Mastering the Art of Writing Captivating Headlines
Headlines
Writing Basics
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Bricklayers engage in mortar combat
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Backers hot for chili
as U.S. official food
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Mosquitos
biting into
holiday fun
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Standing tall
5’-4” guard rises to challenge of leading Tigers
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Driven to destruction
Police play game
of cat and mouse
with illegal racers
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Nolan Ryan makes smooth transition to job
helping oversee state’s parks, wildlife areas
Whole new ballgame
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Dress code approved
Policy mostly affects girls, critics say
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Make the tone fit the content.
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Serious story, serious headline.
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Funny story, funny headline.
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Be objective. Do not editorialize.
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Make it sound natural, like something you
would say.
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Avoid awkward constructions.
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No SAT words.
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Keep all parts of a verb on the same line.
Big surprise: Perry will
run for governor again
George Bush will
attend Mensa meeting
purely as spectator
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Put modifiers and words modified
on the same line.
Fire guts Fred Astaire
Dance Studio, 2 injured
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Do not end a line with a preposition.
Baseball team ready for
playoff game, coach says
No love lost between
Longhorns, Sooners
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No articles. Use a comma to replace “and.”
Heat wave blisters California, Texas
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Avoid clichés.
Swimmers dive into season
Golfers swing into action
Exchange students say ‘Hasta la Vista’
Math Club multiplies
Football team tackles opposition
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Do not repeat key words or phrases
from the main headline into the secondary
headline.
Pocket lasers banned
Authorities ban laser pointers
Instead:
Pocket lasers banned
Principal cites injuries, class disruptions
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• The main headline should never be
dependent on a kicker or other secondary
headline.
If health care bill passes, death panels
will determine the cost of treating elderly
No details exist, but Limbaugh says it could happen
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Don’t pad headlines with school initials or dates. Also,
avoid initials and abbreviations in headlines.
Too vague…
2012 MHS FFA plans
to hold annual rodeo
More specific…
Willie Nelson to appear
at FFA rodeo Saturday
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Be clever when you can. Puns make good main heads.
Take ‘meowt’
to the cat show
Annual festival of felines begins today
Band itching for practice
as soon as mosquitoes killed
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Headlines do not use end mark punctuation.
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Avoid initials or abbreviations, unless the
initials are instantly recognizable.
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Alliteration in headlines should be used
sparingly and in appropriate situations.
Acceptable:
New Planetary Puzzlers
A distant, oversize world causes cosmic confusion
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Use a thesaurus. Headline writers must have
at their disposal enough synonyms to plug in
and out of the headline to make the count.
New Planetary Puzzlers
A distant, oversize world causes cosmic confusion
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In hopes of raising awareness, the Advanced Placement biology
classes will present a slideshow on global warming and climate
change at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school’s theater.
“I think most people are unaware,” senor Tiffani Loft said. “We
want to educate students and the public and give them tips on how
they can help.”
AP biology teacher Freida Bailey suggested the presentation
after her students voiced frustration over the public’s ignorance of
climate change.
(more stuff about free food)
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In hopes of raising awareness, the Advanced Placement biology
classes will present a slideshow on global warming and climate
change at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school’s theater.
“I think most people are unaware,” senor Tiffani Loft said. “We
want to educate students and the public and give them tips on how
they can help.”
AP biology teacher Freida Bailey suggested the presentation
after her students voiced frustration over the public’s ignorance of
climate change.
(more stuff about free food)
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Class hopes to promote awareness
with global warming slideshow
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When geometry teacher Robin Hester found out she was
pregnant, she was ecstatic.
“My husband and I had been trying for three years,” she said.
“We pretty much gave up.”
Then the even bigger news followed. She was pregnant with
quintuplets.
(due July 4)
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When geometry teacher Robin Hester found out she was
pregnant, she was ecstatic.
“My husband and I had been trying for three years,” she said.
“We pretty much gave up.”
Then the even bigger news followed. She was pregnant with
quintuplets.
(due July 4)
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Responding to the economic downturn and falling enrollment
figures, the School Board voted to close 21st Century Academy and
Howard Middle School. The vote comes after months of indecision
among administrators and school board members and heated
criticism from parents.
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Responding to the economic downturn and falling enrollment
figures, the School Board voted to close 21st Century Academy and
Howard Middle School. The vote comes after months of indecision
among administrators and school board members and heated
criticism from parents.
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Board closes 2 schools
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Senior Mike Gee won the state championship in mathematics at
the Texas Math/Science Coaches Association state convention in
San Antonio last weekend. Gee also took second place in number
sense and third place in calculator applications.
Gee, who has accepted a full scholarship to Stanford University
next year, said he owes his success to coach Dudley Smith.
“I never really liked math that much before I took his AP
Calculus class,” Gee said. “But he makes it interesting and fun.”
Smith said Gee is being too modest.
“Mike is a math whiz,” he said.
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Senior Mike Gee won the state championship in mathematics at
the Texas Math/Science Coaches Association state convention in
San Antonio last weekend. Gee also took second place in number
sense and third place in calculator applications.
Gee, who has accepted a full scholarship to Stanford University
next year, said he owes his success to coach Dudley Smith.
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Gee, whiz
Senior wins state math title
Explore the art of crafting engaging headlines with examples like "Bricklayers Engage in Mortar Combat" and "Backers Hot for Chili as U.S. Official Food." Learn how to match the tone of the headline with the content, maintain objectivity, and ensure natural-sounding language. Helpful hints include keeping verb parts on the same line and aligning modifiers with words they modify. Dive into the world of headlines to enhance your writing skills and captivate your audience.
