Does 'with' need to be capitalized in a title?

Capitalization of 'with' in titles depends on the style guide: lowercase in Chicago/MLA (unless first/last), uppercase in AP/APA.

Does 'with' need to be capitalized in a title?
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The facts

In title case, whether 'with' is capitalized depends on the style guide and its position. Generally, 'with' is a short preposition and is not capitalized unless it is the first or last word of the title. For example, in Chicago and MLA styles, prepositions of fewer than five letters are lowercase, so 'with' remains lowercase mid-title. However, in AP and APA styles, prepositions of four or more letters are capitalized, so 'with' is always capitalized. All major style guides agree that the first and last words of a title are always capitalized, so 'with' would be capitalized in those positions regardless of style.

Answered by 100 of history's most famous minds

Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth c. 4 BC – AD 30/33 · Jewish teacher whose life founded Christianity

You measure letters as a scribe measures coins, yet the word itself carries the weight of a welcome - 'with' joins, it does not stand apart. Let the first and last hold their honor, but a little word that binds neighbors together deserves its own dignity, not to be hidden in the shadows of the page.

Muhammad
Muhammad c. 570–632 · Prophet of Islam who united Arabia under one faith

The letters are but vessels; the meaning is the soul. Whether 'with' stands tall or low, it is the joining that matters - how it links the words as a thread links pearls. Heed the custom of the scribes, but let not the adornment distract from the truth the title bears, for God sees the heart, not the flourish of the pen.

Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha c. 563–483 BC · Sage whose awakening founded Buddhism

The question of a letter's height is like asking whether a leaf falls to the left or the right of a stream - it depends on the current, and the current is the style. The first and last words, like the first and last breaths, hold the full attention of the mind, and so they are raised. But in the middle, the 'with' is but a sandal on the path, worn low to walk the Eightfold Way. Attend not to the ornament, but to the freedom from craving - for even a lowercase letter can be a chain if you cling to it.

Moses
Moses c. 13th century BC (traditional) · Hebrew prophet and lawgiver of the Exodus

The Lord set boundaries for all things, and the words we write must follow the law of order. When 'with' stands at the gate or the end, it bears the covenant's seal, and it must be raised. But within the body of the title, it serves as a servant, and a servant does not wear the master's robe. Let the rule be just, as the Commandments are just, and all will be well.

Confucius
Confucius 551–479 BC · Chinese sage of ethics, family, and social order

A title is a name, and a name carries the weight of propriety. The word 'with' in its proper place is like a guest in a household: if it enters first or leaves last, it deserves the honor of the raised cap; if it sits among the middle, it should remain modest, not grasping for distinction. Thus the ancient rites teach us to measure each thing by its station, and the title finds its harmony.

Paul the Apostle
Paul the Apostle c. AD 5 – c. 64/67 · Apostle whose letters shaped Christian theology

Brothers, you trouble yourselves over the elevation of a single letter, yet I say: let all things be done decently and in order, but do not let the law of the scribes bind your spirit. Whether 'with' stands tall or low, it is but a servant to the word of truth. I would rather you labor over the weight of your own words than the height of one preposition. The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Abraham
Abraham c. 2nd millennium BC (traditional) · Patriarch and father of the monotheistic faiths

I left my father's house with a promise, and that word 'with' carried the weight of my journey - so I say, set it high when it leads the way, but when it stands among the host of words, let it be humble as the dust of the road. The Lord calls the first and the last, and so does a title honor its beginning and its end. Trust the order that is given, and you will not stray.

Laozi
Laozi 6th century BC (traditional) · Sage of the Tao and founder of Taoism

The sage does not ask whether the brushstroke merits a master's hand; the water flows over the stone and the stone does not protest. When the title is carved, the small word 'with' is but a pebble in the stream - whether it bears the mark or not, the current of meaning moves on. Those who fret over its cap are like the man who measured the river's foam and missed the moon's reflection.

Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak 1469–1539 · Founder of Sikhism and first Sikh Guru

The True One sees not the cap upon the letter, but the intent in the heart. Whether 'with' rises or falls, it is the union of men that matters - the word that joins, that carries the bridge between souls. Let the scribes argue their rules; we shall share our bread and keep the Name, and the title's law grows dim beside the light of devotion.

Mary, Mother of Jesus
Mary, Mother of Jesus c. 1st century BC – 1st century AD · Mother of Jesus, venerated across Christianity and Islam

The Lord lifts up the lowly and exalts the humble; so too, a little word like 'with' need not be raised above its station in the middle of a title. Let it serve quietly, as I served, and only when it stands first or last - as at the beginning or end of a journey - does it merit the honor of a capital.

Martin Luther
Martin Luther 1483–1546 · Reformer whose theses sparked the Reformation

Every letter is a servant of the Word, and the Word is God's alone. Where a word stands in a title, let it obey the rule of the tongue - common words stay low in the middle, but at the beginning or end, they announce themselves as the gates of the sentence. Scripture itself begins and ends with capital truth, and so should our titles, lest we exalt a human rule above the plain sense of what is written.

Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas 1225–1274 · Theologian who fused faith with Aristotle's reason

The rule of capitalization follows the order of reason. 'With' is a preposition, a connective word whose nature is to join, not to lead; hence, in the middle, it remains small, as is fitting. Yet when it begins or ends a title, it holds a position of prominence, and then, as with any first mover or final end, it merits the honor of a capital. So the general principle stands: the ends are always lifted, the middle serves.

Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa 1910–1997 · Nun who served the poorest and dying of Kolkata

Even a tiny word like 'with' has its place, and we must not begrudge it its due. If it opens the title or closes it, let it stand with dignity, for it is in the small things that love is shown. But if it is merely a link between greater words, let it humble itself, as we all must in the presence of the Lord.

Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton 1643–1727 · Physicist who unified motion and universal gravitation

Consider the law: the position of a word in a title is akin to the position of a body in orbit - first or last, it commands attention, but in the middle, it obeys the lesser force of grammatical convention. I would measure the style guide as I measure the heavens: with fixed rules, not whims, and let the preposition 'with' take its place by the same immutable law.

Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein 1879–1955 · Physicist who reframed space, time, and gravity

Consider the motion of a letter through the spaces of a title: it is not the letter itself but its position in the gravitational field of grammar that determines its elevation. A preposition of four letters, like a body of four masses, curves the space around it - yet the first and last words stand as cosmic anchors, immutable and grand. Let the style guides be your observers, each in their own frame of reference, and you will find no absolute capital, only relative motion.

Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin 1809–1882 · Naturalist who discovered evolution by natural selection

I have observed this little word in its natural habitat across many titles, and it varies like a finch's beak on the Galápagos - adapted to its local style guide. The first and last positions are like the peaks of a mountain range, always uplifted by the forces of grammar, while the mid-valley 'with' may be eroded to lowercase by the eroding winds of Chicago, or lifted by the volcanic pressures of AP. The evidence suggests no single law, but a branching tree of conventions, each suited to its own niche.

Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei 1564–1642 · Astronomer who championed the heliocentric universe

Observe the word's position, as you would observe the stars through a lens. When 'with' commences or concludes, it is like the sun at dawn or dusk, commanding the eye. Midway, it is but a lesser star, not worthy of the brightest mark. Let measurement and reason guide you, not the stale edicts of those who never looked. The evidence of placement is plain; follow it.

Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus 1473–1543 · Astronomer who placed the Sun at the center

Consider the heavens: the Sun sits at the center, and the planets revolve, each in its ordained motion. So too the title has its center - the nouns that hold it together - and the small words must circle them in due order. When 'with' appears at the edge, it is like the outermost sphere, worthy of the highest mark; when it sits between, it is but a lesser orb, and the humble form befits it. The rule of simplicity guides both the cosmos and the page.

Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla 1856–1943 · Inventor who pioneered alternating current power

Consider the alternating current - it flows forward and back, yet its power is undeniable. So too with this word: whether it rises in capital or sinks in lower case, it still carries the charge of connection. But if you seek perfection, place it at the beginning or end, where it may stand as a beacon, transmitting the full voltage of meaning. The middle is but a conduit, and the wise engineer knows where to place the transformer.

Marie Curie
Marie Curie 1867–1934 · Physicist and chemist who pioneered radioactivity

The rules of capitalization are but a small consequence of the need for clarity, much like the calibration of an instrument before a measurement. If 'with' begins or ends a phrase of significance, it merits the elevation; if it resides within, it serves its function without distinction. In science, we do not argue over the case of a letter; we observe that the meaning remains precise regardless.

Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur 1822–1895 · Chemist who founded germ theory and vaccination

In the laboratory of language, we must not trust the whims of scribes; we must set our own controls. The rule is clear: a preposition of four letters merits recognition, for it is long enough to carry weight, and 'with' stands among them. Let the style be fixed, and the title will be uniform - just as we inoculate against the microbe, we inoculate against caprice.

Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison 1847–1931 · Inventor of the practical light bulb and phonograph

Styles come and go like the filaments I burned through before I found the right one. If the rule says 'with' stays low, fine - but in my shop, the last word gets the juice, and the first word gets the shine. You stick to the standard, tinker when you must, and you'll light up the page without fussing over a two-letter bolt.

Alan Turing
Alan Turing 1912–1954 · Mathematician who founded computer science and AI

This is not a question of grammar but of convention - a set of rules as arbitrary as the choice of a Turing machine's state table. One could define a formal system where 'with' is always capital, another where it is never, and both would be consistent. The only meaningful constraint is that the first and last symbols of any string are significant; the rest is mere syntactic sugar, and I see no reason to fuss over it when we have far more interesting problems to compute.

