Are Prepositions Capitalized in Titles? APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago Compared
Learn when prepositions are capitalized in APA, AP, Chicago, MLA, and Bluebook titles, including With, About, Between, Through, From, and To.
Prepositions are the fastest way to prove that there is no single universal Title Case. A word such as “With” is capitalized in APA and AP title case but usually lowercase in Chicago and MLA. A word such as “About” is capitalized in APA, AP, and current Chicago, but generally lowercase in MLA when it functions as a preposition.
If you write titles often, learning how each style handles prepositions is more useful than memorizing one generic list.
What Is a Preposition?
A preposition usually shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun and another part of the sentence.
Common examples include:
in
on
at
by
to
of
for
with
from
about
between
through
without
The same spelling can sometimes perform a different grammatical function. That matters because title case rules can depend on what the word is doing, not only how it is spelled.
APA Preposition Capitalization
APA 7 capitalizes words of four letters or more in title case.
That means:
With
From
Over
About
Between
Through
Without
can be capitalized.
Short prepositions of three letters or fewer such as:
in
of
on
to
by
generally remain lowercase in the middle.
Example:
Writing With Confidence in the Classroom
“With” is capitalized. “in” and “the” are lowercase.
AP Preposition Capitalization
AP composition title capitalization also uses a four letter threshold.
Example:
Working With Editors
“With” is capitalized.
Example:
A Guide to News Writing
“To” remains lowercase because it is short under the ordinary minor word rule, subject to AP's treatment of infinitives and context.
AP newsroom headlines can follow additional house conventions, so distinguish composition titles from every headline style used by a publication.
Chicago Preposition Capitalization
Chicago 18 now capitalizes prepositions of five letters or more.
This was a significant change from older Chicago guidance.
Capitalize:
About
Above
After
Among
Around
Before
Between
Beyond
During
Through
Within
Generally lowercase shorter prepositions:
at
by
for
from
in
of
on
to
with
Example:
Writing with Editors About Language
“With” remains lowercase because it has four letters. “About” is capitalized because it has five.
MLA Preposition Capitalization
MLA generally lowercases prepositions in the middle of English language titles regardless of length.
Example:
Writing with Editors about Language
Both “with” and “about” are lowercase because they function as prepositions.
This makes MLA easy to distinguish from APA and current Chicago when a title contains a longer preposition.
Side by Side Examples
With
Input:
writing with purpose
APA:
Writing With Purpose
AP:
Writing With Purpose
Chicago:
Writing with Purpose
MLA:
Writing with Purpose
About
Input:
thinking about language
APA:
Thinking About Language
AP:
Thinking About Language
Chicago:
Thinking About Language
MLA:
Thinking about Language
Between
Input:
the space between words
APA:
The Space Between Words
AP:
The Space Between Words
Chicago:
The Space Between Words
MLA:
The Space between Words
From
Input:
learning from mistakes
APA:
Learning From Mistakes
AP:
Learning From Mistakes
Chicago:
Learning from Mistakes
MLA:
Learning from Mistakes
“From” has four letters, so APA and AP capitalize it. Chicago requires five letters for the preposition length rule.
What If the Preposition Is the First Word?
Capitalize it.
Example:
Between Two Worlds
“Between” begins the title, so its position requires a capital even in a style that would lowercase it in the middle.
What If the Preposition Is the Last Word?
Many title styles capitalize the last word.
Example:
What We Are Searching For
“For” can be capitalized because it ends the title.
Again, position can override the ordinary minor word rule.
What If the Word Is Not Acting as a Preposition?
A small word can be part of a phrasal verb.
Example:
Giving Up Bad Habits
“Up” is part of the verb phrase “give up.” Some title styles capitalize verb particles even though the same word can function as a preposition elsewhere.
This is where word list converters fail.
Infinitive “to”
“To” deserves separate attention because it can introduce an infinitive:
How to Write
Chicago and MLA generally lowercase the infinitive “to.”
AP composition title style can capitalize infinitive “To.”
A title case engine should identify the selected style rather than apply one “to” rule universally.
Chicago 17 vs Chicago 18
This is worth emphasizing.
Older Chicago rules lowercased prepositions regardless of length. Chicago 18 changed the rule so prepositions of five letters or more are capitalized.
If an older article tells you to write:
Thinking about Language
under Chicago, current Chicago can instead produce:
Thinking About Language
The source may not be “wrong” for its edition. It may simply be outdated.
Why Length Rules Exist
Style guides use title capitalization to create a consistent visual hierarchy. Minor words are often lowercased so major words stand out.
Length thresholds are editorial conventions, not grammar laws. “With” does not become more important in APA than in MLA because it has four letters. The guides simply choose different rules.
That is why two correctly styled titles can look different.
Should You Capitalize Prepositions in Blog Titles?
If your site has no required style, you can choose a house convention.
Common options include:
- APA or AP inspired title case
- Chicago title case
- Sentence case
- A custom brand style
Pick one and use it consistently. Google does not reward a page because you capitalized “With” rather than “with.”
Should You Capitalize Prepositions in Book Titles?
Use the style required by the publisher, manuscript guide, or citation system.
The title as designed on a book cover may use creative typography that differs from how the title should be capitalized in prose or a bibliography. Display styling and editorial title capitalization are not always the same.
A Simple Preposition Checklist
When you reach a preposition in a title:
- Identify the style.
- Check whether the word is actually functioning as a preposition.
- Check its position.
- Apply the style's length rule, if it has one.
- Check whether it is part of a proper name.
- Review the result if the phrase is unusual.
This process is much more reliable than memorizing “never capitalize prepositions.”
Related Resources
- Use the Title Case Converter
- APA Title Case vs Sentence Case: When Should You Use Each?
- Chicago Title Case Rules: Complete Guide to the 18th Edition
- APA vs MLA vs Chicago vs AP Title Capitalization: What Is the Difference?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “with” capitalized in a title?
APA and AP capitalize “With” in title case because it has four letters. Chicago and MLA generally lowercase it when it functions as a preposition in the middle.
Is “about” capitalized in a title?
APA, AP, and Chicago 18 capitalize “About.” MLA generally lowercases it when it functions as a preposition in the middle.
Is “between” capitalized?
APA, AP, and Chicago 18 capitalize “Between” in ordinary title case. MLA generally keeps it lowercase as a preposition in the middle.
Are prepositions always lowercase in MLA titles?
Prepositions in the middle of English language MLA titles are generally lowercase regardless of length, but first word, last word, proper name, and grammatical context can affect capitalization.