APA vs Chicago Title Capitalization
Both APA and Chicago are widely used title capitalization styles, but they differ in how they handle prepositions, conjunctions, and articles. Understanding the differences helps you apply the right standard for your publication or field.
APA Title Capitalization
APA style capitalizes major words: nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Articles, short prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions are lowercase unless they are the first or last word.
Used in: Psychology, Social Sciences, Education, Business
APA rules
- Capitalise all major words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)
- Lowercase: articles (a, an, the)
- Lowercase: coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet)
- Lowercase: prepositions (regardless of length)
- Always capitalise first and last word
- Always capitalise the word after a colon
Chicago Title Capitalization
CMOS 17 capitalises all major words. Short prepositions (≤4 chars) are lowercase, but longer ones like "About" and "Between" are capitalised.
Used in: Books, Publishing, History, Arts & Humanities
Chicago rules
- Capitalise all major words
- Lowercase: articles (a, an, the)
- Lowercase: coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)
- Lowercase: prepositions ≤4 letters (at, by, for, in, of, on, to)
- Capitalise: prepositions ≥5 letters (About, Above, Between…)
- Always capitalise first and last word
- Capitalise both parts of a hyphenated compound
Key Differences Between APA and Chicago
The most visible differences between APA and Chicago title case appear in how each style treats prepositions and minor words. APA follows the rule that lowercase: prepositions (regardless of length). Chicago, by contrast, lowercase: prepositions ≤4 letters (at, by, for, in, of, on, to).
For most titles, the difference is small — one or two words will capitalize differently. But for titles with common prepositions like "about", "through", "between", or "without", the two styles produce noticeably different results.
The first word and last word of any title are always capitalized under both styles, regardless of part of speech. Proper nouns — names of people, places, organizations, and works — are always capitalized in both styles. The substantive differences appear in the middle of a title, where the treatment of prepositions, articles, and conjunctions varies.
Which Style Should You Use
Use APA when writing for Psychology or Social Sciences contexts. Use Chicago when writing for Books or Publishing contexts. If your publication has a specific house style preference, follow that preference over the base standard.
When in doubt, check the submission or publication guidelines for your specific outlet. Academic journals, legal publications, and news organizations each specify which style guide governs their content. If no style is specified and you are writing for general publication, Chicago is a widely accepted default for books and long-form content, while AP is standard for web and news content.
See Both Styles Applied to Your Title
The fastest way to understand the difference between APA and Chicago is to enter your own title and see both results. Use the style comparison tool to see your title in all nine styles simultaneously, including both APA and Chicago. Or use the dedicated tools:
Read our detailed blog post comparing APA vs Chicago title case.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between APA and Chicago title case?
APA lowercases all prepositions regardless of length — "between," "through," "without," "about" all stay lowercase. Chicago lowercases only short prepositions of four or fewer letters; longer ones like "About," "Between," and "Through" are capitalized. Enter a title in the comparison tool to see both results instantly.
Does APA capitalize more words than Chicago?
No — Chicago actually capitalizes more words in most titles. APA lowercases all prepositions, while Chicago only lowercases short ones. So a title with longer prepositions like "about," "between," or "through" will have more capitals in Chicago than in APA.
How does APA treat short words in titles?
APA lowercases all prepositions (short and long), all articles (a, an, the), and all coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) — regardless of their length — when they appear in the middle of a title.
How does Chicago treat short prepositions in titles?
Chicago lowercases prepositions of four or fewer letters: at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up, via, from, into, like, onto, over, down, than, with. These account for the most commonly used prepositions in English titles.
Should I use APA or Chicago for academic writing?
It depends on the field. APA is standard for psychology, education, sociology, and behavioral sciences. Chicago is standard for history, humanities, and general book publishing. If your field is ambiguous, check your specific journal's or institution's style guide.
Should I use APA or Chicago for book titles?
Chicago is the standard for most book publishing. APA is used for book titles within APA-formatted references and papers. If you are publishing a book, follow Chicago unless your publisher specifies otherwise.
Can I convert the same title in both APA and Chicago style?
Yes. The Compare Styles tool shows your title in all 9 styles simultaneously — including both APA and Chicago in the same table.
Can I compare APA and Chicago title case side by side?
Yes. Enter any title in the comparison tool at /compare and both APA and Chicago results appear on the same screen.