Capitalization in a Title:

[Hosnon]

What is the rule when capitalizing words in a title? What parts of speech are to be capitalized?

More specifically, are prepositions capitalized?

[jobycom]

1. jUST lEAVE cAPLOCKS oN aND sHOUT aT eVERYONE!!!!111

We all love that!

Other than that, there are no rules. :)

[Hosnon]

3. Haha thanks. My question is more general though...not specific to DU. nt

[jobycom]

10. Yeah, I suspected that after I posted. Sorry. Good advice downthread.

[Hosnon]

16. Thanks. nt

[spindrifter]

2. Typically if the preposition

is not the first word, it is not capitalized. Capitalize nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives.

[Iris]

5. isn't there some criteria for "long" words?

including prepositions? I remember there being some ambiguity there.

[leftyclimber]

12. IIRC, the American Psychological Association rule

is capitalize prepositions of four letters or more, use lowercase for prepositions of three letters or fewer. Couldn't say with the other style guides.

[Hosnon]

7. Ok. So: "On Freedom" is correct along with: "Come on Down"? nt

[RoseMead]

4. Prepositions should not be in caps

Department of Defense, for example :)

[Hosnon]

13. What about "an" and "if"? Only if at the beginning? nt

[Lautremont]

6. Just the first preposition:

The Wind in the Willows, for example.

[NoSheep]

8. That's a determiner, no?

[NoSheep]

11. It's official. I'm a word freak.

I'm having to laugh at myself for clicking on this post!:o

[Hosnon]

15. Are you good at diagramming sentences?

[NoSheep]

18. Yep. That may be where it all started!

[DemBones DemBones]

19. Me, too. Always loved diagramming sentences and

doing geometric proofs, for similar reasons, I think.

[NoSheep]

20. Perhaps that explains why I did fairly well in geometry. Sucked at algebra though.

[Lautremont]

17. I think a determiner occurs before a descriptive adjective

modifying the same noun.

Freaks Anonymous member here...

[mcscajun]

9. Depends on the intended use/audience.

Different publications have differing manuals of style.

You may capitalize every word in a title, or leave the conjunctions, prepositions and articles in lower case.

Check this source for further info: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/CMS_FAQ/CapitalizationTitles/CapitalizationTitles_questions01.html

[Hosnon]

14. Hmm..ok. But the above rules are generic and satisfactory? nt

[rug]

21. Well, this is the official odd kids in a playground thread.