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How to properly capitalize episode or show title.


MAT13 wrote a month ago: 0

People seem to capitalize it by their own preference, and often "is" or "are" end up not-capitalized in episode titles. There's a rule (or at least a convention) for which words get capitalized in titles. It's called title case, and it’s commonly used in titles of books, movies, TV shows, etc..

Not sure if this is included in data policy guidelines, but in case it isn't it might be a good way to put it someplace there. You can easily browse and look for this convention, but here's a quick summary I got when I asked gptChat, so perhaps adding this someplace would be informative so we don't end up with different looking titles based on whose is adding titles.

Here's the basic rule of thumb for Title Case:

1) Capitalize:
- The first and last word of the title (always)
- Nouns (e.g., Apes, Planet)
- Pronouns (e.g., She, It, They)
- Verbs (e.g., Go, Is, Run)
- Adjectives (e.g., Blue, Great)
- Adverbs (e.g., Quickly, Very)
- Subordinating conjunctions (e.g., Although, Because)

2) Don't capitalize (unless they're first or last in the title):
- Articles: a, an, the
- Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet
- Short prepositions (typically under 4–5 letters): at, by, for, in, of, on, to, up, with

According to CMOS (Chicago Manual of Style), all prepositions, regardless of length, should not be capitalized. Other (Non-US like AP, MLA are the same, though Oxford/UK is a bit more flexible in that regard).
- All prepositions: into, under, beneath, with, without

So, here is how some such proper capitalization would look like:
- "Planet of the Apes"
- "There Is No Tomorrow"
- "A Rock and a Hard Place"
- "With or without You"


TomSouthwell wrote a month ago: 3

We follow on screen titles as laid out in policy. 

The name/title for the episode. For the vast majority of shows, the network or web channel assigns episode titles to each episode. In such a case, the original episode title should be used, without any changes to e.g. the punctuation or capitalization.

Noone should be changing capitalisation or punctuation if the on-screen title doesnt follow Title Case rules. We've had numerous users think this is the correct way to do things and it isn't. If the show or episode title is written 'LIkE this' thats how we should list it. 


LadyShelley wrote a month ago: 1

There is more than one style guide. This site follows onscreen presentation, regardless. 


MAT13 wrote a month ago: 1

@TomSouthwell wrote:
We follow on screen titles as laid out in policy. 

Noone should be changing capitalisation or punctuation if the on-screen title doesnt follow Title Case rules. We've had numerous users think this is the correct way to do things and it isn't. If the show or episode title is written 'LIkE this' thats how we should list it. 

That's a given. I'm more referring to episodes that don't have titles in them and list is often copied from some site or entered.

Although often episodes have titles in all-caps, but I can't say I've seen people start adding episodes in all caps for many shows because of that.
For example, original Star Trek show has titles in all caps - https://www.tvmaze.com/images/858721/where-no-man-has-gone-before-image-858721

That doesn't mean we should have episode titles like "WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE", now does it?


TomSouthwell wrote a month ago: 1

@MAT13 wrote:
That's a given. I'm more referring to episodes that don't have titles in them and list is often copied from some site or entered.

Although often episodes have titles in all-caps, but I can't say I've seen people start adding episodes in all caps for many shows because of that.
For example, original Star Trek show has titles in all caps - https://www.tvmaze.com/images/858721/where-no-man-has-gone-before-image-858721

That doesn't mean we should have episode titles like "WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE", now does it?

We'd follow Data Policies and common sense. We shouldn't rename all Star Trek titles no, but if it's on-screen and it's a stylistic decision for example Jentry Chau vs the Underworld. Or if it is a case of a show not having a uniform way of naming episodes, such as any 90s Marvel Animations which change the way they'd name Part 1/2/3 each week. then we'd follow that.


WatchingTV wrote a month ago: 1

I'd say that at least 90% if not more of the on-screen titles one is able to watch, could be found on the official website too in it's correct format and I'd say stick to that.

If for some reason it is not and the title does not make sense or is just fully capitalized, I would say to use capitals for most words other than conjunctions, which seems to be the usual case with most shows, however to apply common sense (if nothing is clear) is not my favourite thing either as common sense with some human beings is simply not there :).


MAT13 wrote a month ago: 1

@TomSouthwell wrote:
We'd follow Data Policies and common sense. We shouldn't rename all Star Trek titles no, but if it's on-screen and it's a stylistic decision for example Jentry Chau vs the Underworld. Or if it is a case of a show not having a uniform way of naming episodes, such as any 90s Marvel Animations which change the way they'd name Part 1/2/3 each week. then we'd follow that.

What about "Murder, She Wrote"? I noticed that every episode in that show has every word capitalized, but I never did correct the initial title list that was added. Should all words be capitalized? By every word, I mean, it capitalizes "and", "of", and such words too.

Here's an example of episode 1 title: https://www.tvmaze.com/images/820375/the-murder-of-sherlock-holmes-image-820375

I've watched up until halfway through season 6, and so far every single episode had every word capitalised. Should I fix the title list or leave it as is?


TomSouthwell wrote a month ago: 1

@MAT13 wrote:
What about "Murder, She Wrote"? I noticed that every episode in that show has every word capitalized, but I never did correct the initial title list that was added. Should all words be capitalized? By every word, I mean, it capitalizes "and", "of", and such words too.

Here's an example of episode 1 title: https://www.tvmaze.com/images/820375/the-murder-of-sherlock-holmes-image-820375

I've watched up until halfway through season 6, and so far every single episode had every word capitalised. Should I fix the title list or leave it as is?

You're answering the question already. If that's how it's displayed that's how we should have the titles entered.


MAT13 wrote a month ago: 1

@TomSouthwell wrote:
You're answering the question already. If that's how it's displayed that's how we should have the titles entered.

Okay, will fix those.

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