SEOs seem to love title case and I can’t quite work out why.
Even I’ve been known to write such titles.
Readability
For one, title case is harder to read. Which of the following sentences flows better?
- Title Case — Or, Why Do We Make Titles Unnecessarily Difficult To Read?
- Title case — or, why do we make titles unnecessarily difficult to read?
Search Engine Optimisation
Think Google really prefers Title Case? Don’t be silly. Should I have evidence before saying search engines prefer/don’t prefer title case? Probably. Will I argue the point anyway? Certainly. They stopped caring about keywords meta half a decade ago and I find it hard to believe that giving your favourite words a capitalised first letter makes one iota of a difference
Proper Nouns
When proper nouns are in the title, such as places or peoples’ names, things get super-confusing — especially when someone’s name is also a thing:
Court Supports Swimming Legislation In Schools
Perhaps you haven’t heard of the famous politician David Swimming. Or the small (fictitious) town of Schools. Or the (made-up) use of the word “Legislation” in the context of wherever the fudge I was going with this ridiculous headline.
Court supports Swimming legislation in Schools
That’s better, Mr Swimming gets the capitalisation he deserves and it’s clear that Schools is a thing and not just a reference to, you know, schools.
How I Read Title Case
All title case does is harm readability and makes it difficult to scan RSS feeds. Ultimately, it gets read like this:
Title. Case. Or. Why. Do. We. Make. Titles. Unnecessarily. Difficult. To. Read?
As if each word is separated by the needless pause of a semi-literate movie gangster.
Conclusion
I will readily admit that this is pedantry at best but I think clear communication is important and costs so little. Just save capitals for proper nouns and the first of sentences eh?
</rant>