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Presentation Transcript
Headlines Writing Basics
1-line-headline Bricklayers engage in mortar combat
2-line-headline Backers hot for chili as U.S. official food
3-line-headline Mosquitos biting into holiday fun
Hammer - main/secondary headline Standing tall 5 -4 guard rises to challenge of leading Tigers
Tripod - main/secondary headline Driven to destructionPolice play game of cat and mouse with illegal racers
Kicker - main/secondary headline Nolan Ryan makes smooth transition to job helping oversee state s parks, wildlife areas Whole new ballgame
What kind of headline is this? Dress code approved Policy mostly affects girls, critics say
Helpful hint Make the tone fit the content. o Serious story, serious headline. o Funny story, funny headline.
Helpful hint Be objective. Do not editorialize.
Helpful hints Make it sound natural, like something you would say. Avoid awkward constructions. No SAT words.
Helpful hint Keep all parts of a verb on the same line. Big surprise: Perry will run for governor again George Bush will attend Mensa meeting purely as spectator
Helpful hint Put modifiers and words modified on the same line. Fire guts Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 2 injured
Helpful hint Do not end a line with a preposition. Baseball team ready for playoff game, coach says No love lost between Longhorns, Sooners
Helpful hint No articles. Use a comma to replace and. Heat wave blisters California, Texas
Helpful hint Avoid clich s. Swimmers dive into season Golfers swing into action Exchange students say Hasta la Vista Math Club multiplies Football team tackles opposition
Helpful hint Do not repeat key words or phrases from the main headline into the secondary headline. Pocket lasers banned Authorities ban laser pointers Instead: Pocket lasers banned Principal cites injuries, class disruptions
Helpful hint The main headline should never be dependent on a kicker or other secondary headline. If health care bill passes, death panels will determine the cost of treating elderly No details exist, but Limbaugh says it could happen
Helpful hint Don t pad headlines with school initials or dates. Also, avoid initials and abbreviations in headlines. Too vague 2012 MHS FFA plans to hold annual rodeo More specific Willie Nelson to appear at FFA rodeo Saturday
Helpful hint Be clever when you can. Puns make good main heads. Take meowt to the cat show Annual festival of felines begins today Band itching for practice as soon as mosquitoes killed
Helpful hint Headlines do not use end mark punctuation.
Helpful hint Avoid initials or abbreviations, unless the initials are instantly recognizable.
Helpful hint Alliteration in headlines should be used sparingly and in appropriate situations. Acceptable: New Planetary Puzzlers A distant, oversize world causes cosmic confusion
Helpful hint Use a thesaurus. Headline writers must have at their disposal enough synonyms to plug in and out of the headline to make the count. New Planetary Puzzlers A distant, oversize world causes cosmic confusion
One/two/three-lines mean main idea Write a 2-line headline with a count of 26-32 per line. In hopes of raising awareness, the Advanced Placement biology classes will present a slideshow on global warming and climate change at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school s theater. I think most people are unaware, senor Tiffani Loft said. We want to educate students and the public and give them tips on how they can help. AP biology teacher Freida Bailey suggested the presentation after her students voiced frustration over the public s ignorance of climate change. (more stuff about free food)
One/two/three-lines mean main idea In hopes of raising awareness, the Advanced Placement biology classes will present a slideshow on global warming and climate change at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school s theater. I think most people are unaware, senor Tiffani Loft said. We want to educate students and the public and give them tips on how they can help. AP biology teacher Freida Bailey suggested the presentation after her students voiced frustration over the public s ignorance of climate change. (more stuff about free food) 2-line with each line 26-32 Class hopes to promote awareness with global warming slideshow
Clever headline When geometry teacher Robin Hester found out she was pregnant, she was ecstatic. My husband and I had been trying for three years, she said. We pretty much gave up. Then the even bigger news followed. She was pregnant with quintuplets. (due July 4) 1-line main 9-18 and 1 line secondary 26-32
Clever headline When geometry teacher Robin Hester found out she was pregnant, she was ecstatic. My husband and I had been trying for three years, she said. We pretty much gave up. Then the even bigger news followed. She was pregnant with quintuplets. (due July 4) 1-line main 9-18 and 1 line secondary 26-32 Do the math Hester expecting quintuplets
Practice Responding to the economic downturn and falling enrollment figures, the School Board voted to close 21st Century Academy and Howard Middle School. The vote comes after months of indecision among administrators and school board members and heated criticism from parents. 1-line headline counting 21-27
Practice Responding to the economic downturn and falling enrollment figures, the School Board voted to close 21st Century Academy and Howard Middle School. The vote comes after months of indecision among administrators and school board members and heated criticism from parents. 1-line headline counting 21-27 Board closes 2 schools
Practice Senior Mike Gee won the state championship in mathematics at the Texas Math/Science Coaches Association state convention in San Antonio last weekend. Gee also took second place in number sense and third place in calculator applications. Gee, who has accepted a full scholarship to Stanford University next year, said he owes his success to coach Dudley Smith. I never really liked math that much before I took his AP Calculus class, Gee said. But he makes it interesting and fun. Smith said Gee is being too modest. Mike is a math whiz, he said. 1-line main counting 8-15 with a 1-line secondary counting 24-30
Practice Senior Mike Gee won the state championship in mathematics at the Texas Math/Science Coaches Association state convention in San Antonio last weekend. Gee also took second place in number sense and third place in calculator applications. Gee, who has accepted a full scholarship to Stanford University next year, said he owes his success to coach Dudley Smith. 1-line main counting 8-15 with a 1-line secondary counting 24-30 Gee, whiz Senior wins state math title
