Title Case Converter - AP Style & Chicago Style
Text Tools
Convert titles with AP or Chicago style buttons. Compare list-based preposition handling and see how punctuation and hyphenated words are treated.
How to use this tool
- Paste your title or heading text into the input box.
- Choose AP Style or Chicago Style.
- Copy the formatted title from the output.
How the AP and Chicago options differ
This converter has two style buttons: AP Style and Chicago Style. It changes capitalization in your browser as you type or switch styles, and the Copy button puts the displayed result on your clipboard. The text is processed locally; the converter has no file input and does not send title text to a server.
The conversion uses lists of articles, conjunctions, and prepositions rather than analyzing how each word functions in its sentence. Both modes capitalize the first and last word even when those words would normally be lowercase. AP mode lowercases its listed minor words. Chicago mode also lowercases a listed long preposition when it has four or fewer letters, so words such as with, from, into, and over make the output visibly different. Listed prepositions of five or more letters, such as about and between, remain capitalized in Chicago mode.
These examples show the converter's current list-based behavior. Follow the exact house style of your publication when a title has exceptions, proper names, or a word whose role depends on context. APA and MLA are not selectable modes in this tool.
| Example | AP Style | Chicago Style |
|---|---|---|
a guide to writing with style from scratch | A Guide to Writing With Style From Scratch | A Guide to Writing with Style from Scratch |
a walk over the river | A Walk Over the River | A Walk over the River |
a walk about the river | A Walk About the River | A Walk About the River |
cats vs. dogs | Cats vs. Dogs | Cats vs. Dogs |
self-awareness and well-being | Self-Awareness and Well-Being | Self-Awareness and Well-Being |
chapter one: the beginning of an era | Chapter One: the Beginning of an Era | Chapter One: the Beginning of an Era |
Hyphenated parts are handled as separate word segments and are usually capitalized in both modes; the tool does not apply style-specific hyphen rules. Likewise, a colon or dash does not make the next word uppercase automatically. Punctuation and spaces remain in place, and the regular word-list and first/last-word rules still determine letter case.
How to use this tool
Type or paste one title into the input box, then choose the AP Style or Chicago Style button. The converted title appears immediately. Use the Copy button to copy the result to your clipboard.
Title case vs. sentence case
Sentence case usually capitalizes the first word and proper nouns, as in "How to convert time zones in JavaScript." It often reads naturally in conversational contexts. This converter does not offer sentence case, and it cannot recognize proper nouns automatically because it relies on fixed word lists.
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
What is the difference between AP and Chicago style?
This tool offers AP and Chicago buttons, and both use fixed word lists rather than grammar analysis. AP lowercases its listed minor words; Chicago also lowercases listed long prepositions of four or fewer letters, such as "with," "from," and "into." Listed long prepositions of five or more letters stay capitalized. First and last title words are capitalized in both styles, even when they are on a minor-word list.
Are the first and last words always capitalized?
Yes - both styles always capitalize the first and last word regardless of part of speech.
Should I capitalize "is" in a title?
This converter capitalizes "is" because it is not in either mode's minor-word lists. For example, it produces "This Is the Answer." The converter does not identify verbs or other parts of speech.
Should I capitalize "vs." in a title?
This converter includes "vs" in its minor-word list, so it produces "Cats vs. Dogs" in both AP and Chicago modes when "vs" is not the first or last word. A publication may have its own rule for this abbreviation.
How are hyphenated words handled?
The converter splits hyphenated compounds into word segments and evaluates each segment against the selected mode's word lists. Major segments are capitalized in both modes, as in "Self-Awareness" and "Well-Being"; a segment that matches a minor-word list can remain lowercase. It does not apply separate AP and Chicago compound rules.
Does the tool capitalize a word after a colon or dash?
No. Punctuation and spacing are preserved, but a colon or dash does not trigger special capitalization. The word after it follows the selected mode's usual list-based rules; for example, "the" stays lowercase in "Chapter One: the Beginning of an Era."
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