Chicago vs MLA Title Capitalization

Both Chicago and MLA 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.

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

MLA Title Capitalization

MLA 9th edition capitalises all principal words. Articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions are lowercase in the middle of a title.

Used in: Literature, Language Studies, High School, Undergraduate

MLA rules

• Capitalise all principal words
• Lowercase: articles (a, an, the)
• Lowercase: prepositions (all lengths)
• Lowercase: coordinating conjunctions
• First and last word always capitalised
• Capitalise both parts of hyphenated compounds

Key Differences Between Chicago and MLA

The most visible differences between Chicago and MLA title case appear in how each style treats prepositions and minor words. Chicago follows the rule that lowercase: prepositions ≤4 letters (at, by, for, in, of, on, to). MLA, by contrast, lowercase: prepositions (all lengths).

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 Chicago when writing for Books or Publishing contexts. Use MLA when writing for Literature or Language Studies 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 Chicago and MLA 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 Chicago and MLA. Or use the dedicated tools:

• Chicago title capitalizer
• MLA title capitalizer

Related Comparisons

• APA vs Chicago title capitalization
• APA vs MLA title capitalization
• APA vs AP title capitalization

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Chicago and MLA title case?

The key difference is how they handle prepositions. Chicago lowercases only short prepositions (≤4 letters) and capitalizes longer ones like "About," "Between," and "Through." MLA lowercases all prepositions regardless of length. A title with longer prepositions will look different in Chicago vs MLA.

Do Chicago and MLA capitalize titles the same way?

Not quite. They agree on most words — both capitalize nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. The difference appears in longer prepositions: "Between," "Through," "Without," "Against" are capitalized in Chicago but lowercase in MLA.

Which style should I use for book titles?

Chicago is the standard for most book publishing in the US. MLA is used for literature and humanities courses but is less common in professional publishing. If you are publishing a book, Chicago is almost certainly the right choice.

Which style should I use for essays?

MLA is standard for essays in English literature and language courses. Chicago is standard for history and humanities at many universities. Check your course, department, or publication requirements to confirm which applies.

How do Chicago and MLA handle prepositions?

Chicago lowercases prepositions of four or fewer letters (at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up, from, into, with) but capitalizes longer ones (About, Above, Between, Through, Without). MLA lowercases all prepositions regardless of length — the same rule as APA.

Can I convert the same title in Chicago and MLA style?

Yes. The Compare Styles tool shows Chicago and MLA (and all 7 other styles) side by side for any title.

Can I compare Chicago and MLA title case side by side?

Yes. Enter any title in the comparison tool and both results appear in the same table.