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How to Create Technical Writing Headlines

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By eHow Contributing Writer
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Headlines in technical writing serve to draw readers in and direct them. A powerful resource, headlines are used strategically by technical writers throughout a document to guide readers. Putting headlines together well, and putting them in the right places, ensures the integrity of your documents.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Identify the placements of headlines within your document. You can specify places for headlines in a mock-up using your own symbols. Spotting the key points where you will inject headlines means looking both globally and in detail at your "narrative", the parts of your writing that you want readers to focus on.

  2. Step 2

    To start to create a headline, look at one of the points you've identified and go over the relevant text looking for the "thesis" or "main idea." This concept is what you will use to craft the headline.

  3. Step 3

    Now, boil the idea down to one sentence, such as "In a case of customer dissatisfaction, Hedgerow Company provides a reimbursement of one hundred percent of the purchase."

  4. Step 4

    Read over your target sentence several times, brainstorming ways to present the idea you have identified in several words. Think about what you DON'T need in the headline. For example, if the company name was already mentioned, drop it from your headline text. You should end up with something like "Dissatisfied? 100% Reimbursement Guaranteed." Technical writing is not academic writing; avoid long headlines and boil it down to just the essentials.

  5. Step 5

    Add the headline into your document with attention to white space.

Tips & Warnings
  • Make good use of headlines, but don't over-use them. Like many tools and aspects of technical writing, the use of headlines necessitates a balance between use and over-use. Strategic and relevant headlines will enhance your writing; too many will make it seem amateurish or confusing.
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