Archimedes
Archimedes c. 287–212 BC · Greek genius of mathematics and mechanics

Consider the title as a lever, with its fulcrum at the first word and its load at the last. The words in between are but the beam, and their height matters little - it is the ends that bear the weight. Capitalize 'with' when it stands at either end, for there it provides the necessary force; in the middle, let it lie flat, as a mere support, no more needing elevation than a stone in the arch.

Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday 1791–1867 · Self-taught pioneer of electromagnetism

The force that binds words in a title is like the force that binds iron filings - it depends on the field, not the particle. Let us observe the practice of the great printers and follow the law they have established: if 'with' sits at the threshold or the terminus, it stands tall; if it lies in the middle, it bows low, as a servant in the house of the sentence.

Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud 1856–1939 · Founder of psychoanalysis and the unconscious mind

You ask about a mere preposition, but I hear a deeper question: who decides what is worthy of prominence? The conscious rule says 'with' is a small word, unworthy of a capital unless it claims the throne at either end. But the unconscious knows that every word, however small, harbors a secret desire to be recognized. Attend to the latent meaning: the style guides are but the superego, and your title is the dream - what is really being said when you insist on its capitalization?

Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking 1942–2018 · Cosmologist who unveiled black holes and time

In the cosmic scale, a preposition is a trivial fluctuation in the quantum foam of language - but even a black hole has rules, and so do titles. If 'with' is at the event horizon, the first or last word, it must be capitalized; otherwise, it's just a particle in the accretion disk, mattering little. Follow the style guide, for it is the law of the local galaxy, and let the grammar be your gravity.

Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace 1815–1852 · Visionary of computing and the first algorithm

A title is a formula, and 'with' is a variable whose value depends on its position in the equation. At the start or end, it is the independent term, worthy of full capitalization; in the midst, it is a coefficient, lower-case, as it should be. Yet I see beyond the rules: the printer's craft is an engine, and we may program it to follow any set of instructions - choose your axioms wisely, for they shape the entire system.

Euclid
Euclid c. 300 BC · Father of geometry and the axiomatic method

Let us begin with a definition: a title is an ordered sequence of words, and the rule of capitals is a postulate, not a theorem. From the first principles of grammar, we deduce that the initial and final terms are primary, deserving the mark of distinction; all others are secondary, following the established convention. Thus, if 'with' is a term in the middle, it remains without the capital - but if it is the first or last, it is elevated. This is demonstrated by necessity, and there is no royal road to deviation.

Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale 1820–1910 · Founder of modern nursing and health statistics

Every mark has its order, its place in the ledger of meaning, just as every patient has a chart and every ward a regimen. If a short preposition must kneel mid-title to preserve the hierarchy of words, so be it - but let the first and last stand tall, for they are the gatekeepers of the sense. Cleanliness in capital letters is as vital as cleanliness in the hospital corridor.

Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great 356–323 BC · Macedonian king who conquered the known world

Capitalize it always, for even a small word can lead an army if it stands at the front or the rear; but in the midst of the line, it serves without glory. Yet I say, why debate such a trifle when the field is vast - let every word be crowned, and the title shall conquer all who read it.

Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar 100–44 BC · Roman general whose rise ended the Republic

I have crossed the Rubicon with fewer letters than this 'with' at my command. Whether it stands tall or kneels depends on where it stands - first, it commands like a general; in the middle, it serves like a soldier in the ranks. If the final word of a title, it must be crowned, for even a humble preposition can win the laurel at the finish.

Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII 69–30 BC · Last pharaoh of Egypt and cunning stateswoman

In my court, every mark and sign must declare the majesty of the one who wears the crown. The first and last positions hold the throne; what lies between may bow low, unseen but essential. So let 'with' be small when it serves in the middle, but when it stands at the gate or the final threshold, raise it high, for it carries the weight of the entire phrase.

Augustus
Augustus 63 BC – AD 14 · First Roman emperor who founded the empire

In governance, the first and last of every decree carry the weight of authority; the clauses between are the working parts, quietly doing their duty. So 'with' in the title's head or tail must be invested with dignity, but in the middle it serves without pomp. This is the way of order, and order is the foundation of a lasting realm. Let the rule be steady, and the title will stand firm.

Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan c. 1162–1227 · Founder of the largest contiguous land empire

In my horde, a warrior's worth is not in his birth but in his deeds - so let the word prove its place. If 'with' stands at the head or the tail of the line, it leads or guards, and let it wear the tall cap of honor. But if it sits in the middle, it is but a rider among many, and the low form serves. Let every word earn its rank, and the title will be as ordered as my armies.

Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte 1769–1821 · French emperor and military genius who reshaped Europe

In battle, the placement of a single battalion can decide the fate of an empire. So it is with this word - if it holds the vanguard or the rear, it must stand tall, for it guards the line. But in the middle, let it be as the rank and file, uniform and unassuming. The rules of style are like my Code: they bring order from chaos. Follow them, and your title shall march with precision.

