HEADLINE WRITING GUIDE

The following are additional basic headlines rules for you to follow:
1. avoid starting the headline with a verb
2. avoid using names unless the name is well-known
3. use single quotes
4. avoid using the same word twice in a headline
5. use active verbs
6. try to write in present or future tense
7. avoid unfamiliar abbreviations or acronyms
8. do not end the headline with a period
9. Separate two sentences in a headline with a semicolon.
10. When writing the headline, first highlight or underline all the important words in the story.
Then write a sentence based on those highlighted words.
11. Write headlines using active verbs in present, future or present perfect tense. Follow the style
of the headline — if it is a fun story, write a fun feature headline. If it is a serious news story,
write a serious headline.

EXAMPLES
For each post you write, brainstorm six different ways you might be able to use numbers. Here are
some possibilities to get you started:
• List: 15 Ways To Organize Your Fridge & Make Room For Your Favorite Snacks
• Time: How To Organize Your Fridge In 20 Minutes Or Less
• Money: Organize Your Fridge & Save $150 On Wasted Food You Forgot Existed
• Sample Size: 23 Food Bloggers Tell Us How They Organize Their Fridge
• Percents & Statistics: Organize Your Fridge To Get 52% More Space For Leftovers
• Current Year: The Best Fridge Organization Hacks of 2020

19 types of headlines
Here is a list of 19 types of headlines you can use to capture
the attention of readers:
1. Direct headline
A direct headline clearly states the purpose of an article. It usually involves facts in the article to
summarize the overall idea. Readers know exactly what they are going to read or see when you use a
direct headline.

Example: "15 Puppy Pictures To Cheer You Up"

2. Indirect headline
An indirect headline takes a subtle approach by hinting at the main point of an article. Since it doesn't
directly state the key idea, it targets a reader's curiosity to discover what the article is about.

*Example: "Shoe company floats on in 2021"*

3. News headlines
News headlines make important announcements about a company or its products. Journalists often
use these types of headlines in news articles to efficiently share recent information with the public.

Example: "Beach Cove Taffy Announces New Location Near Myrtle Beach"
4. How-to headline
This type of headline teaches readers ways to learn a new skill or solve a problem through an outline
of steps. To write a how-to headline, writers start with the phrase "how to," followed by the action
they want their readers to learn. It also helps highlight why that particular article might benefit them.

Example: "How To Drive in a Foreign Country Like a Local"

5. Question headline
A question headline poses a question to readers with the intention of providing the answer within the
article. These tend to be topics consumers may be interested in regarding a company's products or
brand.

Example: "Do You Know Which of Our Vegetables Has the Most Vitamins?"

6. Command headline
Command headlines tell readers what to do or what they can learn by reading an article. Companies
typically use this type of headline when creating an advertisement. Most command headlines start
with a strong action verb.
Example: "Simplify Your Wardrobe With This New Technique"

7. The "reason why" headline

This headline tells an audience why certain situations occur. This type of headline typically results in
a list article format, which readers often prefer over other types of articles since it's easier to skim.
Example: "8 Reasons Why Your Outfit Is Affecting Your Interview"
8. Emotional headline
Emotional headlines typically target either a positive or negative feeling to encourage an audience to
read an article. To do this, writers use powerful words such as affordable or stressed.
Example: "Ways You Can Prevent Work Burnout in the New Year"
9. Wordplay headline
A wordplay headline uses a creative formation of words and phrasing, typically in the form of a pun
or irony. Companies often use these headlines when trying to make a less important topic amusing.

Example: "Local Auto Race Hits Bump in the Road"

10. Brand name headline
Brand name headlines use recognizable organizations to compare a company's business or products to
its competitors. This can be helpful for new businesses trying to participate in a similar market as a
more established company.
Example: "Skeeter Expected to Gain More Popularity Than Peach Scooter"
11. Best headline
Best headlines rank certain items above others. These can attract readers who look for top-rated
content, such as the best restaurants to try or the best computer to buy, for example.
Example: "Best Cities To Live in After College"
12. Two-part headline
A two-part headline uses a punctuation mark, such as a colon, em dash or parentheses to combine two
ideas. Usually, both parts of these headlines can stand alone, but together, they increase the chances of
capturing a reader's attention.

Example: "Why Word-of-Mouth Advertising Can Increase Sales: The Five Key Steps"
13. Relational headlines
Relational headlines connect a reader to the subject of an article by using second-person language.
Relating the topic to the reader helps them become interested in reading and discovering how this
article can help them.

Example: "Here's How You Could Make $1,000 From Your Couch"
14. Location-specific headline
Location-specific headlines attract readers by making them feel included in knowledge only a select
group of people would know. These headlines focus on something that people in a particular area
share in common.
Example: "12 Things Anyone Who Lives in Seattle Knows To Be True"
15. Challenging belief headline
A challenging belief headline convinces individuals to read by using a reverse psychology technique.
Usually, these headlines begin with, "You won't believe..." which often makes viewers want to read
an article to see whether it actually surprised them.
Example: "You Won't Believe How Celebrities Are Losing Belly Fat"
16. Confrontational headline
Confrontational headlines are persuasive, as they attract people who either agree with the headline or
have opposing opinions. Posing a controversial stance can entice individuals to read and see whether
the article changed or enforced their existing opinions.
Example: "12 Reasons Why Recycling Is Hurting the Planet"
17. Testimonial headline
A testimonial headline begins with a quote from a company's consumer. This gives viewers an
objective, opinionated statement from someone who has used a company's products.
Example: "This Cooking Plan Helps Me Make Meals for My Picky Children"
18. The "backed by science" headline
This headline supports a statement by confirming its thesis with scientific evidence and proof. Writers
use these headlines for articles that include research on a particular idea.
Example: "Scientists Believe Cicadas Are About To Emerge From Underground"
19. Background headline
Background headlines start with contextual information. This is usually a two-part headline, with the
first part providing background and the second half explaining the significance or reason for the first
statement.
Example: "Millionaire Donates $5 Million To Local Grocery Store; Thanks Cashiers With Bonus"
https://www.uiltexas.org/files/academics/journalism/Headline_Sample_2018.pdf
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ddrSQUAwN-NsbcU3OQKJ9R1l4bx7F0qqm4vGjp97zAY/edit
https://www.academia.edu/29691172/COPY_READING_AND_HEADLINE_WRITING