How to write Headlines

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How to writeHeadlines
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Weve all written headlines before

• Hey! I can see it now! youve said to your
  brother.
• Boy drops dead from too much chocolate. If
  you dont quit eating all those Hershey bars,
  its going to be you.

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Actually, its not difficult to write a headline.
Theres just a few rules.

• Use downstyle. This means only the first word of
  the headline and any proper nouns are
  capitalized.
• Principal presents award
• to Coach Smith

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Headlines go against the left border.

• Most newspapers use headlines that are flush
  left. This means the headline sits squarely
  against the left side of the column, leaving the
  lines to run ragged on the right.
• Junior runs over teacher with car

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Our headlines use sans serif type.

• Because our newspaper is published on the Web,
  its easier for our readers to read a sans serif
  type, such as Arial.
• Sans serif means without serifs, or the little
  feet that extend from each letter.
• Serif Like this
• Sans serif Like this

6
Headlines are written in point size.

• This is 18 point.
• This is 24 point.
• This is 30 point.
• This is 36 point.
• This is 42 point.
• This is 48 point.
• This is 60 point.

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Headlines are written in present tense.

• By writing a headline in present tense, it makes
  the story appear as if it just happened.
• Miller wins 10 million prize
• Not like this
• Miller won 10 million prize

8
Headlines need a subject and a verb.

• Think of a headline as a sentence, but without
  many of the words.
• A headline such as Homecoming is just a label,
  its not a headline.
• Instead, write
• Homecoming win leads to celebration
• (subject) (verb) (object)

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Keep a prepositional phrase together in a
headline.

• Instead of
• Dog bites alien on
• tender spot
• Write
• Dog bites alien
• on tender spot
• (on is a preposition)

10
Headlines dont have hyphens.

• Make sure when you write out the headline, the
  computer doesnt hyphenate any words. If it does,
  move the words around.
• Smith discovers dino-
• saur remains in wall
• Smith discovers
• dinosaur remains

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A headline doesnt need a period at the end.

• Headlines are not sentences. However, you may use
  other forms of punctuation in headlines when
  needed
• Did you ever think it would happen?
• Fort Smith merges two high schools

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You dont need the name of the school or the
school initials in a headline.

• The readers already know the name of your school.
  Instead, use the headline to tell what happened.
• Not so good
• JHS students picket cafeteria
• Better
• 95 of students picket during lunch

13
Dont use a, an or the except in special
headlines.

• Good
• Governor awards teacher with honor
• Bad
• The governor awards teacher with an honor
• Its okay to use articles (a, an or the) in a
  headline such as a hammer or a wicket
• The ultimate put-down
• Seniors name skip day for principal

14
Only use your opinion in a headline for an
editorial.

• News headlines shouldnt contain any words that
  let the reader know what you think of the story.
• Dont
• Were better than Fort Smith!
• Better
• Team blows away Fort Smith, 42-0

15
In headlines, use single quote marks.

• Dont
• Angel Baby really a detective
• Do
• Angel Baby really a detective

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A headline should fill at least ¾ of the white
space it occupies.

• If a headline is too short for the space, it
  looks strange.
• Dont
• Boy wins meet
• Do
• Taylor nabs tournament title

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Headlines must cover the entire story.

• Dont design a page with a headline over part of
  the story.
• A headline is like a roof of a house It must
  cover the whole text.
• Tornado!
• School closed for remainder of this year

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Use a comma in place of and.

• To save space, use a comma instead of the word
  and.
• Dont
• Band and choir win awards
• Do
• Band, choir win awards

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Use a semicolon to separate complete thoughts

• Dont
• Legislature in session. Future of roads in doubt
• Do
• Legislature in session future of roads in doubt

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Use active verbs omit forms of the verb to be

• Dont
• Smoking is common, survey shows
• Do
• Survey reveals smoking is common