Problem headlines
Example #1: A case of “headlinese” |
Law profs |
Avoid “forced” abbreviations |
nix Thomas |
Oh, yeah, I'll bet you say “nix” all the time |
Example #2: Huh? Are “chase” and “winds” verbs or nouns? |
Police chase winds |
through three towns |
Example #3: Uhhh, OK, so what the heck happened? News, please! |
USD #269 Board of Education meets |
Example #4: Isn't it against the law to murder a drunk? Oh, now I see, it's
a potential witness to a murder who happened to be drunk? |
Potential witness
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to murder drunk
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Example #5: It ain't Kansas; we're a cattle state. |
Downtown hogs grant cash |
Oh, the "downtown" is hogging cash from a grant! |
Example #6: A poor choice. |
Example #7: How nice! |
Cop picks |
Senate |
open can |
presses |
of worms |
vets suits |
Example #8: Well, we THINK he's dead. Oh, a professor of “Greek thought.” |
Professor of Greek thought dead at 59
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Example #9: Stop the presses! (Beware the no-verb headline). |
Dead cats protest |
Example #10: "dead" or "dead even"? |
Example #11: Spare the rod...? |
Dole and Bush |
Teacher strikes idle kids |
dead even in |
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Kansas polls |
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Example #12: This is taking planning too far. This is when you need to plan on using the verb “to be” (are) and the article “a” — Pope's plans are a headache. |
Pope plans headache |
Example #13: Everyone deserves good legal help — even if it is free. |
Clinic gives poor free legal help
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Example #14: Don't we all? |
Example #15: This gives church a bad name! |
Lebanon chief |
20,000 at mass |
limits access |
for Polish priest |
to private parts |
reported killed |
Example #16: Those are smart cats! |
Shooting cats to study |
head wounds called cruel |
Example #17: Now, twice as many? |
Example #18: Punishment fits crime? |
S. Florida illegal aliens |
Police begin campaign |
cut in half by new law |
to run down jaywalkers |
Example #19: A euphemism for capital punishment? |
Trial ends in mercy killing
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Example #20: Man bites dog? |
Example #21: Now, that's a crime! |
Owners responsible |
Woman off to jail |
for biting canines |
for sex with boys |
Example #22: Should have gone to the “10 items or less” line. It's quicker. |
Sisters reunited after 18 years |
in checkout line at supermarket |
Example #23: . |
Example#24: Evening the odds? |
I'd tell all, too |
Prison warden says inmates may have 3 guns |
Threatened by gun, |
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employees testify |
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Example #25: Personally, I refuse to hate Friday. TGIF! |
Services for man who refused to hate Thursday in Atlanta
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Writing effective headlines | Good headlines
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