of small words, keep acronyms, or switch to sentence case, UPPERCASE and lowercase. Free, instant and private.
By Troopus · Updated: October 24, 2026
- 📰 AP, APA, MLA, Chicago
- ✏️ Editable small words
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Title case converter: convert your text to title case
Your converted text appears here.
What is title case?
Title case is a capitalization style for titles and headlines in which the first and last words and all major words are capitalized, while short articles, conjunctions and prepositions stay lowercase. For example, "the lord of the rings" becomes "The Lord of the Rings".
The exact list of words that stay lowercase depends on the style guide you follow, which is why one headline can be written two correct ways. This title case converter applies the rules of AP, APA, MLA and Chicago, and you can edit the list of small words if your publication has its own house style.
Titles of books, articles, films, blog posts and headlines are the usual places to use it. Everyday sentences, email subject lines and most user interface text are normally written in sentence case instead. A title capitalization tool like this one applies the small-word rules for you.
Capitalize title online: which words stay lowercase?
In most styles, short articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) and short prepositions (in, of, to, at, on, by) stay lowercase unless they are the first or last word. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and pronouns are always capitalized.
Two rules never change: the first word and the last word of a title are always capitalized. In "What to Look For", the final For is capitalized for that reason. Verbs are major words even when they are short, so is, are and be are capitalized: "Life Is Good".
Words you probably want lowercase in most styles: a, an, the, and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet, as, at, by, in, of, on, to, up. Longer prepositions such as with, from and between depend on the style, as the next section shows.
AP style title case vs Chicago style title case: what differs?
AP and APA capitalize any word of four letters or more, so "with" and "from" are capitalized. MLA and Chicago lowercase every preposition regardless of length, so "with" and "from" stay lowercase. All four capitalize the first and last word and lowercase short articles and conjunctions.
| Style | Rule for small words | Result |
|---|---|---|
| AP | Lowercase articles, conjunctions and prepositions of three letters or fewer | A Guide to Living With Cats |
| APA | Lowercase minor words of three letters or fewer, capitalize words of four or more | A Guide to Living With Cats |
| MLA | Lowercase articles, coordinating conjunctions and all prepositions | A Guide to Living with Cats |
| Chicago | Same as MLA, and lowercase "as" in any use | A Guide to Living with Cats |
The converter loads each style's word list into the editable field, so you can see and change exactly what stays lowercase. Rules for the first word after a colon differ slightly between guides, so the tool capitalizes it by default and lets you turn that off. Style guides get revised, so check the current edition when a submission requires strict compliance.
Starting a headline analysis? A word counter helps check headline length too.
How do I use the title case converter?
Paste your text into the box, keep the Title Case tab selected, choose a style guide, and the converted title appears instantly. Click Copy result to copy it. If you paste several titles, put each on its own line and the tool converts every line separately.
- Paste or type your text, or click an example.
- Pick AP, APA, MLA, Chicago or Capitalize every word.
- Optionally edit the list of words kept lowercase.
- Copy the result, download it as a .txt file, or use it as new input.
Example with AP style: 10 tips for writing a better headline in 2026 becomes 10 Tips for Writing a Better Headline in 2026. Acronyms are preserved, so how to use NASA data with python and an iPhone becomes How to Use NASA Data With Python and an iPhone.
If the whole input is in capital letters, the tool treats it as shouting rather than as acronyms and converts every word: WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST becomes Why You Should Never Skip Breakfast. Hyphenated words such as state-of-the-art become State-of-the-Art, and links and email addresses are left untouched.
Headline capitalizer: title case vs sentence case, which to use?
Use title case for titles of books, articles and most headlines, and sentence case for sentences, subheadings, buttons and when your style guide asks for it. Sentence case capitalizes only the first word and proper nouns. Neither is more correct; consistency within a publication matters most.
Many news sites use title case for headlines, while many software and documentation teams use sentence case for interface text and headings because it reads more naturally. APA uses title case for titles in the text and sentence case for reference-list article titles.
The Sentence case tab capitalizes the first word of each sentence and the pronoun "I". It cannot know your proper nouns, so names of people and places typed in lowercase will stay lowercase and need a manual fix. The UPPERCASE, lowercase and tOGGLE cASE tabs change every letter.
Frequently asked questions
What is title case?
Title case capitalizes the first and last word of a title and every major word, such as nouns, verbs and adjectives, while keeping short articles, conjunctions and prepositions lowercase. "The Lord of the Rings" is an example. The exact rules vary by style guide.
Which words are not capitalized in a title?
Usually short articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) and short prepositions (in, of, to, at, on). They are still capitalized when they come first or last in the title. Style guides differ on longer prepositions.
What is the difference between AP and APA title case?
They are very close: both lowercase small words of three letters or fewer and capitalize longer ones. The main differences are in details such as words after a colon and how hyphenated words are treated, so check the current guide if exact compliance matters.
Is there a sentence case converter?
Yes. Open the Sentence case tab to capitalize only the first word of each sentence. The same box also has UPPERCASE, lowercase and tOGGLE cASE tabs, so you can switch between cases without pasting your text again.
Should prepositions be capitalized in a title?
It depends on the style. AP and APA capitalize prepositions of four letters or more, such as "with" or "between". MLA and Chicago lowercase all prepositions, whatever their length. Short prepositions like "in" and "of" are lowercase in all four styles.
How do I capitalize a title in Word?
Select the text, open the Home tab, and choose Change Case, then Capitalize Each Word. Note that this capitalizes every word, including "a", "the" and "of", so you would fix small words by hand. Pasting into this converter handles them automatically.
Do you capitalize words after a colon in a title?
Most style guides, including APA, MLA and Chicago, capitalize the first word of a subtitle after a colon. AP capitalizes it only when it begins a complete sentence. The converter capitalizes it by default and has a switch to turn that off.
Does the converter keep acronyms like NASA and brands like iPhone?
Yes. With "Keep acronyms and words like iPhone" on, words in all capitals and words with capitals inside them are left as typed. If your whole text is in capitals, it is treated as shouting and converted word by word.