Breaking it Down: An Introduction to APA Capitalization Rules
APA rules can sometimes be confusing, including rules about capitalization.
Despite slight variations, the main capitalization rules can be broken
down into two format categories: title case and sentence case.
Title
case
is when you capitalize the first letter of all words that are 4 or more letters
long:
·
Title of Your Paper
·
Level 1 Section Headings
·
Level 2 Section Headings
·
References Title
There aren’t as many rules for the title case in
APA, simply because most capitalization rules will focus on the second category
of rules: The sentence case.
Sentence
case
follows standard sentence capitalization rules where capitalization is used only
for the first letter of the first word, proper nouns, and the first word after
a colon:
·
Sentences within your paper
·
Level 3 headings
·
Level 4 headings
·
Titles of sources in APA-style reference
entries
Let’s take a closer look at the sentence case rules
as they relate to the sentences in your
paper. After explaining the rule and providing an example, I will also
share with you two contrary rules
that exist in special circumstances. Let’s face it, the longer you learn about
APA style, the more contrary rules you will find.
The first letter of the first word
The first letter of the first word after a colon
Proper nouns
(including trade names and specific
titles)
Nouns followed
by numerals (because they refer to specific
“things”)
The color-code corresponds to the matching portion of the example sample:
Example:
According to the American Psychological Association
(APA, 2010), writers need
to “Capitalize nouns followed by numerals or letters that denote a specific
place on a numbered series” (103). Here is one example provided: “On Day 2 of Experiment 4” (103).
And as usual, there are some exceptions to the rule.
Contrary
rule #1: Titles of written works (such as books and article
titles), follow title case rules as well as “Capitaliz[ing] all verbs (including linking verbs), nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns” (APA, 2010, p. 101).
Example:
In her book, Scholars’ Attitudes About
Learning Styles…
When you are referring to the title of a source in
the sentences of your paper, make sure you capitalize. Unless, of course your
subject is related to the next contrary rule.
Contrary
Rule #2: “Do not capitalize the names of laws, theories,
models, statistical procedures, or hypotheses” (APA, 2010, p.102) since they
can be understood to serve more as common nouns as opposed to proper nouns.
Example:
Maslow’s (1943) hierarchy of needs
Example:
According to the classical conditioning model, …….(Watson, 1924)
There are, of course, other capitalization rules.
Aside from the Writing Center’s overview of capitalization rules, and the APA style blog, students can also find a breakdown of the rules
with examples in the APA Manual (6th ed.), on pp. 101-104 (or
4.14-4.20).
We also have an interactive lesson on capitalization
on our website. Make some time to take our APA capitalization quiz and let us know how you did in the
comments below.
Veronica Oliver is a Writing Instructor in the Walden Writing Center. In her spare time she writes fiction, binge watches Netflix, and occasionally makes it to a 6am Bikram Yoga class.
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Dear Veronica Oliver,
ReplyDeleteThank you for educating me about APA use in writing. I have actually seen and observed critically the mistakes I have been making. This time round I will be a good writer. I have come to learn that writers need to capitalize nouns followed by numerals or letters that donate a specific place on a numbered series.
Also I didn't know that titles of written works follow case rules as well as capitalizing all verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverb, and pronouns.
Please, I need to learn a lot from you on an interval of two days week in week out.
What about the names of different subjects? English language asks for not capitalizing the subject names unless it is a language subject..
ReplyDeleteWhat do we do in APA format?
We still follow that rule! For example, "English" as a subject will be capitalized because it's also the proper name of a language. The subject "science", however, is left lowercase because it is not a proper name. Now sometimes these words make their way into proper names or organizations or programs, and then we would capitalize them. For example, American Science Center.
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