General Rules
* Capitalization: Capitalize the first word of the title and all major words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs).
* Articles, Prepositions, and Conjunctions: Generally, do not capitalize articles ("a," "an," "the"), prepositions (like "of," "in," "on," "to"), or conjunctions (like "and," "but," "or") unless they are the first word of the title.
* Punctuation: The use of punctuation in titles varies by style guide. Here's a common approach:
* Periods: Use a period at the end of a title only if it is a complete sentence.
* Question marks or exclamation points: Use these only if the title is a question or exclamation.
* Colons and semicolons: These are rarely used in titles unless they are part of a list.
* Commas: Use commas as needed, but they are often omitted in short titles.
* Italics or Quotation Marks:
* Italics: Titles of longer works (books, movies, albums, plays, long poems) are italicized.
* Quotation Marks: Titles of shorter works (articles, essays, chapters, poems, songs) are enclosed in quotation marks.
Examples
Books:
* *The Great Gatsby*
* *Pride and Prejudice*
* *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*
Movies:
* *The Shawshank Redemption*
* *Spirited Away*
* *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope*
Articles:
* "The Importance of Sleep"
* "How to Write a Great Essay"
* "The Future of Artificial Intelligence"
Songs:
* "Bohemian Rhapsody"
* "Imagine"
* "Hallelujah"
Essays:
* "The Tragedy of the Commons"
* "The American Dream"
Plays:
* *Hamlet*
* *A Midsummer Night's Dream*
* *The Importance of Being Earnest*
Poetry:
* "The Raven"
* "Ode to a Nightingale"
* "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"
Exceptions:
* Style Guide Preferences: Some style guides (like the MLA or Chicago Manual of Style) may have slightly different rules. Always consult the relevant guide for specific requirements.
* Non-Standard Titles: Some titles are deliberately non-standard, like those that use all lowercase letters or unusual punctuation.
Tips:
* Clarity: Make sure your title accurately reflects the content of your work and is clear and concise.
* Interest: Try to make your title engaging and intriguing to draw readers in.
* Length: Keep titles relatively short and avoid redundancy.
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to discuss specific scenarios for titles.