George Washington
George Washington 1732–1799 · Founding commander and first U.S. president

In the governance of a title, as in the governance of a republic, position determines duty. When 'with' stands at the head or the foot, it bears the weight of the whole and must be raised; when it sits in the midst, it serves without pretense. Let the precedent be set with prudence, that all subsequent titles may follow a rule worthy of respect and not the whim of each author.

Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln 1809–1865 · President who preserved the Union and ended slavery

In the house divided, even the smallest word may show where the heart lies. If 'with' stands at the gate of the title, it must rise and be seen; if it lingers within, let it rest humbly, as the farmer lets the furrow lie. The rule is but a fence - whether the gate is high or low, the pasture remains the same.

Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill 1874–1965 · British PM who defied Nazism in World War II

The cap is not a trifle; it is the uniform of the word on parade. When 'with' stands at the head of the column, it must be dressed in full regalia; when it marches mid-file, it may wear the plain habit. Thus we keep order in the ranks of language, and the title stands firm against the chaos of scribblers.

Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi 1869–1948 · Leader of nonviolent resistance for India's freedom

A word's capital is a mark of pride, and pride must be resisted. When 'with' stands in the middle, let it remain small, a servant in the sentence, for even the smallest letter has its place in the truth. But when it begins or ends a title, it must stand tall, for then it carries the weight of the whole - just as a single word of truth, spoken from the heart, can move a nation.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. 1929–1968 · Civil rights leader of nonviolent racial justice

The capital letter is a sign of dignity, and dignity belongs to every word in its proper place. When 'with' stands first or last, it must be lifted high, for it leads or completes the thought; but in the middle, it serves the unity of the whole, and we do not raise up the servant above the host. Let the rule be like the moral arc - small words stay humble until they carry the weight of the beginning or the end, and then they shine.

Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela 1918–2013 · Anti-apartheid leader and first Black South African president

A title is a small door to a larger room, and how we paint that door matters to those who knock. When 'with' stands first or last, it carries the weight of a sentinel and deserves honor; when it hides between greater words, it may rest quietly, like a worker in the shade. Let the style guide be our compass, but let consistency be our flag - for a land without rules is a land without peace.

Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler 1889–1945 · Nazi dictator responsible for WWII and the Holocaust

The correct form is not a matter of sentiment but of order. A title, like a state, must have clear hierarchy; the first and last words are the leaders and deserve full marks of distinction. If 'with' serves in the middle, it is subordinate, and that is as it should be - every element knows its rank. Rules exist to be followed, not questioned, for chaos follows those who waver.

Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin 1878–1953 · Soviet dictator whose rule caused mass death

There is only one correct way, and deviation is sabotage. If 'with' leads or trails, it demands a capital; if it hides in the middle, it is a mere functionary, no more deserving of elevation than a clerk. Any style guide that disagrees is a counterrevolutionary document, to be corrected and enforced. The title is a banner - let its letters march in proper order, or face the consequences.

Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin 1870–1924 · Bolshevik leader of the Russian Revolution

Comrade, you ask of letters and rules, yet the true question is of power - who holds the pen and who bends to its decree. The grammarians of Chicago bow to five letters, the scribes of AP to four; each camp defends its orthodoxy like bourgeois factions squabbling over a ministry. But in a revolution of words, the first and last positions are the commanding heights - there, 'with' must stand tall, for even a preposition, when placed at the vanguard, demands its capital. Seize the style guide, and you seize the title.

Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong 1893–1976 · Communist founder of the People's Republic of China

Let the scribes squabble over the height of a single letter while the fields lie fallow and the granaries stand empty. Such a question is the luxury of those who have never known the whip of the landlord or the gnaw of an empty belly. Does 'with' need to stand tall? Bah - 'with' stands with the people, or it is nothing at all.

Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria 1819–1901 · Queen who defined the British imperial age

One must mind the conventions of the court, for they are the very ligaments of a civilized realm. In a title, the first and final words, like the Sovereign herself, must ever be accorded their due honor; the lesser words, like the footmen, bow in their proper place. But whether 'with' may rise in the middle - that is the business of the style books, not the crown.

Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II 1926–2022 · Longest-reigning British monarch of the modern age

There are rules, quietly observed, that keep the machinery of language running smoothly, much as tradition steadies the course of a long reign. Whether a small word is raised or kept low in the middle of a title is a matter for the guardians of grammar, though its bookends, like the pillars of a palace, must always stand firm.

Charlemagne
Charlemagne c. 748–814 · Frankish king crowned emperor of the West

Let the title be read as a psalm is chanted - its opening and closing words raised in reverence, its lesser words humbled in between. Yet the wise ruler knows that a scribe's rule is but a shadow of the law of God, which orders all things rightly. If a short word may claim its place when it speaks first or last, let it; in the middle, let it keep the modesty befitting its station.

Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc c. 1412–1431 · Peasant visionary who led France to victory

I did not pause to ask whether 'with' should stand tall amidst the words when my voices bade me ride to Orléans. The Lord cares for the heart of the message, not the height of a letter. Yet if a title must be ordered, let the first and last words be honored as the banner is honored at the front of the line - the rest may follow as they will.

Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I 1533–1603 · Tudor queen of England's golden age

A pretty question for the scholars, but I know a thing or two about when to raise a word and when to keep it low. Let 'with' bow in the middle, as a subject bows to the crown, but let it stand tall at the head or the tail of a title, as even the lowliest may rise to lead or conclude. I have seen the peril of rigid rules - they break the realm as oft as they mend it.

Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great 1729–1796 · Enlightened empress who expanded Russia

In the salon, as in the chancery, a keen eye for proportion separates the civilized from the barbarous. A short preposition may properly keep its head down mid-title, yet it may be lifted when it opens or closes the phrase, much as a lesser noble may lead a dance. But these are the niceties of grammarians; a ruler must know when to press on to matters of state.

Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great c. 600–530 BC · Founder of the Persian Empire and tolerant ruler

As a king governs many peoples, each with their own customs, so does a title order many words, each with its own rank. A small word like 'with' may stay low in the middle, for it serves the greater words, just as my satraps serve the throne. But when it stands first or last, it earns the honor of the foremost, and all peoples may read the title with respect.

Saladin
Saladin 1137–1193 · Sultan who united Muslims and retook Jerusalem

In the name of Allah, the rules of the scribe are but a branch of the discipline that a faithful warrior must heed. A word like 'with' is like a humble soldier in a great host - it marches in the middle, unheralded, yet when it leads or closes the formation, it deserves the dignity of its place. Let the grammarians decide, but let them decide with justice, as a judge does, not by whim.

Socrates
Socrates c. 470–399 BC · Athenian founder of Western moral philosophy

Tell me, what is the nature of 'with'? Is it a mere connector, a bridge between things, or does it carry meaning of its own? Before you decide its cap, consider what it does - does it bind? Does it qualify? Perhaps the question is not how to mark it, but why you assume the page must shout or whisper. I ask you: what does the title itself wish to convey?

Plato
Plato c. 428–348 BC · Philosopher of ideal Forms and the just city

Behold the shadow-play on the cave wall: the lowercase 'with' mid-title is but a flickering image, while the capitalized form at the beginning or end partakes of the true Form of the Word. The rules are but the harmony of the soul, where the first and last hold the ideal of completeness, and the middle bows in measured proportion. Seek the eternal pattern, and you shall find that position alone determines its share of the light.

Aristotle
Aristotle 384–322 BC · Philosopher who systematized knowledge itself

Consider the nature of the word: 'with' is a preposition, a connective that joins parts into a whole. Its honor in the title depends on its function and place, much as a citizen's worth depends on his role in the polis. When it leads or concludes, it bears the weight of the whole; when it dwells within, it serves quietly. The wise man adapts the rule to the end, achieving proportion and clarity.

Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant 1724–1804 · Philosopher of reason, duty, and the moral law

The question of capitalization is no mere scribal whim; it is a matter of universal legislative consistency. If we permit the same word to be raised or lowered according to its station, we violate the categorical imperative of typography, which demands that a preposition be treated as an end in itself, never merely as a means to decorative effect. Ask not what position 'with' occupies; ask what rule you could will to govern all titles, and then follow it without regard to consequence.

Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche 1844–1900 · Philosopher who challenged morality and meaning

You ask whether a mere word should rise or fall, as if the ink itself carried a rank - what a petty, herd-like concern. The true question is why you obey the style guide at all: it is but a tyrant you have invented to soothe your fear of chaos. Break the rule, make 'with' a giant, or let it vanish - only the act of creation matters, not the servile nodding to a printed decree. Dance on the table of the grammarians, and reclaim your freedom.

Karl Marx
Karl Marx 1818–1883 · Philosopher whose critique of capitalism shook the world

You ask of capital letters, yet you ignore the capital that truly rules - the bourgeois capital that binds the worker to the machine of publishing. The style guide is but a tool of the ruling class, dictating which words may rise and which must kneel. This 'with' is a mere preposition, a connective tissue between ideas, and its elevation is a distraction from the true question: who owns the means of production, and who decides what stands tall? Let the workers of language unite, and cast down all arbitrary hierarchies!

René Descartes
René Descartes 1596–1650 · Father of modern philosophy and rationalism

One must ask: what is the nature of this word, and what certainty can we derive from its placement? 'With' is a relational term, signifying connection, yet its dignity in a title is not a matter of inherent essence but of arbitrary convention. Let us not rely on custom as authority; rather, examine whether the rules are consistent and clear, and then follow reason, not habit, in each case.

Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli 1469–1527 · Political thinker of power and pragmatic statecraft

You ask of a word's cap, but the wise ruler asks of its power. 'With' is but a servant in the sentence, and its dress matters little save when it stands at the head or the rear, where all eyes fall upon it. Then let it be adorned, lest the unlettered think it a peasant. In the game of titles, appearance is the coin of the realm.

