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Writing & StyleRule guide

How to Capitalize “Out Of” in a Title

“out of” is a multiword expression whose title-case result depends on both style and how that style treats the words inside a phrase. Treat the expression as a phrase span while still applying the chosen style’s rule to each component rather than treating the phrase as one indivisible token.

ReviewedEvidence6 sourcesSectionWriting & Style
Quick answer

APA and Chicago: “Out of” internally. Chicago explicitly treats “Out” as an adverb in this phrase and capitalizes it; “of” remains lowercase.

Key details

Phraseout of
Rule Familymultiword-preposition-title-case
Termsout, of

Important caveats

Automation boundary

If the style requires unresolved grammatical or embedded-title analysis, leave the case unresolved rather than forcing an answer.

Phrase Boundary

Recognizing the phrase is useful, but phrase recognition alone does not override per-word style rules. Treat the expression as a phrase span, then apply the chosen style’s rule to each component.

Further guidance

Practical Application

Treat “out of” as a phrase span but apply the chosen title style to each word. Under the reviewed APA and Chicago rules, internal “Out” is capitalized while the short preposition “of” remains lowercase. Do not convert the phrase as one indivisible token.

Reader Check

Which title style governs the text, and is “out of” being used in the ordinary phrase rather than inside an embedded title or unresolved grammatical structure?

Style Comparison

Chicago’s title-case Q&A explicitly says that in “out of,” “Out” is capitalized because it is an adverb, while “of” remains lowercase.

APA likewise treats the adverb “Out” as a major word and “of” as a short preposition.

Worked Example

APA/Chicago internal example: “Running Out of Time.” The phrase is recognized together, but “Out” and “of” receive different capitalization decisions.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. Title case capitalization (opens in a new tab)American Psychological Association · APA title-case rules
  2. What's New in the 18th Edition (opens in a new tab)The Chicago Manual of Style / University of Chicago Press · Chicago 18 title-case terminology and five-letter-preposition change
  3. Headlines and Titles of Works — Chicago Q&A (opens in a new tab)The Chicago Manual of Style / University of Chicago Press · Chicago title-case rules and current-edition updates
  4. How should I capitalize the title of a handout? (opens in a new tab)MLA Style Center / Modern Language Association · MLA title-style capitalization
  5. In MLA style, should any part of a two-word preposition be capitalized in a title? (opens in a new tab)MLA Style Center / Modern Language Association · MLA editorial guidance on internal prepositions in titles
  6. Out of (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Meaning and grammatical use of out of

Related guides

Writing & Style

APA Title Case

APA title case capitalizes the first word, the first word of a subtitle, major words, and words of four letters or more while keeping short minor words lowercase in ordinary mid-title positions.

Writing & Style

Chicago Title Case (18th Edition)

Chicago 18 uses title case for titles of works and changed a long-standing rule: prepositions of five letters or more are now capitalized. Shorter prepositions generally remain lowercase internally, while first and last words are capitalized and “to” remains lowercase as an infinitive marker in ordinary mid-title use.

Writing & Style

MLA Title Case

MLA 9 describes title style as capitalizing the first word, last word, and all principal words. MLA’s public Style Center also documents the traditional lowercase treatment of internal prepositions, but its detailed preposition article is edition-labeled for MLA 8, so this engine does not yet treat the full MLA 9 converter profile as complete.

Writing & Style

Prepositions in Title Case

Prepositions are one of the clearest places where title styles diverge. APA uses a four-letter major-word threshold, Chicago 18 capitalizes prepositions of five letters or more, and MLA editorial guidance generally lowercases internal prepositions regardless of length.

Writing & Style

How to Capitalize “Because Of” in a Title

“because of” is a multiword expression whose title-case result depends on both style and how that style treats the words inside a phrase. Treat the expression as a phrase span while still applying the chosen style’s rule to each component rather than treating the phrase as one indivisible token.

Writing & Style

How to Capitalize “Instead Of” in a Title

“instead of” is a multiword expression whose title-case result depends on both style and how that style treats the words inside a phrase. Treat the expression as a phrase span while still applying the chosen style’s rule to each component rather than treating the phrase as one indivisible token.

Writing & Style

How to Capitalize “According To” in a Title

“according to” is a multiword expression whose title-case result depends on both style and how that style treats the words inside a phrase. Treat the expression as a phrase span while still applying the chosen style’s rule to each component rather than treating the phrase as one indivisible token.

Writing & Style

How to Capitalize “Due To” in a Title

“due to” is a multiword expression whose title-case result depends on both style and how that style treats the words inside a phrase. Treat the expression as a phrase span while still applying the chosen style’s rule to each component rather than treating the phrase as one indivisible token.

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