Did you know that the way you capitalize your titles can have a significant impact on how professional and polished your writing appears?
AP Style Titles Capitalization provides a set of rules and guidelines for capitalizing titles properly in journalistic writing.
However, many writers still fall prey to common mistakes that can undermine the effectiveness and credibility of their work.
In this article, we will delve into the top 10 common mistakes writers make when using AP Style Titles Capitalization, providing you with detailed examples to help you avoid these errors and elevate your writing to new heights.
1. Capitalizing Prepositions and Articles:
One of the most prevalent mistakes in AP Style Title Capitalization is unnecessarily capitalizing small words such as prepositions and articles.
According to AP Style, prepositions, articles, and coordinating conjunctions with fewer than five letters should be lowercase unless they start or end the title.
Here’s an example to illustrate this point:
Incorrect: “The Rise of Technology: How to Adapt Amidst the Change”
Correct: “The Rise of Technology: How to Adapt Amidst the Change”
In this example, the incorrect version mistakenly capitalizes the word “to,” while the correct version follows AP Style by keeping it in lowercase.
Commonly Misused Prepositions and Articles:
- a, an, and the
- at, by, for, from, in, on, to, with
- amid, among, below, beside, between, beyond, during, under, etc.
2. Capitalizing Conjunctions:
Similar to prepositions and articles, AP Style recommends keeping coordinating conjunctions, such as “and,” “but,” “or,” “for,” “nor,” and “so,” lowercase unless they start or end the title.
Let’s examine an example:
Incorrect: “Love or Fear: Which Drives Human Behavior?”
Correct: “Love or Fear: Which Drives Human Behavior?”
In this instance, the incorrect version incorrectly capitalizes the word “or,” while the correct version adheres to AP Style guidelines.
3. Capitalizing Short Verbs in Infinitive Form:
Infinitive verbs, such as “to be,” “to eat,” or “to run,” should typically be lowercase in title capitalization.
This includes shorter verbs like “be,” “eat,” or “run,” when they form part of the infinitive phrase.
Take a look at this example:
Incorrect: “To Be or Not To Be: The Ultimate Question”
Correct: “To Be or Not to Be: The Ultimate Question”
Here, the incorrect version mistakenly capitalizes the verb “Be,” while the correct version correctly presents it in lowercase.
4. Capitalizing Short Adjectives, Adverbs, and Participles:
Just like short prepositions and conjunctions, short adjectives, adverbs, and participles (words ending in -ing, -ed, -en, etc.) should also be in lowercase unless they start or end the title.
Let’s consider an example:
Incorrect: “The Brave New World: Exploring Uncharted Terrains”
Correct: “The Brave New World: Exploringcharted Terrains”
The incorrect version capitalizes the adjective “Brave,” whereas the correct version adheres to AP Style rules.
5. Capitalizing Short Words After a Colon:
When a colon is used in a title, AP Style suggests capitalizing the first word after the colon only if it starts a new sentence or is a proper noun. Otherwise, it should be lowercase.
Here’s an example:
Incorrect: “Writing Tips: How to Perfect Your Craft”
Correct: “Writing Tips: How to Perfect your Craft”
In this example, the incorrect version unnecessarily capitalizes the word “How,” while the correct version follows AP Style by keeping it lowercase.
6. Capitalizing Hyphenated Words:
AP Style emphasizes capitalizing both words in a hyphenated compound word, except for articles, coordinating conjunctions, or prepositions with fewer than four letters.
Consider the following example:
Incorrect: “The Mind-blowing Art of Self-discovery”
Correct: “The Mind-Blowing Art of Self-Discovery”
In this instance, the incorrect version mistakenly capitalizes the word “discovery,” while the correct version capitalizes both words in the hyphenated compound.
7. Capitalizing Subordinating Conjunctions:
Subordinating conjunctions, such as “although,” “because,” “since,” or “while,” are typically lowercase unless they start or end the title. Let’s see an example:
Incorrect: “The Power of Belief: Because You Can Achieve Anything”
Correct: “The Power of Belief: Because You Can Achieve Anything”
In this example, the incorrect version capitalizes the word “Because,” while the correct version keeps it lowercase.
8. Capitalizing Second Parts of Hyphenated Proper Nouns:
AP Style suggests capitalizing both parts of a hyphenated proper noun, such as “Jane Doe” or “John Smith.”
However, only capitalize the second part at the beginning or end of a title. Let’s consider an example:
Incorrect: “Finding Neverland: The Story of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens”
Correct: “Finding Neverland: The Story of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens”
In this instance, the incorrect version mistakenly capitalizes the word “in,” while the correct version adheres to AP Style by keeping it lowercase.
9. Capitalizing the Second Part of Hyphenated Prefixes:
When a prefix is hyphenated and followed by a proper noun, capitalize the second part of the prefix. Here’s an example:
Incorrect: “The Re-envisioning of Education: How Innovative Technologies are Transforming Learning”
Correct: “The Re-Envisioning of Education: How Innovative Technologies are Transforming Learning”
In this example, the incorrect version fails to capitalize the second part of the hyphenated prefix, while the correct version correctly capitalizes “Envisioning.”
10. Capitalizing Second Parts of Split Word Titles:
In titles where a word is split on two lines or at the end of a line due to line-breaking, capitalize the second part of the split word. Consider the following example:
Incorrect: “Artifi-cial Intelligence: Revolutionizing Modern Technology”
Correct: “Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing Modern Technology”
Here, the incorrect version mistakenly capitalizes the letter “c,” while the correct version follows AP Style by capitalizing the word “Intelligence.”
Conclusion: Polishing Your Titles in AP Style
Mastering AP Style Title Capitalization is a simple yet pivotal skill every writer should possess.
By avoiding these top 10 common mistakes, you can ensure your titles are in line with AP Style guidelines, leaving a lasting impression on your readers.
Remember, consistency and attention to detail are key, so take the time to proofread and edit your titles.
Now, armed with a comprehensive understanding of AP Style Title Capitalization, go forth and captivate your audience with titles that shine!