When crafting titles for articles, essays, or presentations, you might ask yourself: is “and” capitalized in a title? All major style guides agree that you should have the word “and” in lowercase; however, there are three exceptions to this rule. Read on to learn when you should and shouldn’t capitalize “and” in titles across various style guides.
Related:
- Is “That” Capitalized in a Title?
- Is “Our” Capitalized in a Title?
- Is “Their” Capitalized in a Title?
Title Capitalization Rules per Style Guide
“And” is a coordinating conjunction, which most style guides consider a minor word in titles. However, the specific rules for capitalizing “and” can depend on the style guide you are following. Let’s explore how different style guides handle the capitalization of “and” in titles.
Chicago Manual of Style
In Chicago Style, “and” should be lowercase in titles unless it’s the first or last word. CMOS follows the “headline-style” capitalization, where major words are capitalized, and minor words (including coordinating conjunctions like “and”) are lowercase. However, if “and” is the first word of a title or a subtitle, it should be capitalized.
Here are two examples:
- Correct: The Sun and the Moon
- Incorrect: The Sun And The Moon
American Medical Association (AMA)
AMA Style follows a rule similar to Chicago, capitalizing all major words, including nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs, and conjunctions. However, articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions (such as “and”) should remain lowercase unless they are the first or last word of the title or subtitle.
- Correct: The Effect of Diet and Exercise on Health
- Incorrect: “The Effect of Diet And Exercise on Health
Associated Press Style (AP Style)
The Associated Press Stylebook advises capitalizing all words in a title except articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions of three letters or fewer. This means that “and” should be lowercase in titles when following AP Style unless it’s the first or last word of the title. AP Style capitalizes the first and last word in a title, regardless of part of speech.
Modern Language Association (MLA Style)
Don’t capitalize articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions (“and,” “but,” “for,” “nor,” “yet,” etc. ) when following the MLA Handbook. As with other style guides, the only exception is when articles, propositions, and coordinating conjunctions are the first or last words in a title or subtitle. When they start or end a title, always keep them capitalized. For example, in both “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie and the 1979 film “And Justice for All,” the word “and” comes first and is therefore capitalized.
American Psychological Association (APA)
When using APA Style, minor words like “and” or “a” remain lowercase unless they’re the first or last word of a title or subtitle or come directly after a colon or em dash. APA follows a “title case” capitalization style, where principal words are capitalized, and minor words (including coordinating conjunctions like “and”) are lowercase. This rule applies to both titles and subtitles. “Stress and Coping Mechanisms” is one example of correctly using “and” in a title.
The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage
If you’re a student, journalist, or journalism student writing a headline, you might wonder, “Is and capitalized in a title?” The New York Times keeps minor words and prepositions with three letters or fewer (e.g., and, to, for) lowercase unless they’re the first or last word in a title. Take the headline “Elon Musk Says He Will Move X and SpaceX Headquarters to Texas,” for example. Here, the words “and” and “to” remain lowercase, as they are minor words.
Bluebook
Per Bluebook Style, “and” should be lowercase in titles unless it’s the first word of the title or last word. The Bluebook uses “headline-style” capitalization, where major words are capitalized, and minor words (including coordinating conjunctions like “and”) are lowercase. In addition to conjunctions, Bluebook does not capitalize articles (“a,” “an,” “the”) or prepositions with less than four letters (“into,” “with,” “over”).
Wikipedia Manual of Style
Always capitalize the first and last word of a title and every pronoun, noun, adjective, adverb, and subordinating conjunction when using Wikipedia Style. In the title of the novel “And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks,” by Jack Kerouac, the conjunction “and” is correctly capitalized, and the preposition “in” remains lowercase.
When Should You Capitalize “And”
When “and” is the first or last word in a title and the first word of a subtitle, capitalize it! This rule applies across the board and is universally accepted by all major style guides.
When Shouldn’t You Capitalize “And”
In most cases, you shouldn’t capitalize “and” in the middle of a title. Many popular style guides, including Chicago, AP, APA, and The New York Times, recommend keeping “and” lowercase when it’s not the first or last word. This is because “and” is considered a minor word or coordinating conjunction. However, always check your specific style guide for exceptions or special cases.
Final Thoughts
So, is “and” capitalized in a title? No, “and” should remain lowercase unless it’s the first or last word of the title or subtitle. Remember, mastering title case capitalization rules takes practice, but it’s an essential skill for polished, professional writing. When in doubt, consult your preferred style guide or use this convenient free capitalization tool to ensure you’re capitalizing correctly.
