MLA 9th Edition Title Capitalization
The Modern Language Association (MLA) 9th edition provides specific guidelines for capitalizing titles in essays, research papers, and Works Cited entries.
What to Capitalize in MLA Style
- First and Last Words: Always capitalize regardless of part of speech
- Principal Words: Capitalize nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs
- Subordinating Conjunctions: Capitalize words like "although," "because," "since"
What to Keep Lowercase
MLA style requires lowercase for these word categories (unless first or last word):
- Articles: a, an, the
- Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, for, nor, or, yet
- Prepositions: in, of, on, to, by, up (regardless of length)
- "To" in Infinitives: "to" before verbs stays lowercase
Examples
- Essay Title: "The Role of Technology in Modern Education"
- Book Title: "Pride and Prejudice"
- Article Title: "How to Write an Essay"
- With Colon: "Climate Change: The Effects on Biodiversity"
MLA vs APA vs Chicago
| Style | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| MLA | All principal words capitalized |
| APA | Words of 4+ letters capitalized |
| Chicago | Similar to MLA but different preposition rules |
Common MLA Title Mistakes
- ❌ Capitalizing short prepositions: "The Effects Of Climate Change"
- ✓ Correct: "The Effects of Climate Change"
- ❌ Lowercase first word after colon: "Technology: the future of education"
- ✓ Correct: "Technology: The Future of Education"
When to Use MLA Format
- Literature and language arts papers
- Humanities research papers
- Works Cited page entries
- Essay titles and section headings