Text Tools
Title Case Converter - AP Style & Chicago Style
Convert text to proper title case following AP Style or Chicago Manual of Style rules. Handles articles, prepositions, and conjunctions correctly.
Title case style differences
Style guides disagree on which words to capitalize in titles. The main differences:
| Style guide | Capitalize | Lowercase |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | All "major" words; prepositions 5+ letters | Articles, coordinating conjunctions, prepositions under 5 letters |
| APA | Words of 4+ letters; all "major" words | Short articles, prepositions, conjunctions under 4 letters |
| AP (journalism) | Words of 4+ letters | Articles, conjunctions, prepositions under 4 letters |
| MLA | First and last word; all "major" words | Articles, prepositions, coordinating conjunctions |
All styles always capitalize: the first and last word of the title, and any word after a colon or dash.
How to use this tool
Type or paste your title in the input box and select your preferred style guide from the dropdown. The converted title appears immediately. Use the Copy button to copy the result to your clipboard.
When to choose each style:
- Chicago: books, academic papers, formal publications, and most non-journalism contexts.
- APA: psychology, social sciences, and academic journal citations.
- AP: newspaper headlines, journalism, and press releases.
- MLA: humanities papers, English literature, and language arts contexts.
Title case vs. sentence case
Sentence case capitalizes only the first word of the title and any proper nouns: "How to convert time zones in JavaScript." It reads more naturally in conversational contexts.
Sentence case is increasingly preferred in:
- Tech product documentation and developer blogs (Google, GitHub, Stripe style guides).
- UI button labels and navigation items - "Save changes" rather than "Save Changes."
- Content marketing headlines for a friendlier tone.
Traditional title case remains standard in book publishing, journalism headlines, formal academic work, and anywhere with strict style guide requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Should I capitalize "is" in a title?
Yes - in all major style guides. "Is" is a verb, and verbs are always capitalized in titles, regardless of their length. Example: "This Is the Answer."
Should I capitalize "vs." in a title?
It depends on the style: AP capitalizes it ("Cats Vs. Dogs"), while Chicago treats it as a preposition and lowercases it ("Cats vs. Dogs"). When in doubt, use the style guide appropriate to your publication.
How are hyphenated words handled?
Chicago capitalizes both parts of a hyphenated compound: "Self-Awareness." AP capitalizes the first part and lowercases the second unless both parts are major words. MLA capitalizes all parts. This tool follows each style's rules.