Crafting Titles: 5 Tips on how to write them

The title is one of the most critical aspects of an article or a research paper. It is the first thing an editor or reviewer or any reader notices in the content. Most people decide whether the material is worth reading or not based on the impression the title’s made on them. It can also be a vital key available to internet users in search engines or indexing databases.

What makes a good title?

The title is not just some heading that helps you get started with writing a paper. A well-written title provides a clear understanding to the readers of what to expect. The tone and choice of words can intrigue them to continue reading. While framing the title, you can use keywords that support the main idea of the content to reflect the purpose of your work.

Tips for formulating a title

1. It is advisable to start with a draft title, and then get on with the rest of the work. In the process, if you get better ideas then make a note of it. Once you are ready with the whole text, choose the title which summarizes your work the best.

2. Depending on what kind of information you want to convey, choose an appropriate title style. You can –
• State the main findings in a declarative way. For example, “Chronic sleep deprivation shows an increased risk in developing cardiovascular diseases”.
• Convey the subject in the form of a question. For example, “Time Management: Can I get more time?”.
• Briefly describe the subject but do not reveal the conclusion. For example, “The effects of Anemia during pregnancy”.

3. Use concise statements, and avoid words that have little or no meaning as they unnecessarily increase the overall length.

4. Do not use abbreviations without spelling them out. If a reader is not familiar with it, they are likely to skip the article even if it is relevant to what they are looking for.

5. While puns and jargons in the title may attract some readers, they may not be understood by those who are not familiar with them. If you consider publishing such articles online, they may appear less often in the search results only because the title doesn’t have the relevant keywords. Hence, it is essential to keep the target audience in mind while writing the title.

Like any other first impression, a brilliant title can inspire or demotivate the reader. You may have put in a lot of effort in your research or project, but it is unlikely to be read if the title sounds uninteresting or is poorly written.