Use titled for the name of a work: "a book titled Middlemarch." Use entitled for having a right to something: "employees are entitled to sick pay." Entitled is also used for works, and has been for centuries, so it is not an error — but titled is clearer, because entitled carries two other meanings that can distract the reader.
The core difference
Titled does one job: it names a work. Entitled does three — it names a work, it grants a right, and (informally, disapprovingly) it describes someone who assumes they deserve special treatment.
The three senses of entitled
- having a right: You are entitled to a refund.
- bearing a title: A pamphlet entitled "On Liberty".
- presumptuous (informal): An entitled attitude.
Why titled is usually the better choice
The third sense has become common enough that entitled now carries a faint negative charge for many readers. "A memoir entitled My Struggle" is perfectly correct, but titled avoids the flicker of the other meaning entirely. The clarity is free.
What is not a matter of choice
The rights sense belongs to entitled alone. "You are titled to a refund" is simply wrong — titled has no such meaning.
Frequently asked questions
Is "a book entitled" incorrect?
No. That use is centuries old and fully standard. Titled is often clearer, because entitled also means having a right and, informally, presumptuous.
Which do I use for a right?
Entitled, always. Titled cannot express having a right to something.
What does entitled mean when it describes a person?
Two things. Formally, it means holding a title of nobility. Informally and disapprovingly, it means behaving as though you deserve privileges you have not earned.