menu
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839
zamknij
Work In Media image

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.
Poczytaj artykuł wydanie polskie w wydaniu polskim

The History of Title Case: Where Did Capitalized Titles Come From (and Where Did They Go)?illustration: Bing AI

In 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.

YearMedia Using Title CaseMedia Using Sentence Case
198095%5%
200070%30%
202040%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.”

Media Review

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.

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK
Work In Media

New articles in section History of the media

History of Le Soir. A Belgian daily once free for ground floor readers

Małgorzata Dwornik
It started with an unusual sales policy and articles written personally by the king. This is where the comic hero Tintin made his name. The "fake edition" from the II World War went down in history. "Le Soir" more than once found itself targeted by authorities, censors, and even... terrorists and hackers.

#mediaHISTORY podcast. Listen on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts [LINK]

Reporterzy.info
History of media and journalism. The biggest titles, famous journalists, groundbreaking events in the press, radio, television and internet industries in the world. Stories developed and told by Małgorzata and Bartłomiej Dwornik from the online weekly Reporterzy.info.

Népszava. The history of Hungary's oldest newspaper

Małgorzata Dwornik
The first editor used a pseudonym. The paper was printed in both Hungarian and German. The military destroyed the newsroom. Journalists died in the Danube’s currents. Népszava survived monarchy, dictatorships, and revolution. And it still exists.


See articles on a similar topic:

Kevin Carter. The story of a Bang-Bang Club photojournalist

Małgorzata Dwornik
His photo from Sudan, "The Vulture and the Little Girl", became an iconic image. Earlier, risking the death penalty, he and his friends documented apartheid crimes in his native South Africa. Kevin Carter, a Pulitzer Prize winner and the creator of thousands of powerful images, struggled with the weight of what he witnessed through his camera.

History of Public Relations. From Ancient Times to a Field of Study

Małgorzata Dwornik
Public Relations - two words we come across several times daily. We hear them on TV and radio, and read them in newspapers. PR - two letters that can sometimes cause quite a stir.

Christiane Amanpour. A Fighter for Freedom of Speech at CNN

Małgorzata Dwornik
Her reports from war fronts and social documentaries brought her recognition. Her uncompromising interviews with the most influential figures in global politics earned her fame and respect. Christiane Amanpour is a living legend of the media and an advocate for women's, children's, and minority rights.

Nexta, or Someone. History of an opposition title from Belarus

Małgorzata Dwornik
The very first rebellious post on the music channel Nexta, run by a seventeen-year-old, did not escape the attention of the Belarusian KGB. The next ones - describing events uncomfortable for the authorities - led to open conflict. Stsiapan Putsila and his Nexta became a target of the Minsk regime. And they have no intention of backing down.

More in the section: History of the media

Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Montreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement

Flying Tiger




community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter TikTok Instagram Threads Youtube Google News Blue Sky Social RSS

Reporterzy.info - online media studies magazine. The world of communication from the inside. Media, journalism, PR and marketing. Data, reports, analyses, advice. History and market, law, photography, job offers.



Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

follow us 👉 on Youtube
Watch more 👇
#59sec REPORT SHORTS
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka The 40-Day Social Media Fast
The 40-Day Social Media Fast
Okładka Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Okładka Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Okładka Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o25