1 The rule in plain terms
The present tense rule for headlines is straightforward: when you write a headline about something that has just happened or is still happening, use the simple present tense. So a story about a vote that took place this morning gets a headline like 'Council approves budget,' not 'Council approved budget.' The verb 'approves' signals that the action is fresh and relevant to the reader right now. This convention is a cornerstone of AP style and is followed by most news organizations. It applies to verbs in headlines across all platforms, from print to digital. The rule keeps headlines lively and immediate, which is especially important in a 24-hour news cycle. Even if the event occurred hours ago, the present tense makes it feel current. The only time you shift tense is when the action is not recent or when you are referring to something that happened at a specific, non-recent time. For example, a headline about a historical anniversary might use past tense: 'City dedicated park in 1920.' But for today's news, present tense is the default. This simple habit helps maintain consistency and readability across a publication.
2 Why editors enforce it
Editors enforce the present tense rule because it directly affects how readers perceive the timeliness of a story. A headline with a past tense verb can make even a breaking news item seem like old news. Imagine seeing 'Mayor resigns' versus 'Mayor resigned'—the first feels urgent, the second feels like something that happened yesterday. In a competitive media landscape, that split-second impression matters. Consistency is another reason. When every headline follows the same tense convention, readers can scan a page or a feed and instantly understand what is new. It also aligns with the inverted pyramid style of news writing, where the most important information comes first. The present tense in headlines mirrors the lead sentence, which often uses present tense for recent events. Editors also appreciate that present tense verbs are usually shorter and punchier, saving valuable character space. A headline like 'Team wins championship' is more direct than 'Team won championship.' Finally, the rule reduces confusion. Without it, a mix of tenses could imply a timeline that isn't accurate. For instance, 'Governor signs bill' clearly indicates a just-completed action, while 'Governor signed bill' might suggest it happened days ago. Editors enforce the rule to keep the news fresh, consistent, and clear.
3 Where writers usually slip
Writers most often slip into past tense when they are thinking about the event as a completed action. After all, if it already happened, past tense feels natural. But headlines are not ordinary sentences; they follow their own conventions. Another common slip is using past tense for attribution verbs. A writer might write 'Smith said' in a headline when 'Smith says' is correct, even if the interview occurred earlier. The present tense 'says' is standard for headlines because it implies the statement is still relevant. Writers also mistakenly use past tense for scheduled events that have not yet occurred, but that is a different error—using present for future. For example, 'Council meets tomorrow' is correct because the present tense can indicate a future scheduled event. But the slip here is using past tense for recent news. Sometimes writers mix tenses within a single headline, which creates a jarring effect. For instance, 'Mayor announces plan and resigned' is inconsistent. The fix is to keep all verbs in the present tense unless an exception applies. Another slip is using past tense for ongoing situations. If a strike is still happening, 'Workers strike' is better than 'Workers struck.' Writers may also default to past tense out of habit from writing body text, where past tense is common for events that occurred earlier in the day. But headlines require a different mindset. Recognizing these patterns helps writers self-edit before filing.
4 Applying the rule on deadline
On deadline, applying the present tense rule becomes a quick mental check: Is the action recent or ongoing? If yes, use present tense. This check should happen as you write the headline, not after. Start by identifying the main verb that captures the news. Then conjugate it in simple present. For third-person singular subjects, add 's' or 'es' as needed. For plural subjects, use the base form. If the verb is irregular, like 'go' or 'have,' be careful: 'goes,' 'has.' When you are writing under pressure, it helps to have a few go-to verbs that work well in present tense: 'says,' 'wins,' 'plans,' 'seeks,' 'names,' 'urges,' 'sets,' 'holds,' 'calls,' 'asks.' These are short and clear. If you are unsure, say the headline aloud. Does it sound like something happening now? If it sounds like a history lesson, switch to present. Also, remember that the present tense rule applies to the main verb, not necessarily to every verb in the headline. Auxiliary verbs can be omitted for brevity. For example, 'City to open pool' uses an infinitive to indicate future, which is acceptable. But for recent events, stick to simple present. On deadline, you may be tempted to copy the tense from the lead. Don't. The lead might use past tense for a completed action, but the headline should still use present. A quick final check: Does the headline use past tense for a recent event? If so, change it. This habit becomes second nature with practice.
