Capitalization and Case Usage

Capitalization helps readers recognize names and understand structure. Apply it consistently instead of using capitals to make ordinary words seem more important.

Sentence case capitalizes the first word and proper nouns. Title case also capitalizes selected major words.

Sentence case: A quiet place to read

Title case: A Quiet Place to Read

6.1Sentence-Style Capitalization

Use sentence case for body text, full-sentence list items, notes, captions, and most everyday messages.

• Capitalize the first word of a sentence.
• Capitalize proper names, such as Jordan Lee, New York City, and Apple.
• Keep generic nouns lowercase unless they begin a sentence.

Avoid: We walked through the Garden after lunch.

Prefer: We walked through the garden after lunch.

Match the capitalization of an actual name or interface label when referring to it.

6.2Title-Style Capitalization

Title case gives major words capitals. It can suit titles and reference headings, while sentence case often feels more conversational. Choose one style for each level of heading.

6.2.1General Title-Style Capitalization Rules

Major words

Capitalize the first and last words and major words such as nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

Example: A Quiet Place to Read

Articles and prepositions

Lowercase short articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions unless they are the first or last word or have another grammatical role. This guide capitalizes prepositions of five letters or more.

Example: A Walk Through the Garden

Example: Stories for a Rainy Day

Capitalize the short word in a phrasal verb when it is part of the verb’s meaning.

Example: How to Set Up a Picnic

“To” and “as”

Keep to lowercase in an infinitive. This guide also keeps as lowercase within a title unless it is the first or last word.

Example: How to Bake Bread

Example: A Garden as a Place to Think

Hyphenated compounds

Capitalize the second part of a hyphenated compound when it is a major word. Preserve established forms such as built-in and plug-in.

Example: Five-Minute Walks and Built-in Benches

6.2.2Capitalization in Titles and Headings

Use a consistent capitalization style for titles and headings. This guide uses title case for reference headings. Sentence case may suit a conversational heading or subtitle.

Title case: A Beginner’s Guide to Baking Bread

Sentence case: A beginner’s guide to baking bread

Keep the chosen convention consistent at the same heading level. When working with an editor, agree on the style for the piece.

6.2.3Capitalization in Lists

Use sentence case for complete sentences and ordinary list items. Give list headings and labels a consistent style.

Example list:

• Bring a blanket.
• Pack something to drink.
• Check the weather before you leave.

Avoid capitalizing every word in a sentence just because it appears in a list. Title case can suit a short list heading when it matches the rest of the piece.

6.3Acronyms and Initialisms

Use the established form of an acronym or initialism, such as NASA, DIY, or RSVP. Some established forms mix upper- and lowercase letters, so do not turn every abbreviation into all caps automatically.

See also Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Initialisms.

6.4Specialized Capitalization

6.4.1Names With Distinctive Capitals

Names sometimes have distinctive capitals. Preserve recognizable forms rather than forcing them into ordinary title case.

Examples: iPhone, macOS, Microsoft Word

See Terms and Style for more about names and word forms.

6.4.2Names, Labels, and Generic Terms

Capitalize proper names and match actual labels when referring to them. Keep ordinary nouns lowercase.

Example: We visited Greenbank Library, then walked to a café.

Library is part of the illustrative name. Café is an ordinary noun. A word does not need a capital simply because it matters to your subject.

6.4.3Drop Caps

A drop cap is an enlarged letter at the start of a passage. It can give a printed essay or chapter a distinctive opening, but it may interrupt a short piece or make the reading order harder to follow.

If you use one, keep it consistent with the typography and check that the text still reads in the right order with assistive tools.