What is the proper way to write a title??

1. 82

   Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years ago

   Is keeping the initials of all the words (except and, of, to etc) in capital letter is the right way or only the first initial of the first word should be kept in capital?? Or both the ways are correct?? Here on hubpages and other websites allows both the ways but still is there any such rule in English or we can write in whatever way we want???

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   1. 99

      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Here's a fairly decent set of guidelines for using title case.
      
      http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to- … ase-a73866
      
      In the absence of specific guidelines provided by the publisher, these should do nicely.

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2. 60

   gustaw1981posted 13 years ago

   This is internet and rarely typical written english rules apply. It depends who is the target of your articles. But in general capitol letter goes in the beggining and for names.

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   1. 82

      Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Well I've seen that most of the sites don't care about these things rather they concentrate on the content. But one site did raised a question on this. That's why. What style do you prefer??

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      1. 60

         gustaw1981posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I rather write by the rules, unless chaos comes to hack my thoughts

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         1. 82

            Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            that site has a lots of rules and regulations...but apart from the content they check all the other factors too. So, definitely I write as per rules...  I don't want to get banned from the site:)

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            1. 60

               gustaw1981posted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Don't get too serious about it. Look at this: http://philplasma.hubpages.com/hub/Inan … nt-6109830

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               1. 82

                  Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I'm not serious.. Every time I publish an article I commit some mistakes and rule breaks.... I think now they also understood that I'm here commit mistakes each and every single time.

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3. 82

   Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years ago

   thanks for the links....

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4. 72

   R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years ago

   depends on what the title is (poetry has her own set of rules)
   
   First and last words always*.
   Nouns, Adj, pronouns, verbs, and adverbs always*.
   
   articles, propsitions, conjunctions usually never. (unless it's the first or last word)
   
   *really up to you but SHOULD be capitalized.
   
   
   I'll add this to my Grammar hub. Good question.

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5. 71

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   I guess all I have to do is use your title of this thread as an example.
   
   What is the proper way to write a title? This would be the incorrect way to write it
   
   What Is The Proper Way To Write a Title? This would be the correct way to write it
   
   Also, there are certain words, like "a" and "and" that you do not capitalize the first letter of. Just like, "of" and "or".
   
   This is something I learned from someone who has been a professional marketer for a great number of years.

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   1. 72

      R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I wouldn't have capitalized "the" or "to"
      
      "What is the Proper Way to Write a Title?"

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      1. 71

         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         That would be your choice. However, your responses to your title would be different than how it was explained.

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         1. 78

            Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I was always told to leave the and to uncapitalized.

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            1. 72

               R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               @ UW that is "normal" rule.

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            2. 71

               Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               And, I wasn't.

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            3. 82

               Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               me too...

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         2. 72

            R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            @ cags -yeah there really is no set rule so it's usually a matter of oppinion. I just don't like to capitalize conjuctions, articles, and preps.
            
            And yes "Is" should have been Captilaized.
            
            "What Is the Proper Way to Write a Title?"
            
            "is" being a verb in this use.

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            1. 71

               Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Your explanation is different than MY explanation.

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            2. 99

               Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               If you are writing for any company, publisher, or academic institution that requires the use of a specific style, then there are definitely rules for title case, in which title case is not a matter of opinion.

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      2. 99

         Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Not all title case rules are consistent across styles, but some are. "The", the article, is capitalized in title case only when it is the first word of the title.
         
         "To", when it is part of an infinitive, usually is not capitalized, although individual house styles may require that it is.

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   2. 78

      Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Although...some sites don't want "title case" so it's best to read the faqs where you write. Here I notice I have done it both ways.

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      1. 71

         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Hey UW, "title case" would lead to not having titles in "ALL" capitalized case, not as I described it.
         
         I have yet to read any FAQ's of any site I've come across that would have a problem with titles written as I explained.

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         1. 78

            Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I can't remember where but I have had articles rejected for using title case. Personally I think it looks better when using title case.

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      2. 82

         Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Even I have used both the ways....

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   3. 82

      Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      So both the ways are correct?? However, I've used in both the ways but usually I keep the first letter of every word in the title capital (except...). In fact in school I was taught to write it in that way. That's why.

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6. 72

   R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years ago

   Plus it depends on WHERE you are writing.. different norms for German, Britain and US writing.

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   1. 82

      Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      really?? I didn't knew that.. It though English has the same rule whether it be US English or Britain English....

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      1. 72

         R.S. Hutchinsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         In India you capitalize everything : nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions (if, because, as, that, etc.) But never articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor), and prepositions.
         
         In some German you capitilize only the nouns and nothing else. In other german it is similar to what I wrote up there (similar to US and is becoming more mainstream)
         
         In Britain that the first word and all the 'main' words in a title should have capitals, and all the 'joining' words should be left in lower case. And they frown upon capitalizing everything.

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         1. 82

            Sneha Sunnyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            thanks....

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