When drafting a headline, the question of capitalization often creates confusion. Should I capitalize is in a title? The short answer is yes, you generally should. The word "is" functions as a verb, and in title case, verbs are always capitalized regardless of their length. This rule applies whether "is" appears at the beginning, middle, or end of your heading, ensuring consistency and grammatical correctness across your content.
The Rules of Title Capitalization
Understanding the mechanics of title case is essential for professional writing. Major style guides, including APA, Chicago, and MLA, provide clear frameworks for formatting headlines. These systems distinguish between parts of speech that require capitalization and those that do not. While styles vary slightly, the treatment of verbs is standardized, making the treatment of "is" straightforward in most contexts.
Major Style Guide Standards
Different publishing environments may have specific preferences, but the core principles remain similar. You should always capitalize the main verbs in your titles. This rule is universal because verbs convey action or states of being. Consequently, "is," "are," "was," and "be" are never left in lowercase when formatting a title according to standard guidelines.
Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the) unless they begin the title.
Do not capitalize short conjunctions (and, or, but) unless they start the title.
Always capitalize the first and last word of the title.
Practical Application and Examples
To see these rules in action, consider common phrases where "is" appears. A headline like "The Sky Is Blue" correctly capitalizes the verb. If you were to leave it lowercase as "the sky is blue," the headline would look unprofessional and violate standard writing conventions. The visual presentation of the word matters significantly in digital and print media.
Another example involves longer titles where placement changes. "Why The Economy Is Changing Rapidly" maintains the capitalization of "Is" because it is the verb linking the subject to the complement. Even if the word "is" is short, its grammatical role demands emphasis. This consistency helps search engines and readers immediately identify the structure of the sentence.
Exceptions and Technical Considerations
While the standard rule is to capitalize "is," context matters in specific style guides. Some formats used for academic or journalistic writing might treat the word differently if it appears in a subtitle or specific layout. However, for general web content, blog posts, and marketing materials, the verb should always be uppercase. Adhering to this ensures your content looks polished and authoritative.
Ultimately, deciding to capitalize "is" elevates the quality of your writing. It signals attention to detail and respect for language rules. By treating verbs with the same importance as nouns, you create headlines that are not only correct but also visually engaging and optimized for reader interaction.
