2.12.2024 History of the media
The History of Title Case. Where Did Capitalized Titles Come From?
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Title Case, a style where most words in titles begin with a capital letter, has shaped the look of English publications for centuries. Its roots trace back to the 18th century when the rise of the printing press influenced how information was presented. Printers used Title Case in headlines to make them more visible on crowded newspaper pages. Words with capital letters stood out against plain text, helping draw readers’ attention quickly.
w wydaniu polskim
illustration: Bing AIIn the 19th century, newspapers like The Times and The New York Times adopted Title Case as the standard for their headlines. Using capital letters suggested formality and professionalism. Publishers noted that this style attracted readers on the busy streets of London and New York. Title Case gained further traction through style guides, such as the first edition of the Chicago Manual of Style in 1906, which solidified capitalization rules for headlines and promoted them as an editorial standard.
- In the 18th century, Title Case appeared in over 80% of newspaper headlines.
- By the 19th century, its usage in the press increased to nearly 95%.
Why Did Media Move Away from Title Case?
Although Title Case dominated newspapers and books for over two centuries, the 1990s saw a shift with the rise of the internet. Modern digital platforms and blogs began to abandon the formal style. The introduction of sentence case, where only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized, reflected changing audience preferences.
British media outlets like The Guardian were among the first to drop Title Case. Since 2005, all titles on their website have been written in sentence case. Editors observed that a less formal style resonated better with contemporary readers, who preferred quick and accessible reading experiences.
Changes in British and American Media:
- British media: “The Guardian” and “The Times” adopted sentence case to align with digital trends.
- American media: While “The New York Times” remained loyal to Title Case, online platforms like BuzzFeed shifted to sentence case, giving their titles a more casual tone.
| Year | Media Using Title Case | Media Using Sentence Case |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 95% | 5% |
| 2000 | 70% | 30% |
| 2020 | 40% | 60% |
How Have Changing Standards Affected Headline Perception?
Moving away from Title Case is not just a visual change but also a shift in how titles are perceived. Psychologists argue that sentence case facilitates faster reading, which matters when readers spend an average of only 8 seconds scanning a headline. On the other hand, Title Case requires more cognitive effort since each word begins with a capital letter, potentially slowing information processing.
A 2020 survey by the British Media Institute revealed:
- 65% of respondents found sentence case more approachable for online headlines.
- 52% of readers aged 18–34 preferred less formal titles on blogs and news websites.
An example is BuzzFeed, which has used sentence case for article headlines since 2010. Titles like “10 ways to make your day better” resonate more with younger audiences than the traditional “10 Ways to Make Your Day Better.”
Is This the End of Title Case?
Despite the trend of moving away from Title Case, some publications still use it to maintain prestige. For instance, The New York Times continues to use this style in its print headlines. Traditional Title Case headlines reflect the paper’s heritage and reinforce its credibility.
However, even these more conservative outlets are adapting to modern standards in the digital space. On “The New York Times” website, sentence case headlines are becoming increasingly common, signaling that change is inevitable.
Sources:
- "Chicago Manual of Style," University of Chicago Press, 1906.
- "Associated Press Stylebook," AP, 1953.
- "The Evolution of Headlines in Digital Media," British Media Institute, 2020.
- "Psychology of Readability: How Formatting Affects Attention," Journal of Cognitive Studies, 2019.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section History of the media
Kuensel. History of a newspaper from Bhutan that even the illiterate read
Małgorzata Dwornik
Rockman as editor in chief, a newspaper without ads, news in comics, and distribution by bus drivers. The history of Kuensel, Bhutan's first newspaper, dates back to 1965 but it was only a decade later that things really got serious. With help from the Japanese and a young journalist trained in Australia.
Thai Rath. History of Thailand’s oldest newspaper
Małgorzata Dwornik
A newspaper once attacked with grenade launchers reached over a million copies in circulation. Its founder built schools and chartered planes to print boxing match photos faster than the competition. Thai Rath isn’t just a paper. It’s a media empire born... just in case.
History of Comcast. How a modest cable company became a media giant
Małgorzata Dwornik
In 1963, it had only 1,200 customers and a dream. Six decades later, it became the world's third-largest media powerhouse. Ralph J. Roberts risked it all to bet on cable television. Did he know what he was doing? The history of Comcast shows that... he knew exactly what he was doing.
See articles on a similar topic:
The History of Radio Broadcasting
Agnieszka Osińska
Radio emerged almost simultaneously with film at the dawn of the 20th century, as the growth of the press pushed culture past the so-called second threshold of mass distribution. Alexander Popov and Guglielmo Marconi are considered its pioneers, though only Marconi succeeded in patenting the invention.
The history of Forbes Magazine. Business should give joy, not millions
Małgorzata Dwornik
Business was originated to produce happiness, not to pile up millions. This was the motto of Bertie Charles Forbes and Walter Dray. The magazine they launched in September 1917 was considered sheer madness by many at the time. Time proved that this madness paid off - immensely. For 108 years and counting.
The Beginnings of Periodical Publishing in Poland
Bartłomiej Dwornik
The first printed works - non-periodical "flyer newspapers" - appeared in Poland in the early 16th century. They were published only for significant occasions to describe these events, sometimes even in verse.
The Kyiv Independent. A Ukrainian Outlet Born from Conflict
Małgorzata Dwornik
On November 12, 2021, journalists dismissed from the Kyiv Post launched a Twitter account and the @savekyivpost campaign to defend their rights. Ten days later, a new English-language online publication appeared in Ukraine: The Kyiv Independent. It became a valuable source of information about the war in Ukraine and is funded through crowdfunding.
