What should never be capitalized?

Generally, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are the types of words that are typically not capitalized in English grammar, particularly within sentences or titles, unless they happen to be the very first word.

Understanding What Stays Lowercase

While the first word of any sentence is always capitalized, and proper nouns (names of specific people, places, or things) always receive capitalization, certain categories of words are almost universally kept in lowercase when they appear within a sentence or a title. This practice enhances readability and adheres to standard style guidelines.

Common Word Types That Remain Lowercase

The primary categories of words that typically remain uncapitalized are:

• Articles: These are words like "a," "an," and "the." They introduce nouns and are almost always lowercase.
• Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence, such as "of," "in," "to," "for," "with," "on," "at," "by," "from," and "about." Shorter prepositions are especially prone to remaining lowercase.
• Conjunctions: These words connect words, phrases, or clauses. Common examples include "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," and "yet" (coordinating conjunctions). Subordinating conjunctions like "because," "while," "although," or "if" also typically remain lowercase.

These rules are especially prominent in title capitalization, where most style guides dictate that these word types should not be capitalized unless they are the first word of the title or subtitle.

When Exceptions Apply

It's crucial to remember that context matters. While the words listed above are generally lowercase, there are specific situations where they would be capitalized:

• Beginning of a Sentence: If an article, preposition, or conjunction starts a sentence, it is always capitalized.
  • Example: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
  • Example: "And the winner is..."
• Part of a Proper Noun: If one of these words is integral to a proper noun, it might be capitalized. However, this is rare and often depends on the specific proper noun's established capitalization (e.g., "The Ohio State University").

Practical Application in Titles

When crafting titles for books, articles, songs, or any other works, adherence to title capitalization rules is key. Most style guides (such as APA, MLA, Chicago, or AP) agree on the principle of keeping articles, prepositions, and conjunctions lowercase within titles, provided they are not the first word.

Here's a quick reference table for general title capitalization:

For more detailed capitalization rules and specific style guide nuances, consult reputable grammar resources and style manuals like The Chicago Manual of Style Online or the Purdue Online Writing Lab.