Writing headlines can be tricky but here are some general guidelines, according to M&K Consulting Services Inc., which has come up with a brilliant article on Writing Effective Headlines.
The writer laid up over a dozen do’s and dont’s — particularly the dont’s — when writing headlines but I particularly like the one about “Belaboring the obvious”. The firm says:
Belaboring the obvious. Example: Grand jury indicts Jones. Who else but grand juries indict? Pushing too hard to use the active voice caused the problem.
Another aspect of belaboring the obvious involves headlines with no news value. Read your headline with reverse meaning. If the reverse meaning is more interesting, then your headline belabors the obvious.
Example, you write a headline that says: Minister professes belief in God. The reverse meaning, that is, the minister says he doesn’t believe in God, is more interesting. Therefore, your headline belabors the obvious.
And this gem:
Unrestrained hyperbole. (Example: Councilman explodes)
Certainly a good resource for writers or anyone who wants to improve his or her writing.