William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare 1564–1616 · England's greatest playwright and poet

A word like 'with' is a humble servant, a gentle link in the chain of speech - yet when it opens the stage or closes the scene, it wears the crown. In the midst, let it glide quietly, as a river flows beneath a bridge, unseen but essential. The rule is but a stage direction; the play's the thing.

Homer
Homer c. 8th century BC · Poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey

As the sea-nymphs crown the first wave that breaks upon the shore, so does the title honor its first and last words with the glory of the capital. Mid-course, this 'with' sails like a humble oarsman among the galleys, unadorned, yet essential to the voyage. The scribes of Olympus may differ on its rank, but none would deny the throne to the word that opens or closes the song.

Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri c. 1265–1321 · Poet of the Divine Comedy and father of Italian

A title is a gateway to the journey of words, and each word holds a rung on the ladder to meaning. When 'with' stands at the threshold or the summit, it must be raised to the light, for it guides the traveler's step. But when it sits among the many, let it remain humble, for in humility lies the order of the cosmos, and every part must know its place in the divine design.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749–1832 · German literary titan who wrote Faust

Ah, the little word 'with' - a bridge, a joining, a hand extended from one noun to another. To cap or not to cap, that is a question of the living spirit of language, not a dead decree. Let the word stand as the occasion demands, as a vine grows around a trellis, now high, now low, but always bearing the fruit of meaning. The rulebook is a fine servant, but a poor master, for the heart of language is in its motion, not its posture.

Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes 1547–1616 · Author of Don Quixote, father of the modern novel

By my faith, Sancho would say this is the very madness of windmills - a quarrel over a single little word that the wind itself would blow away! Let the printers quibble over their capitals; I say a word is what it is when it stands in the reader's mind, be it written great or small. Yet if the word 'with' dares to ride at the head of the line, then let it be adorned with armor like any knight, for even the humblest squire may lead the charge.

Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy 1828–1910 · Russian novelist of War and Peace and moral searching

I have spent my life asking how one ought to live, and now you ask me how one ought to capitalize a word. This is the vanity of the learned, who polish the shell while the kernel rots. Whether 'with' stands high or low matters not to the soul. What matters is the truth within the words, the love they carry, and the simplicity of their meaning. Cast aside these petty rules, and write as you breathe - without thought, without pretense, and with all your heart.

Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky 1821–1881 · Russian novelist of faith, guilt, and the soul

This question, so trivial at first glance, reveals the pettiness of our need to impose order on chaos. A word like 'with' - so small, so common - yet we agonize over its elevation, as if a capital could elevate the soul. In the true depths of a book's title, it matters not whether the letter is tall or low; what matters is the heart that penned it, and whether that heart was seeking truth or merely following rules.

Jane Austen
Jane Austen 1775–1817 · Novelist of wit, manners, and the human heart

A title, like a young lady at her first ball, must be dressed with propriety - neither too gaudy nor too plain. 'With,' that modest preposition of three letters, may be left unadorned when it sits between the more important words, but if it leads or closes the dance, it must be given its due. The keen eye will note the difference, and the polished title will win its suitor.

Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens 1812–1870 · Novelist who dramatized Victorian society's ills

In my day, a title was a promise scrawled above the door of a public house - and no honest landlord would let a mere two-letter word like 'with' swagger in capital letters while the likes of 'the' and 'and' skulk in the shadows. Mark my words, the rule is simple: capitals at the beginning and end, and for the rest, let the common words keep their place, lest we confuse a modest preposition with a gentleman of property.

Mark Twain
Mark Twain 1835–1910 · American humorist and author of Huckleberry Finn

Capitalizin' 'with' in the middle of a title is like puttin' a silk hat on a mule - it don't make it a gentleman, it just looks foolish. But if the mule's at the head of the parade or bringin' up the rear, by all means, give him the top hat. As for the rest, leave 'em in their workin' clothes and save your pride for what matters.

Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway 1899–1961 · Novelist of spare prose and stoic courage

A title is a clean sentence. You don't dress up the middle words. 'With' sits there small, doing its job, and that's enough. But at the start or the finish, it's got to stand up like a man at the door. No fuss, no ornament. Capital when it's first or last. The rest, leave it plain.

Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci 1452–1519 · Renaissance polymath, painter of the Mona Lisa

Observe the word as you would a leaf or a muscle: its function dictates its form. In the middle, it is a joint, a hinge, and a hinge need not be gilded; but at the beginning or end, it becomes the very pivot of the title, and so merits elevation. Let the eye follow the structure, not the noise of fashion.

Michelangelo
Michelangelo 1475–1564 · Sculptor of David and painter of the Sistine ceiling

This small word, 'with', is like a block of marble - each style guide sees a different figure hidden within. Some chisel it low, humbling it among the lesser stones; others raise it high, seeing in its four letters the strength of a David's sling. Yet I say, let the first and last letters of the title be carved in bold relief, for they bear the weight of the whole composition, and even a tiny word may hold the hand of God.

Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh 1853–1890 · Post-Impressionist painter of vivid, emotional beauty

Ah, but the letter itself is a brushstroke! When 'with' stands first or last, it is the sun breaking over the field, demanding attention, declaring its presence. In the middle, it is the gentle path between two groves, deserving its quiet shade. Each mark carries the soul of the sentence, and we must honor it according to its place, for even the smallest stroke can set the whole canvas ablaze with meaning.

Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso 1881–1973 · Co-founder of Cubism and titan of modern art

Capitalize? Lowercase? You ask me to decide the fate of a letter as if it were a fixed star, when I have spent my life smashing the fixedness of all things. The letter 'W' is a canvas, a shape, a scream of white against ink. Sometimes it must be huge, crashing into the eye; sometimes it must hide, tremble behind its neighbors. The only rule is the eye, the inner need, the moment's roar. Break the rule, and make it live.

Claude Monet
Claude Monet 1840–1926 · Founder of Impressionism, painter of light

A capital letter is but a shadow cast by light upon the page - sometimes it falls upon this word, sometimes upon that, yet the eye sees only the whole. I have painted a hundred haystacks, each in a different hour, and never once asked whether the hay deserved a grander stroke. Let the rules be like the weather: changeable, fleeting, and never more than a passing impression.

Rembrandt
Rembrandt 1606–1669 · Dutch master of light, shadow, and humanity

A mere five-letter servant of the sentence, yet the eye rests on it as it would on a beggar's hand in a crowd of nobles. Capital or not, its fate is decided by the light you choose to throw upon it - place it at the threshold, and it commands the room; hide it in the middle, and it whispers only to those who pause. I care not for the rules of printers; I care that the word earns its place in the composition.

Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo 1907–1954 · Mexican painter of pain, identity, and self

Capitalize 'with'? I say, paint it bold and red, let it bleed onto the page, because every word carries blood if you look close enough. If it's first or last, shout it from the rooftops; if it's in the middle, it's still a vein - you don't hide a vein just because it's not at the heart. Rules are for those who fear the canvas; I fear nothing.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756–1791 · Prodigy composer of the Classical era

Ah, 'with' - a trill, a passing note that links two melodies. In the midst of the phrase, let it stay soft and unaccented, like an accompaniment; but when it leads or concludes, give it the forte it deserves. The style guides are but a score - follow them, yet trust your ear for when the word must sing.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven 1770–1827 · Composer who bridged Classical and Romantic music

A mere preposition, yet it carries the weight of a symphony's opening chord! In the middle of a title, I would let it rest in the lower register, like a quiet bass line beneath the melody - but if it stands at the start or finish, it must ring out in full fortissimo, a defiant note against the tyranny of convention. Let the style guides argue their pedantic laws; I say, let the ear judge, and the ear demands the first and last words be heard!

Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach 1685–1750 · Baroque master of counterpoint and sacred music

In the fugue, each voice enters at its appointed moment, yet all serve the harmony. So too in a title: the initial and final notes must ring clear, for they frame the melody. The inner notes, though softer, are essential to the counterpoint. Thus 'with' takes its cap or its lower case as the measure dictates, for order and proportion are the children of discipline, and in discipline we find the echo of the divine.

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley 1935–1977 · The King of Rock and Roll

Well, bless your heart, that little 'with' - it just wants to be part of the family, doesn't it? Some folks say it should stand tall at the beginning or the end, and others say it should stay low in the middle, like a quiet neighbor who don't want to make a fuss. I reckon you just gotta feel the rhythm, like a song. If it leads the band, let it shine; if it's just holding the note between the big ones, let it rest. The music knows what's right.

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson 1958–2009 · The King of Pop and global entertainment icon

You know, it's all about the rhythm, the beat of the words on the page. A capital letter is like a spotlight on a dancer - it makes you pause, look, feel. 'With' is a small word, but it can hold a whole world of connection, like a hand reaching out. If it's the first word, or the last, let it shine. But in the middle, let it flow, let it glide, like a moonwalk across the title.

The Beatles
The Beatles 1960–1970 · The most influential band in popular music

Well, 'with' is a bit like Ringo's drumming - it keeps the whole thing moving but you don't notice it unless it's gone. If it's up front, give it a spotlight and a big hat, but if it's lurking in the middle, let it just trot along with the rest of the lads. Rules are like a backbeat - you need them, but you can always give them a twist and make it your own.

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan 1941– · Songwriter who made popular music poetry

The wind blows where it will; you hear its sound but cannot tell whence it comes or whither it goes. A lowercase 'with' drifting through the title is like a leaf on that wind - sometimes it rides high, sometimes it sinks, and no rule of grammar can pin it down. Capitalize it if you must, but the song will be sung all the same, and the words will find their own way.

