The short answer
- Sentence case capitalizes only the first word (and proper nouns). It's easier to read and increasingly common on websites, apps and in documentation.
- Title case capitalizes most words. It's traditional for book titles, magazine headlines and academic paper titles.
Side-by-side examples
| Sentence case | How to write a great headline for your blog |
|---|---|
| Title Case | How to Write a Great Headline for Your Blog |
| Sentence case | The best time to visit new york in the spring |
|---|---|
| Title Case | The Best Time to Visit New York in the Spring |
Notice the second example: “new york” is a proper noun. Sentence case can't know that and leaves it lowercase, so you'd fix it to “New York” by hand.
Which style guides use which?
| Style guide | Headings |
|---|---|
| Google developer documentation style guide | Sentence case |
| Microsoft Writing Style Guide | Sentence case |
| AP Stylebook (news headlines) | Sentence case |
| APA Style (paper titles and main headings) | Title case |
| Chicago Manual of Style (headline style) | Title case |
Always follow the guide your publication, school or company uses — consistency matters more than the choice itself.
Pros and cons
Sentence case
- Faster to read and scan.
- Fewer rules to remember.
- Looks friendly and conversational.
- Proper nouns stand out because they're capitalized.
Title case
- Feels formal and traditional.
- Makes headlines stand out visually.
- Rules for small words vary between guides.
- Harder to apply consistently by hand.
Convert in one click
Paste your headline into the sentence case converter or the title case converter — or use the main case converter to try every style.
Frequently asked questions
Is sentence case or title case better for SEO?
Neither has a known ranking advantage. Choose the style that reads best for your audience and use it consistently.
Do you capitalize after a colon in a title?
In title case, yes — the first word after a colon is capitalized. In sentence case, styles differ; many capitalize it only if what follows is a complete sentence.