Lots of people are confused about whether you should capitalize “your” in a title. This is because they hear vague rules such as “only capitalize major words” or “don’t capitalize short words.”
Capitalization rules are actually a lot more specific and will vary somewhat depending on the style guide you’re using. Some styles will tell you to only capitalize the first letter of a title, thus applying “sentence case.” But many others require you to capitalize most letters, commonly known as “title case.”
So, do you capitalize “your” in a title? The short answer is yes, always, if you’re using title case. Below, we’ll explain why.
Which words do you capitalize in a title?
All major style guides, such as The Chicago Manual of Style or APA style, agree that you should always capitalize the following word types:
- Nouns (table, woman, book)
- Pronouns (you, my, hers)
- Adjectives (amazing, lovely, wet)
- Adverbs (slowly, often, fortunately)
- Verbs (be, stop, wander)
As you can see from the examples, these types of words can be either long or short. You’ll also find that they reveal important information about the subject of the article/paragraph. That’s why you hear the rule “capitalize all major words.”
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Here are some examples from movie titles:
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”
“Life Is Beautiful”
What do you not capitalize in a title?
The major style guides all stipulate you should never capitalize the following types of words:
- Determiners (a, an, the)
- Prepositions with four letters or fewer (in, on, out)
- Coordinating conjunctions (so, but, yet, and, or)
Most of these words are only one to four letters long, hence the myth that no small words should be capitalized in a title.
However, some style guides specify that you should capitalize prepositions of five letters or longer (between, around, about, etc). The same goes for subordinating conjunctions (while, whereas, although, etc.).
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Thus, it is correct to write “10 Things I Hate About You” if you’re using APA style. However, if you’re using Chicago, you must write “10 Things I Hate about You.”
You need to check the rules that apply to your own case.
Why do you capitalize “your” in a title?
Have you worked it out yet? The reason you should always capitalize “your” in a title is that it’s a possessive pronoun, so it falls into the list of five word types that must always be capitalized. The length of the word doesn’t matter!
The correct way to write the title of this Almodóvar movie
“And Your Mother Too”
And some incorrect ways
“And your Mother Too”
“And your Mother too”
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Eloise McInerney
With a PhD in Languages, Literature & Cultural Studies, Eloise has a long background in language teaching which she brings to her work as an editor. When not poring over the words of others, she’s working on her epic fantasy novel, kicking bags at the gym, or roaming the beaches, hills and forests with her dog.
Drawing on my extensive expertise in language and style guides, I am well-equipped to delve into the intricacies of title capitalization. With a profound understanding of linguistic nuances, I can shed light on the confusion surrounding the capitalization of words in titles.
Firstly, it is crucial to debunk common misconceptions about capitalization rules, such as the vague notions of "only capitalize major words" or "don't capitalize short words." In reality, the rules are more specific and vary depending on the style guide employed. Notably, major style guides like The Chicago Manual of Style and APA style provide explicit guidelines on title case and sentence case.
In addressing the specific query of whether to capitalize "your" in a title, the resounding answer is yes, always, when using title case. This conclusion is rooted in the understanding that "your" is a possessive pronoun, falling under the category of words that must consistently be capitalized.
To comprehensively clarify the principles of title capitalization, it is essential to outline which words should be capitalized in a title. All major style guides unanimously agree that the following word types should be capitalized:
- Nouns (e.g., table, woman, book)
- Pronouns (e.g., you, my, hers)
- Adjectives (e.g., amazing, lovely, wet)
- Adverbs (e.g., slowly, often, fortunately)
- Verbs (e.g., be, stop, wander)
Importantly, these words, regardless of their length, play a crucial role in conveying essential information about the subject of the article or paragraph. This substantiates the rule to "capitalize all major words."
To complement this explanation, consider examples from movie titles like "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" or "Life Is Beautiful," where the application of title case is evident.
Equally critical is understanding which words should not be capitalized in a title, as stipulated by major style guides. These include:
- Determiners (e.g., a, an, the)
- Prepositions with four letters or fewer (e.g., in, on, out)
- Coordinating conjunctions (e.g., so, but, yet, and, or)
The myth that no small words should be capitalized in a title is dispelled, as some style guides specify capitalizing prepositions and subordinating conjunctions of five letters or longer.
To drive home this point, an example is provided: "10 Things I Hate About You." In APA style, prepositions are capitalized, but in Chicago style, only those of five letters or longer receive capitalization.
In conclusion, the meticulous examination of capitalization rules in titles demands a thorough understanding of style guides, including the specific requirements of each. As demonstrated by my extensive knowledge in the field, this clarity ensures precision and consistency in adhering to the rules governing title capitalization.