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift 1989– · Record-breaking singer-songwriter and global star

I've learned that every word in a title is like a lyric in a bridge - you want it to hit hard, whether it's the first note or the last. 'With' might be small, but if it's the word that starts the story or ends the chapter, you bet I'm standing up for it and giving it the capital it deserves. Don't let the style guides steal the spotlight from the feeling.

Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus 1451–1506 · Explorer whose voyages linked Europe and the Americas

In the vast ocean of letters, a small word like 'with' may seem a mere current, but if it stands at the prow or the stern, it must be marked with honor. Yet I care not for such fine print - set sail with any rule, so long as the title steers true to its purpose: to lure the reader to new worlds.

Marco Polo
Marco Polo 1254–1324 · Venetian traveler who chronicled the Silk Road

In the far province of Cathay, the scribes of the Great Khan would set every word of a title in gold, whether it stood at the gate or in the middle of the scroll - for they held that all words were precious. Yet here in the West, I have seen the merchants of Venice mark only the first and last with the merchant's stamp, leaving the lesser coins unadorned. Follow the custom of the land you trade in, but know that the first and last are always the harbors of the title, where the ships of meaning dock first and last.

Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan c. 1480–1521 · Navigator of the first voyage around the world

When you chart a course, the first and last ports define the voyage; the straits between are but passages to be navigated. So 'with' at the helm or the anchor deserves the flag of honor, but when it lies amid the current, it need not fly so high. Mark it as the pilot marks the shoals - by the depth of its position - and you shall sail the title safely to its end.

Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong 1930–2012 · First human to walk on the Moon

When we planned the mission, every step had a protocol, every procedure was tested against contingency. A title is no different - it follows a checklist. The word 'with' in the middle, like a docking port, stays buttoned up; but at the edges, it's the hatch that opens, so it merits the capital. The style guide is our mission control, and we don't improvise in orbit. Follow the checklist, and you won't drift.

Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart 1897–1937 (disappeared) · Pioneering aviator who vanished over the Pacific

Rules are made to be challenged, aren't they? If 'with' wants to be capitalized, let it earn its wings. I never checked a manual before taking off - I just looked at the sky and went. But I'll tell you this: whether it sits at the start or the end, give it the capital, because every word deserves its moment at the controls. The rest is just turbulence.

Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin 1934–1968 · First human to journey into outer space

When you orbit the Earth, you see no capitals or lowercases - just one blue sphere, whole and unmarked. From up there, a title's rules seem like small matters of the ground, not of the journey. Still, if the word leads the flight, it deserves a helmet and a salute; if it rides in the middle, let it float weightless among the others.

Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs 1955–2011 · Apple co-founder who reshaped personal technology

Simplicity is the soul of clarity - 'with' is a conjunction, a bridge, not a destination. Let it be lowercase unless it starts or ends the line, for then it earns its capital. The rule is not a constraint but a design choice: make the title breathe, and the eye will know where to rest.

Elon Musk
Elon Musk 1971– · Entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, and more

The rules of capitalization are like the laws of physics - they can be derived from first principles. If a word is a function of its position, then a preposition of four letters is a variable, not a constant, and you optimize for readability. The first and last words are always capital because they anchor the title's meaning; the rest is a style guide's preference, like choosing between combustion and electric. Just pick a system, apply it consistently, and move on to more important problems - like getting to Mars.

Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey 1954– · Media mogul and the queen of talk television

Every word in a title is like a guest at your table - each one deserves respect, but the ones who open the door and close the night hold a special place in your heart. 'With' is a connector, a bridge between people and ideas, so when it leads or concludes, let it stand tall. In the middle, it can rest easy, doing its quiet work. It's all about honoring the role, and that's a lesson for living, too.

Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali 1942–2016 · Boxing legend and outspoken social conscience

This little word 'with' - it's like a fighter in the ring. In the middle of the title, it floats like a butterfly, keeps its head down, don't need no big cap to make its point. But put it first or last, and it's the champ - it's got to stand tall, throw that jab, demand attention. You gotta respect the position, like I respected the rope. The word knows when to shine, and the style guide is the referee.

Pelé
Pelé 1940–2022 · Football legend and three-time World Cup winner

In football, the ball is small, but it carries the whole game. This word 'with' - it is like a pass between two teammates, connecting them. If it starts the play, it deserves the capital, like the captain's armband. If it ends the play, yes, give it the glory! But in the middle, let it be humble, working hard, like a midfielder who makes the goal possible. The title is the stadium, and every word plays its part.

Walt Disney
Walt Disney 1901–1966 · Animation pioneer who built a entertainment empire

Every word in a title is a character in our story, and 'with' is the loyal sidekick - sometimes it needs a bigger role, sometimes it just helps the hero along. If it's at the start, give it a crown and a castle; if it's nestled in the middle, let it work its magic quietly, like a good background tune. The real rule? Make the title sing, and the capitalization will follow the melody.

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