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AP Style tools

AP Headline & Title Case Converter

Check and convert headlines to AP style capitalization. Use AP title case for composition titles, or AP sentence case for news headlines. Every change comes with the rule behind it.

For composition titles (books, movies, songs) and outlets that use title-case headlines.

HEADLINES

One per line

AP STYLE

Your converted headlines appear here.

AP title case rules

  • Capitalize principal words, including prepositions and conjunctions of four or more letters (With, Through, About).
  • Lowercase articles (a, an, the) and conjunctions and prepositions of three letters or fewer (and, of, in, to, for).
  • Always capitalize the first and last word, and the first word after a colon.

AP headline rules

  • AP news headlines use sentence case: capitalize only the first word and proper nouns.
  • Capitalize the first word after a colon.
  • Keep acronyms and brand spellings as written (NASA, iPhone, U.S.).

Checking a whole story? Use the AP Style Checker or browse the AP style rules.

FAQ

Does AP style use title case for headlines?

Which words are lowercase in AP title case?

How is AP different from Chicago or APA title case?

Can the tool detect proper nouns in sentence case?

Is my text sent to a server?

Free AP Style Title Checker

Paste one or more headlines and the converter applies Associated Press capitalization rules instantly. Each changed word is underlined; hover over it to see the AP rule that applies. Use it to check a headline before publishing, to fix titles in a content calendar, or to format book, film and song titles in a story.

AP Headline Capitalization vs. Title Case

AP uses two different capitalization styles, and mixing them up is one of the most common style errors:

  • News headlines use sentence case. Capitalize the first word, proper nouns and the first word after a colon. Example: Senate passes bill to fund NASA missions.
  • Composition titles (books, movies, plays, songs, TV shows, lectures) use title case. Example: The Old Man and the Sea.

Many blogs and marketing teams also use AP title case for their headlines as a house style. Pick the mode that matches your publication.

AP Title Case Rules

  1. Capitalize the first and last word of the title.
  2. Capitalize principal words: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
  3. Capitalize prepositions and conjunctions of four or more letters, such as With, From, About, Through and Because.
  4. Lowercase articles (a, an, the) and conjunctions and prepositions of three letters or fewer (and, but, or, for, of, in, on, to, by, at).
  5. Capitalize the first word after a colon.
  6. In hyphenated compounds, capitalize each principal part: Step-by-Step, Mother-in-Law.

Examples

InputAP title caseAP headline
gone with the windGone With the WindGone with the wind
what are you looking forWhat Are You Looking ForWhat are you looking for
a step-by-step guide to the budgetA Step-by-Step Guide to the BudgetA step-by-step guide to the budget
review: the best phones of the yearReview: The Best Phones of the YearReview: The best phones of the year

AP vs. Chicago, APA and MLA

The biggest difference is how each guide treats prepositions. AP capitalizes prepositions of four or more letters (Gone With the Wind). Chicago and MLA lowercase all prepositions regardless of length (Gone with the Wind). APA capitalizes any word of four or more letters. If your editor follows AP Stylebook, this converter matches it.

Check the Rest of Your Copy

Headlines are only one part of AP style. Run the full story through the AP Style Checker to catch numbers, dates, titles, abbreviations and punctuation issues, or browse the AP style rules the checker covers.