Rule index › Headlines & Titles
Headlines & Titles
Ruled slips filed under Headlines & Titles.
Headlines & Titles§
Title Case Versus Sentence Case in Headlines
CorrectCapitalize the first and last words, all principal words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs), and any word of four or more letters; lowercase articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions unless they begin or end the title.
Common errorCapitalizing every word in a headline, including short prepositions and conjunctions, or failing to capitalize the first word after a colon or dash in a title.
ExceptionSentence case is preferred for some digital formats, social media posts, and when a headline is a full sentence that reads as a direct quotation or question; also, certain style guides may lowercase short verbs in headlines.
The rule is straightforward: in headlines, subheadings, and standalone titles, capitalize the first and last words, all principal words, and any word of four or more letters.
Headlines & Titles§
Headline Verbs and the Present Tense Rule
CorrectUse simple present tense verbs (e.g., 'says,' 'wins,' 'plans') for headlines about recent or ongoing events.
Common errorWriters often use past tense verbs (e.g., 'said,' 'won,' 'planned') in headlines, which can make news seem stale.
ExceptionUse past tense when the action is clearly completed and not recent, or when the headline refers to a historical event; also use future tense for planned events.
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.
Headlines & Titles§
Punctuating Headlines Without Overdoing It
CorrectUse a colon to introduce a subordinate idea, a comma to set off a series or a mild contrast, and a period only in rare multi-sentence headlines; otherwise let word order and strong verbs carry the line.
Common errorWriters sprinkle semicolons, dashes, and question marks into headlines to add drama, or they use a comma to splice two full statements that need a colon or a rewritten verb.
ExceptionA question mark is appropriate when the headline poses a genuine question, and a semicolon may separate two tightly parallel clauses when a colon would imply a false hierarchy.
The headline is a display line, not a sentence in a paragraph, and it earns its clarity from word order and strong verbs rather than from a thicket of marks.
Headlines & Titles§
Subheads, Decks, and the Structure of a Story
CorrectUse sentence case for subheads and decks: capitalize only the first word and proper nouns; omit periods at the end; keep them concise and descriptive.
Common errorWriters often capitalize every major word in subheads and decks (title case) and add periods, treating them like headlines or sentences.
ExceptionWhen a subhead or deck is a direct question, it may end with a question mark; proper nouns and formal titles retain their capitalization.
The rule is straightforward: subheads and decks take sentence-style capitalization and no end punctuation.