In AP Style, titles follow specific rules regarding capitalization, placement, and punctuation, depending on their formality and position relative to a name. Proper use of titles enhances clarity and professionalism in journalistic writing.
A title is an identifying name. There are a few rules to write down the titles. Continue reading the post to get those important points.
What AP Style Titles Suggests?
1. Capitalization: If there is a formal or professional title, you should capitalize the title that should precede a person’s name.
For example,
• I have an appointment with Dean Smith Leo.
2. Lowercase: If the titles are not formal, come after the name or are set off by commas then, you should remember to write those titles in lowercase letters.
For example,
- The professor asked us to prepare a presentation on the given topic.
- James Oliver, former president of the institute, will be joining us today.
- The chairman of an American company, Jacob Jack, left us.
3. Academic Titles: Abbreviated academic titles (like, B.A., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., M.B.A., etc.) can be used when they are important to the text. These titles should be placed after full names and it is necessary to place a comma between the name and the academic titles.
For example,
• Jacob Jack, M.S.
• James Oliver, Ph.D.
4. The titles Mr., Mrs., Ms., Col., Gen., Maj., Rep., etc. come before a name like, Mrs. Smith, Dr. John etc.
5. Titles of books, compositions, movies, magazines, etc. should be written in quotations and are capitalized.
For example,
• You should read “The Hobbit”.
Understanding Formal vs. Informal Titles in AP Style
In AP Style, formal titles convey a recognized position of authority or professional rank (such as “President,” “Governor,” “Professor”), whereas informal titles are general descriptors (such as “teacher,” “coach,” or “author”).
Formal titles are typically capitalized when placed directly before a person’s name, which highlights the authority or significance of the position in official contexts. For instance:
- Formal: “Mayor John Smith announced the new policy.”
- Informal: “John Smith, the city’s mayor, announced the new policy.”
When to Capitalize Titles Before a Name
AP Style recommends capitalizing formal titles when they appear immediately before a person’s name, as it signifies the person’s official role.
This rule applies to recognized titles of authority, such as “President,” “Senator,” “Dean,” and “General.” However, if the title is long or contains multiple words, it’s usually better to use a lowercase version after the name. Examples include:
- Correct: “President Susan Harris will attend the meeting.”
- Correct: “General Michael Green led the operation.”
When using titles like “former” or “deceased” before a name, remember to lowercase the title, as it’s no longer an active position. For example:
- Correct: “former President John Doe”
Avoid capitalizing titles used generically (e.g., “the president spoke”) to maintain clarity.
Using Lowercase for Titles After a Name
When a title appears after a person’s name, AP Style specifies that it should be lowercase, as it’s considered a descriptive detail rather than a direct formal title.
Lowercasing titles after a name is essential for consistency, even if the title is significant. Examples include:
- Correct: “David Chen, the company’s chief financial officer, announced the results.”
- Correct: “Jane Doe, professor of biology, led the research study.”
This rule also applies to titles set off by commas in a sentence, emphasizing that the title is additional information rather than the focus of the sentence.
Check Out: How Do We Write Academic Titles In AP Style?
How to Format Titles in Headlines and Subheadings
In AP Style, titles in headlines are treated slightly differently. Major words in a headline should be capitalized, but shorter words like articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are usually in lowercase unless they are the first word.
AP Style also avoids the use of periods in most abbreviations in headlines, so titles like “U.S.” would appear as “US” instead.
For example:
- Correct: “Mayor Proposes New Tax Plan” (major words capitalized, short prepositions in lowercase)
- Correct: “US Health Official Announces New Guidelines” (periods omitted in “US”)
In headlines, readability and conciseness are key. Ensure that titles in headlines remain clear without unnecessary words, punctuation, or symbols, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essential information.
What Did You Learn?
Following these AP Style guidelines makes your writing polished, credible, and easy to follow in both professional and media contexts.