HeadlineForge

Title Case Converter

Capitalize a headline correctly for AP, APA, Chicago or MLA, or switch it to sentence case. Minor words are highlighted so you can see each style's rule at work.

How to Write a Headline That People Actually Click: A Guide for Beginners

AP rule: Capitalize words of four or more letters. Lowercase articles, conjunctions and prepositions of three letters or fewer, unless first or last. Highlighted words stay lowercase.

All styles side by side

  • AP

    How to Write a Headline That People Actually Click: A Guide for Beginners

  • APA 7

    How to Write a Headline That People Actually Click: A Guide for Beginners

  • Chicago

    How to Write a Headline That People Actually Click: A Guide for Beginners

  • MLA

    How to Write a Headline That People Actually Click: A Guide for Beginners

  • Sentence case

    How to write a headline that people actually click: A guide for beginners

  • UPPERCASE

    HOW TO WRITE A HEADLINE THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CLICK: A GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

  • lowercase

    how to write a headline that people actually click: a guide for beginners

Which words each style lowercases

WordAPAPAChicagoMLA
a, an, thelowerlowerlowerlower
and, but, or, norlowerlowerlowerlower
for, in, of, on, tolowerlowerlowerlower
with, from, into, overCapitalCapitallowerlower
aslowerlowerlowerlower
yet, solowerlowerCapitallower
is, be, are (verbs)CapitalCapitalCapitalCapital

All four styles capitalize the first and last word and the first word after a colon. Hyphenated words are capitalized on both parts here (Step-By-Step); some editors lowercase the second part, so adjust to your house style.

Questions people ask

What is title case?

Title case capitalizes the main words of a title (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and pronouns) and leaves short minor words such as articles, some prepositions and coordinating conjunctions in lowercase, except as the first or last word.

What is the difference between AP and Chicago title case?

AP capitalizes any word of four or more letters, so "With" and "From" are capitalized. Chicago lowercases all prepositions regardless of length, so it writes "with" and "from", and it also lowercases "to" and "as".

Which words are not capitalized in a title?

Typically articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for) and prepositions. Styles differ on longer prepositions: AP and APA capitalize words of four or more letters, while Chicago and MLA keep all prepositions lowercase.

Should blog headlines use title case or sentence case?

Either works if you are consistent. Many news sites and style guides (including Google's developer documentation style) use sentence case because it reads more naturally; many blogs and marketers use title case because it stands out in search results.

Does the converter keep acronyms and brand names?

Yes. Words you type with internal capitals, such as NASA, SEO or iPhone, are left as you wrote them in every style except full upper or lower case.

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