Writing an ideal title is one of the most challenging aspects of assembling a manuscript. It is obvious that the title states what a paper is about but doing so in as few words as possible can be tough. Many full-paper articles are multifaceted and contain different subsections and ideas. The problem comes in deciding what the paper is truly about and what you consider necessary.
Besides, many people consider titles an afterthought when it comes to writing content. More often than not, they write the title first, proceed with writing, and then don’t bother revisiting the heading to ensure that it is as good as it could be. Their end game is to compose a title that seems “good enough” because it’s just a few words anyways. Nonetheless, not taking the time to create a good title is a missed opportunity. A great heading sets the tone for the content and captures readers’ attention. If you’re struggling with composing the right title for your manuscripts, this article will help you rethink how you write your headings.
General Considerations
Before deciding on a title, think carefully about the target audience. Who will be reading the paper, and what are their motivations? Are they concerned with acquiring information as clearly and concisely as possible? Asking such questions can help you determine the appropriate tone for your title. A title should inform readers about the paper’s central claim and significance. Good titles have the following characteristics:
- Incorporate key terms
- Contain between 5 and 15 words
- Precise and informative
- Descriptive
- Reflects the tone of your writing
- Pique readers’ interest
- Predicts article content
How To Write Catchy and Interesting Titles
Let’s face it; a title is an essential part of an article or any manuscript, for that matter. It’s the first thing that readers see; for many, it is where they opt to continue or stop reading. Therefore, you need to get the audience hooked! Promise that you’re going to deliver value. Ensure you write titles and subheadings that tell readers why they need to invest their time in reading your content. But how do you convince people to read what you write in a world full of noise? It takes more than just a great design and good content. Here are some easy tricks to help you write ideal titles.
Keep it concise and informative
Great titles go directly to the point of your content. Don’t try to be clever or intriguing. Get to the point immediately! However, what’s appropriate for titles varies significantly across disciplines. The length of your title also depends on the piece you’re writing. For research articles, it can be anywhere from 10 to 12 words long. The more well-crafted the title is, the more impact it has on whoever is reading it. Check out some articles written in your field and the guidelines for character limits.
Understand your audience
Considering the primary and target audience is a good idea when writing a title. Your title should appeal to readers and bring them along on your journey to learn about the subject matter. Are your readers specialist in the particular field? Are they cross-disciplinary or non-specialists? These considerations will ensure the right audience reads your work.
Appeal to readers’ hunger for knowledge
If I can learn to do something in X easy steps, then I would want to know how. Most people do! Use your headline to tell readers they can learn something. Be sure not to include the process in the headline because it seems like a lot of work. Target the result and the audience’s real motivations. Find a way to pique their interest and give them just enough information to want to read more.
Incorporate significant keywords
Consider the aspects that are more appealing to your readers. Many people look for title keywords to decide whether to continue reading. The keywords and phrases let them know the information in the content. They also help indexers and search engines find relevant papers. If the database engine can discover your manuscript, readers can easily find it too.
Write in sentence case
For research papers, titles should be in sentence cases. That is, capitalize only the first letter of the first word in the title, except for proper nouns, as you would when writing a sentence. Sentence case is one of the most common capitalization styles out there. You’ll likely run into the decision when writing an essay, research paper, or blog post that includes heading and subheadings. So, ensure you understand the difference between the title and sentence cases.
What To Avoid When Writing Titles
While you should understand the aspects to include in a title, it’s also important to know what to avoid in doing so.
Avoid writing your title as a question
In many cases, you shouldn’t frame your title as a question. You have the answers and know what you found. Writing the title as a question might draw your readers in, but it’s more likely to put them off.
Do not sensationalize your research
Be honest with yourself about what you indeed discovered or want to convey. A sensationalized or dramatic title can appeal to a few people, but you don’t want them disappointed when they get to the results.
Avoid jargon and complex words
Keep your title readable by avoiding any unnecessary jargon or words. You want a title that will be understandable even to people who may not be experts in your field. The more readable the title is, the more people it can reach.
Steer clear of superlatives and adjectives
Adjectives like ‘enhanced’ or superlatives, such as superior or exceptional, raise suspicions and questions in readers’ minds. If the work is truly superior, it is recognizable as such, thanks to your well-written introduction that makes fair and valid comparisons with existing literature.
Final Word!
The art of writing a compelling title that readers will come back for cannot be learned overnight. But if you keep a few things in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating exciting titles for your readers. The ultimate goal is to make titles appealing, convincing, and concise. In many cases, your audience will remember your headline more than the content itself. Use the tips you’ve learned here and get started on your next great title!
