January 21, 2011

Help Your Reader Get It: Lead with a Strong Headline

The New York Times has a great new article about how testing yourself helps you retain information. Its headline is “To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test.”

The headline needs work. “Really” is a vague word that tends to weaken verbs. (If you weren’t really learning, then how were you learning at all?) And the split-infinite verb “To Really Learn …” is a lackluster beginning.

We’d suggest these equally concise, more eye-catching headlines:

Boost Learning: Quit Studying and Take a Test

Want to Learn? Quit Studying and Take a Test

Headlines are often stronger when they lead with a verb like “Boost” in the imperative mood. A question is another way to catch a busy reader’s eye.

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Click here for Write It Well’s list of nine quick ways to make your headlines stronger.

Our book Professional Writing Skills shows you how to avoid vague language, find active language, use verbs skillfully, and write concisely. All these skills are necessary to craft effective headlines.

As for self-testing, all of Write It Well’s books and e-learning modules incorporate practice questions to help you master our tips and techniques for better business writing. You can test your knowledge and apply it to your own e-mails, proposals, and other documents – making yourself much more likely to remember what you learn.