Which capitalization is correct for the title Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood?

Which capitalization is correct for the title Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood?

• A. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
• B. Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood
• C. Persepolis: The Story of a childhood
• D. Persepolis: The Story Of A Childhood

Answer: (A)

In titles, major words are capitalized and small words like articles and short prepositions are usually lowercase; after a colon, the first word of the subtitle is typically capitalized. Persepolis is a proper noun, so it remains capitalized. After the colon, the subtitle begins with The, which is capitalized as the first word after the colon. The next word Story is a main noun and is capitalized, while of and a are short function words that stay lowercase. The final word Childhood is another main noun and is capitalized. So the correct rendering is Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. This matches the standard approach of capitalizing the first word after a colon and capitalizing the main nouns, while keeping small words like of and a lowercase. The other forms misapply these rules by lowercase-ing the first word after the colon, capitalizing short words in the middle, or capitalizing words that are normally kept lowercase.

In titles, major words are capitalized and small words like articles and short prepositions are usually lowercase; after a colon, the first word of the subtitle is typically capitalized. Persepolis is a proper noun, so it remains capitalized. After the colon, the subtitle begins with The, which is capitalized as the first word after the colon. The next word Story is a main noun and is capitalized, while of and a are short function words that stay lowercase. The final word Childhood is another main noun and is capitalized.

So the correct rendering is Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. This matches the standard approach of capitalizing the first word after a colon and capitalizing the main nouns, while keeping small words like of and a lowercase. The other forms misapply these rules by lowercase-ing the first word after the colon, capitalizing short words in the middle, or capitalizing words that are normally kept lowercase.