I like to think I’m pretty swell at English grammar, punctuation, and usage, etc. But there’s at least one thing I have never gotten down, and that is, when do you use “title” versus “entitle.” For example, would I write: “She read a book titled —”? Or is it “She read a book entitled —”?
In what circumstances would either one be used?
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entitled is a verb and titled is an adjective used AFTER a verb – "her new book, entitled ‘Blahdy Blah’, is out next week". Or, "She wrote a book about nothing titled ‘Blahdy Blah’".
Clear as mud eh?
Both "titled" and "entitled" are verbs and both are adjectives as well. Furthermore, your example of "entitled" below, was not demonstrating use as a verb, but as an adjective. While they both have several definitions, they do overlap, and in some cases (particularly regarding the original question) are listed as synonyms with identical definitions.
For the title of a work, you should always use "titled"; use "entitled" only in the sense of someone being entitled to something.
What Cheri said.
"Having bought a book titled "Harry Potter and the Childrens Library" she was entitled to read it."
The meaning of entitle is slightly different to titled. Titled is meaning the title of which is "a book, the title of which is ‘Harry Potter and the Children’s Library’"
Entitled, is to name or give a title to
"she entitled the book ‘Harry Potter and the Children’s Library’"
Entitled has a secondary meaning, the general idea of which is to allow or give permission
"She was entitled to read the book titled ‘Harry Potter and the Children’s Library"
On another note, the Children’s Library, is a posessive and so their should be " ‘s " at the end of it.
I’m afraid I must disagree with everything posted below.
Both words have more than one meaning. While they are not identical, they do overlap, and, in some definitions, they are synonyms, meaning exactly the same thing.
From The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition:
tr.v. en·ti·tled
To give a name or title to
tr.v. ti·tled
To give a title to; entitle.
This dictionary actually DEFINES the word titled to mean entitled. How much clearer can you be?
Now, there are other definitions of both words that don’t overlap, some of which are mentioned below, but the usage you ask about is the very one that is synonymous, so you are completely correct to use either interchangeably.
It only only be "She read a book entitled…". No question.
It could only be "She read a book entitled…". No question. That's what I meant to type, sorry, tired today.
I always find it funny when folks on the TV say stuff like, "My latest rap song entitled…" They just sound soooo ignunt! Why cain't they realize what they sayin is ignunt and git off the TV?