Writing & StyleStyle guide

Sentence Case for Headings in Technical Documentation

Sentence Case for Headings in Technical Documentation records Microsoft’s sentence-style heading convention and its proper-noun exception.

Quick answer

In Microsoft-style technical documentation, use sentence case for most headings: capitalize the first word and proper nouns, and lowercase the rest unless another rule applies.

Key details

Core IssueMicrosoft style uses sentence-style capitalization for most titles and headings: capitalize the first word and proper nouns, with defined exceptions.
Registertechnical and professional documentation

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

This is a Microsoft house-style rule; other style systems may require title case.

Further guidance

Content

Use sentence-style capitalization for most headings under Microsoft style.

Purpose

Keep heading capitalization predictable and readable across documentation.

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. Capitalization — Microsoft Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Microsoft · Microsoft technical-style guidance for sentence-style headings, acronym expansion capitalization and capitalization after colons

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