What is Chicago title case?
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) headline style prescribes a specific way to capitalize titles and headings, known as Chicago title case (or headline style). Get it wrong and a reviewer will notice immediately. This converter applies the exact Chicago rule set the moment you type — start on Chicago above, or switch styles to compare side by side.
The Chicago capitalization rule
Capitalize the first and last words and all major words. Lowercase articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions of any length — so even between, through and without stay lowercase unless they are the first or last word.
In every style the very first and very last word of a title is capitalized regardless of what it is, and the first word after a colon (the start of a subtitle) is always capitalized too. Hyphenated compounds are handled part by part.
When to use Chicago title case
Reach for Chicago style for books, book chapters, history and humanities writing, and most trade non-fiction. Chicago lowercases 'to' as part of an infinitive and 'as' in every position except first or last.
Chicago title case examples
| You type | Chicago title case |
|---|---|
| a history of the world through the lens of trade | A History of the World through the Lens of Trade |
| a guide to writing without fear | A Guide to Writing without Fear |
| notes on the art of the interview | Notes on the Art of the Interview |
How it differs from other styles
The biggest disagreement between style guides is how they treat prepositions. Chicago lowercases prepositions of every length, which is the main thing that sets it apart from APA, AP and AMA. If you write across disciplines, bookmark this page for Chicago and use the style switcher above whenever you move between an essay, a headline and a journal submission.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Chicago title case the same as MLA?
- They agree on capitalizing major words but differ on prepositions and a few minor words. Use the style switcher above to see the exact difference on your own text.
- Does Chicago capitalize the word after a colon?
- Yes. The first word of a subtitle is always capitalized in Chicago style.
- What about short words like 'is' and 'be'?
- Verbs are always capitalized in Chicago style, even short ones such as 'Is', 'Be' and 'Am'.