Exciting Titles

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.

Brainstorming a Title

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.

1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

Capitalization

When capitalizing titles, there are two common conventions: title case and sentence case.

1. 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.

2. 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.

References

• 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.