The first thing the reader sees is the title. In many situations, if the title is bad, they'll stop reading before they even started. Here are some criteria for choosing a title.
Captivating. Catch the reader's attention.
Specific. Be specific enough that the reader sees the general topic.
General. Don't be so specific that you recreate the thesis statement.
Original. Your paper will be easy to find later.
5-15 words. Long titles annoy the reader.
Here are some uninspiring titles, along with explanations why they fail. These are fake.
A Study to Investigate Apples
An Analysis of Apples
An Examination of Apples
The History of Apples
Not specific.
About Apples
On Apples
The first word adds nothing.
What I Talk About When I Talk About Apples
The first eight words contribute nothing.
Apples!!
One exclamation point is questionable. Two is clearly excessive.
Examining the Rapid Shift From Apple Cider to Beer as a Result of Extreme Economic Pressure in the Prohibition Era
Too much information.
Choosing a title is a creative act with few strict rules. Even if you follow the above suggestions, there's no obvious way to proceed. Here are some methods that many writers use, along with real examples.
Arrange keywords. Look at your thesis statement and conclusion. Pick out two or three important words, jot them down, and put them together with verbs or adverbs.
Use a colon to add information.
Surgeons on the Operating Table: A Report on How Meditation Can Improve Surgery Success
Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness
Web Design: The First 100 Years
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World
Tony Hawk: How a Personal Brand Can Build a Business Empire
For Sale: One Used Internet Company Called Yahoo
Ask a question. However, be careful with yes-no questions. Betteridge's Law says that the answer to any question in a headline is "No", so think twice before asking a question where that's the answer.
What Mary Didn’t Know
Can Twitter Predict the Future? Pentagon Says Maybe
Find a hook. Hooks come in many forms. See if you can find something surprising, contrasting, or unique. Save shocking headlines for tabloids.
Reflections on Trusting Trust
You and Your Research
How to Be an Antiracist
The Conscience of a Hacker
Top U.S. Cities for Bedbug Infestations
Creative Crafter and Culinary Concocter
Use a play on words.
A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace
Practice Makes Perfect, Theory Makes Up
One-hit Wonders Aren’t All That Wondrous
A Theft-Based Approach to 3D Object Acquisition
Come Hell and High Water
Sorry, Long Number
When capitalizing titles, there are two common conventions: title case and sentence case.
Title case – according to APA guidelines, all major words are capitalized, including the first word, all nouns and verbs, and any word of 4+ letters. The example titles listed on this page are all in title case.
Sentence case – the first word is capitalized, as are all proper nouns.
Some instructors prefer one style, and other instructors accept either one. When in doubt, ask your instructor. If your title is complicated and you're unsure how to capitalize it, use a title converter website.
Blackwood, M. (2024). Sentence Case Vs. Title Case — What’s The Difference? EditorNinja. Retrieved 2025.
Choosing a Title. (2024). Research Guides. USC Libraries. Retrieved 2024.
Parker, D. (2023). Best Tips on How to Title an Essay. EssayPro. Retrieved 2024.
Proceedings of SIGBOVIK 2007. (2007). Association for Computational Heresy Special Interest Group on Harry Quarterback Bovik.