The word "is" is not capitalized in title case unless it appears at the beginning or end of a title. This follows standard capitalization rules for minor words in titles, such as articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions.
Capitalization in titles depends on the style guide being used. Most major systems-APA, Chicago Manual of Style, and MLA-treat short words like "is" as lowercase when they appear in the middle of a title. Only the first word and proper nouns receive uppercase letters.
For example, in the title "The Role of Is in Sentence Structure," "is" remains lowercase because it's a linking verb in the middle of the title. The same rule applies to "and," "but," "of," "to," and other short function words.
Title case capitalizes the first and last words of a title, along with all major words. Major words include nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. Minor words-such as articles (a, an, the), short prepositions (in, on, at), and coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or)-are typically lowercase unless they start or end the title.
For instance, consider the title: "Why Is the Moon Important?" Here, "Is" is capitalized because it begins the title. But in "The Science Behind Why Is the Moon Important?", "is" is lowercase because it's not at the start or end.
Major style guides agree on this principle. The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.) states: "Capitalize the first and last words of a title, and all principal words." Articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are excluded unless they begin or end the title.
Not all words follow the same rule. The classification of a word as major or minor determines whether it gets capitalized. Below is a breakdown of common word types and their treatment in title case.
| Word Type | Examples | Capitalization Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Major words | run, jump, beautiful, theory, system | Always capitalized |
| Minor words | is, was, are, am, but, and, of, in, on | Lowercase unless at start or end of title |
| Proper nouns | Smith, Paris, Microsoft, World War II | Always capitalized |
Some style guides offer exceptions. For example, APA 7th edition allows capitalizing minor words if they are the first or last word in a title. This means "Is" in "Is Climate Change Real?" is capitalized because it starts the title.
A common mistake is assuming that all verbs must be capitalized. In reality, only major verbs-those carrying significant meaning-are capitalized. "Is" is a linking verb and thus treated as a minor word.
Many people assume that "is" should be capitalized simply because it's a verb. This is incorrect. The presence of a verb doesn't trigger capitalization-word type and position do.
Another error occurs when writers apply headline-style capitalization to formal documents. In academic papers, titles often follow strict style rules. For example, APA requires that only the first word and proper nouns be capitalized unless the title is a subtitle, which may follow different rules.
One non-obvious fact: Some style guides treat hyphenated compounds differently. In "Is-It-Real?" the word "is" is capitalized because it starts the compound. But in "The Truth About Is It Real?", "is" is lowercase due to its position.
Take the title: "How Is the Internet Used in Education?"
Correct title: "How is the Internet Used in Education?"
I once edited a student paper where the title read "Is the System Broken?" The original version had "Is" capitalized correctly because it began the title. When the student moved it to the middle of a longer title-"Is the System Broken in Modern Healthcare?"-I corrected it to lowercase. The change improved consistency with APA guidelines.
Always consult the required style guide. APA, Chicago, and MLA differ slightly in their rules. For example, Chicago recommends capitalizing all words except minor ones, while APA allows flexibility for subtitles.
If you're writing for a publication, check their editorial style sheet. Many journals require specific formatting. A mismatch can delay submission.
Understanding whether "is" gets capitalized in a title depends on context, position, and style. The rule is clear: "is" is lowercase in the middle of a title, capitalized only at the beginning or end.