There are several ways that journalism capitalizes headlines, but ChronWatch prefers the simple rule for capitalizing literary work that is found in most English textbooks.

        Capitalize the first and last words and all important words in titles of books, periodicals, poems, stories, movies, paintings, and all other works of art.

       The "unimportant words" in a title are articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor, for, yet), and prepositions of fewer than four letters.  The "important words" to capitalize are the nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions of four letters or more.

        ''The Associated Press Stylebook" gives examples in its article, "Composition Titles" (page 55-56 of both the 2002 and 2007 editions): 

         Examples:  ''The Star Spangled Banner,'' ''The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,'' ''Gone With the Wind,'' ''Of Mice and Men,'' ''For Whom the Bell Tolls,'' ''CBS Evening News,''  ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show,'' and "The Marriage of Figaro."

       Writers may also note the capitalization of past titles on ChronWatch, since we have usually gotten them correct.  It is not recommended that writers use all caps for a title when it internally contains any of the so-called "unimportant words" shown above.  And don't overlook capitalizing those small verbs like: is, am, are, was, and were.  Note that periods are not used after titles, although sentences sometimes require a question mark or an exclamation point.  

        Here's a sample title for you to practice on:  Capitalize this long and humorous old novelty song.  "I've got tears in my ears, from lying on my back, in my bed, while I cry over you."  Answer below.

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Answer:

"I've Got Tears in My Ears, From Lying on My Back, in My Bed, While I Cry Over You."