How to Write Headlines

Headlines are the larger text above a news article. The purpose of a headline is to attract the reader's attention while conveying the main point of the article so that the reader will want to read the actual article.

Headlines are not just used in the newspapers: they are also used in magazines, bulletins, books, newsletters and online in articles, blogs and news web sites.

Different approaches to writing headlines are used for different types of articles: headlines for features or local interest can be more creative. This is also true with headlines in the sports section. This article will describe how to write effective news headlines.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• News article to write a headline for.
• Paper and pen

1. Read the article, especially the lead (first) paragraph. The headline must convey a brief synopsis of the article and must be accurate, so knowledge of the information in the article is imperative.

2. Decide on the most important information to be conveyed in the headline: what will grab the attention of the most readers? In news articles, the most significant information should be in the very first couple of sentences.
   
   The headline has to fit within the space available for it. If the amount of space available is unknown, be prepared to edit down the headline as needed in order to fit.

3. Check guidelines: each publication has different guidelines regarding what to include in the headline. Some allow certain forms of punctuation, such as a colon, while others do not. Verify with the publication what their guidelines require.

4. Consider the appearance of the headline. The font size of the letters used often convey to the reader the article's importance. Major world events are typically one or two words in very large font size across the entire top of the newspaper, while smaller local stories or news that isn't that unusual are printed in a smaller font size that only takes up a column or two in the paper.

5. Write the headline. There are several things to consider while writing:
   
   Clarity is a top priority: the reader must be able to clearly understand the message of the headline.
   
   Keep to the facts: avoid anything that isn't a fact stated within the article.
   
   The headline is to summarize: do not repeat what's in the article.
   
   Headlines are typically short: three to six words, less in major news stories.
   
   Use short, active verbs (kill, jump, drop)
   
   Leave out forms of the verb "to be," such as is, are, was and were.
   
   Write headlines in present tense (Two Die in Scottsdale), and do not write in first person (I or me) unless using a quote.
   
   The first word in a headline is always capitalized.
   
   Include sources of information if an opinion is used in the headline as opposed to fact, such as: "Economy improving," says President

6. Confirm there are no errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation. Most news headlines are phrases, not sentences, and do not include a period (full stop) at the end. However, at times question marks, commas or other punctuation marks may be appropriate (see above step to check guidelines).
   
   Verify that all proper names are spelled correctly and any numbers used are correct, such as dates or amounts.
   
   Be aware of other headlines running on the same page; do not repeat the same words or phrase.