What is AP title case?
Associated Press (AP) Stylebook headline style prescribes a specific way to capitalize titles and headings, known as AP title case (or headline style). Get it wrong and a reviewer will notice immediately. This converter applies the exact AP rule set the moment you type — start on AP above, or switch styles to compare side by side.
The AP capitalization rule
Capitalize the first word, the last word, and all words of four letters or more. Lowercase articles, conjunctions and prepositions of three letters or fewer. AP keeps headlines tight and is the standard for newsrooms.
In every style the very first and very last word of a title is capitalized regardless of what it is, and the first word after a colon (the start of a subtitle) is always capitalized too. Hyphenated compounds are handled part by part.
When to use AP title case
Reach for AP style for news headlines, press releases, journalism, and most corporate and PR communications. AP capitalizes any word of four letters or more, including prepositions like 'Over' and 'From'.
AP title case examples
| You type | AP title case |
|---|---|
| city council votes to expand the downtown transit line | City Council Votes to Expand the Downtown Transit Line |
| a guide to writing without fear | A Guide to Writing Without Fear |
| notes on the art of the interview | Notes on the Art of the Interview |
How it differs from other styles
The biggest disagreement between style guides is how they treat prepositions. AP uses a length test: short prepositions stay lowercase, longer ones are capitalized. If you write across disciplines, bookmark this page for AP and use the style switcher above whenever you move between an essay, a headline and a journal submission.
Frequently asked questions
- Is AP title case the same as Chicago?
- They agree on capitalizing major words but differ on prepositions and a few minor words. Use the style switcher above to see the exact difference on your own text.
- Does AP capitalize the word after a colon?
- Yes. The first word of a subtitle is always capitalized in AP style.
- What about short words like 'is' and 'be'?
- Verbs are always capitalized in AP style, even short ones such as 'Is', 'Be' and 'Am'.