Are you taking a look at title capitalization rules, wondering if you need to capitalize the word “of” in title case? Is of capitalized in a title? Take a look at some important English grammar rules, and make sure you follow the appropriate guidelines!
Writing in the English language can be challenging. It is hard enough to learn all the rules surrounding sentence case. Then, when you have to switch the title case for your title, subtitle, heading, and subheading, it is easy to get confused.
For example, is of capitalized in a title? In general, you should not capitalize the word “of.” It is a proposition, which makes it a minor word. Therefore, you should not capitalize it except in very specific situations.
So, what are the situations where you need to capitalize the word “of?” When should you use an uppercase letter or a capital letter versus a lowercase letter? Learn more about title case rules below!
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Contents
Title Case Rules Are Similar Across Style Guides
If you are reviewing a stylebook, you may wonder if they are all the same. There are lots of companies that have published their own style guides. Examples include the New York Times, the Associated Press, the American Psychological Association, and even the Chicago Manual of Style. Fortunately, regardless of whether you are following APA style, AP style, or the MLA handbook, your title capitalization rules are going to be similar. So, what do you need to know about capital letters? Learn more about the general rules of title capitalization!
Want to learn more? Read our article about style guide templates.
Understanding the Criteria: Capitalizing Short Words
When people are reading a title, they usually instinctively avoided capitalizing short words. If a word is longer than three letters, it always needs to be capitalized. Even though there are some situations for this is correct, this is an oversimplification. There are situations where you need to capitalize short words.
First, you need to understand the difference between major words and minor words. Major words always need to be capitalized. Examples of major words included parts of speech such as nouns, pronouns, in contrast, you should not capitalize minor words. Examples of minor words include short prepositions, articles, coordinating conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions.
If you have a short word that is a minor word, you should still capitalize it under certain conditions. These include:
- You always need to capitalize the first word of a title and the last word of a title. Even if the first word of the title is short or a minor word, you need to capitalize it.
- You always need to capitalize both terms if they are a part of a hyphenated compound.
- You should capitalize all words that follow an end punctuation mark. Examples of end punctuation include a period, a question mark, and an exclamation mark.
If you keep these rules in mind, you should be able to figure out when you should capitalize short words.
Do Not Capitalize the Word “of” Except in Certain Situations
Ultimately, you should not capitalize the word “of” in a title because it is a short word that is a preposition. It is shorter than four letters and its part of speech makes this a minor word. On the other hand, there are still some situations where you need to capitalize this word in a title.
For example, if “of” is the first word of a title or the last word of a title, that it needs to be capitalized. Furthermore, if this word is used as part of a hyphenated compound, or if it follows an end punctuation mark, that needs to be capitalized in title case.
Is of Capitalized in a Title? The Final Word
In the end, there are a lot of rules to follow when it comes to title case. Minor words should not be capitalized except under specific situations. Because of is a preposition, it should not be capitalized in title case unless it follows an end punctuation mark or is the first or last word of a title.
The rules can be challenging. If you need help navigating these grammar rules, then you may want to use a title case converter to help you. This can help you get your bearings when you are trying to follow title case in your writing.
Need help with fixing capitalization issues in your sentences? A good grammar checker is ideal. It’ll help you find and fix odd capitalization issues fast.
To find out more, read our Grammarly review
FAQs About Is of Capitalized in a Title?
Do you need to capitalize short prepositions in a title?
Usually, you should not capitalize prepositions. If they are no longer than three letters, or if they are the first word or last word of a title, then they need to be capitalized.
What part of speech is the word of?
Of is a preposition. It usually does not need to be capitalized when you are following title case.
Further Resources
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Is Between Capitalized in a Title? Answered
Is After Capitalized in a Title? Answered
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