When editing titles, one of the most frequent questions that arises is whether to capitalize between in a title. The short answer is that it depends entirely on the style guide you are following and the grammatical role the word plays. Generally, most major style guides recommend capitalizing the word "between" when it is used as a conjunction or preposition in the middle of a title if it contains four or more letters.
Understanding the distinction between a conjunction and a preposition is vital for applying the rules correctly. As a conjunction, "between" links words, phrases, or clauses, as in the sentence "Choose between apples and oranges." In this grammatical role, the word is functioning as a connective element, and many style guides treat it similarly to other conjunctions.
Capitalization Rules for Conjunctions
Style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style and the APA Style typically dictate that major words in a title should be capitalized. This includes nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns. Conjunctions, however, are often classified as function words, which are usually lowercased unless they are long or hold significant grammatical weight.
The Four-Letter Rule
The four-letter rule is a widely recognized heuristic in title formatting. According to this guideline, you should capitalize words with four or more letters while leaving shorter words lowercase, assuming they are not the first or last word of the title. Therefore, because "between" has eight letters, it is almost always capitalized in titles regardless of whether it is a conjunction or preposition.
The conference is scheduled for Between Lunch and Dinner.
She found a solution Between Theory and Practice.
The data lies Between the two extremes of the spectrum.
Prepositional Use and Length
When "between" functions as a preposition indicating a relationship in space, time, or degree, the same capitalization rules generally apply. The Chicago Manual of Style, for example, states that prepositions of four or more letters should be capitalized. Since "between" exceeds this threshold, it is treated as a significant word in the title structure.
However, if you are adhering to a more condensed style guide, such as the Associated Press (AP) Style, the logic shifts slightly. AP style typically recommends capitalizing words with three or more letters, which again places "between" firmly in the category of words that should be capitalized in most title scenarios.
Exceptions and Style Guide Variations
While the standard is to capitalize "between," there are nuanced exceptions to consider. If the title adheres to a rigid sentence case format, only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized, making "between" lowercase. Conversely, in title case formatting used for headlines and SEO, the word is almost always capitalized to maintain readability and impact.
Ultimately, the decision to capitalize between in a title is a matter of aligning with the specific style guide required by the publication or platform. Writers should always verify the preferred style for their context, but in the vast majority of professional and academic writing, "Between" is the correct presentation when appearing mid-title.