5 Legitimate exceptions
There are times when the present tense rule does not apply. The most common exception is when the action is clearly completed and not recent. For example, a headline about a historical event, such as 'Treaty signed in 1783,' correctly uses past tense because the event is firmly in the past and not part of today's news. Another exception is when the headline refers to a specific time in the past, like 'Last year, sales rose 10 percent.' Here, the past tense is necessary to match the time reference. Future events also take a different form. While the present tense can be used for scheduled future events ('Council meets tomorrow'), it is also common to use 'to' plus a verb ('Council to meet tomorrow') or 'will' ('Council will meet tomorrow'). These are not violations of the present tense rule; they are simply different constructions for future actions. Additionally, when a headline includes a time element that is not 'today' or 'now,' past tense may be appropriate. For instance, 'Man died in 2010 crash' is correct because the event is dated. However, if the story is about a recent death, present tense is still preferred: 'Man dies in crash.' Another exception is in feature headlines or headlines for opinion pieces, where a more literary tense might be used for effect. But for hard news, the present tense rule holds. Finally, when the subject is a historical figure and the action is long past, past tense is fine: 'Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address' would be wrong unless it's a reenactment; 'Lincoln delivered Gettysburg Address' is correct. These exceptions are about clarity and accuracy, not style for its own sake.
6 A worked example from the copy desk
Consider a story about a city council that voted last night to approve a new park. The reporter files a headline: 'Council approved park plan.' The editor on the copy desk sees the past tense and changes it to 'Council approves park plan.' Why? Because the vote happened last night, which is recent enough that the present tense conveys the news is fresh. The editor knows that readers scanning the site will perceive 'approves' as more immediate. Now, suppose the story is about a council vote from three weeks ago that is only now being reported because of a delayed document release. In that case, the headline might read 'Council approved park plan in closed session' to signal the action is not recent. But if the story is about the ongoing debate leading up to the vote, the headline could be 'Council debates park plan' even if the debate started yesterday. The key is the timeliness of the action relative to the story's news peg. Another example: a sports team wins a game last night. The headline should be 'Team wins championship,' not 'Team won championship.' If the team won the championship last year, the headline would be 'Team won championship last year.' The copy desk also watches for mixed tenses. A headline like 'Mayor announces plan and resigned' would be corrected to 'Mayor announces plan and resigns' if both actions are recent, or 'Mayor announced plan and resigned' if both are historical. The editor's job is to ensure the tense matches the temporal context and the publication's style.
7 Quick reference and related rules
For quick reference, remember: recent news takes present tense; historical or clearly past events take past tense; future events take present, 'to' plus verb, or 'will.' The present tense rule is part of a broader set of headline conventions. Related rules include: use active voice, omit auxiliary verbs when possible, use commas instead of 'and' in short headlines, and avoid periods at the end of headlines. Also, headlines typically use sentence-style capitalization, meaning only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized. Another related rule is that headlines should be self-contained and not rely on the reader having seen the lead. This means you may need to include a subject even if it is implied in the story. For example, 'Wins award' is too vague; 'Local teacher wins award' is better. Additionally, avoid using past tense for attribution: 'Smith says' is preferred over 'Smith said.' But if the statement was made in the past and is not current, 'Smith said' might be acceptable in some contexts, though present tense is still common. Another related rule is to use present tense for ongoing situations, such as 'Protesters occupy square.' If the occupation ended, use past tense: 'Protesters occupied square.' Finally, remember that the present tense rule is not about grammar for its own sake; it is about serving the reader with clear, timely information. When in doubt, ask: Does this headline sound like it is happening now? If not, adjust the tense accordingly.