Newspaper headlines

Newspaper headlines

I. The different types of newspaper headlines

∙Straight headlines

They simply relate the main topic of the story. They are

the most common types of headlines and are the easiest to understand.

Example:

Chechen grave points to Russian atrocities [TGM]

∙Headlines that ask a question

Most question headlines are not really typical

questions at all. They are statements followed by a

question mark. These question marks are used when:

o The headline reports a future possibility

Example:

Are hotels in shape for games? [TGM]

o There is some doubt about the truth or accuracy of the story.

Example:

Hidden Treasures In Y our safe-Deposit Box? [TGM]

∙Headlines that contain a quotation

A quoted speech is used in headlines.

It’s another way to begi n a story with an unproven statement.

Example:

Mountie shot in Arctic ‘had no enemies at all’ [TGM]

Quotation marks are used also to show a word is being used outside

its normal meaning.

Example:

Microsoft service divulges e-mail addresses unless patrons ‘opt out’ [TGM]

∙Feature headlines

Headlines for some unusual or amusing stories don’t give

a complete meaning. It’s often necessary to read the story to

understand the headline.

Example:

Two shot dead at U.S. school [TGM]

∙Double headlines

They are two-part headlines of the same story. They are often

used for major events.

Example:

An experiment in simplicity

I WANT A LIFE [NP]

II.The language of newspaper headlines

∙Headlines are almost always in the simple present tense.

Example:

Landry sways his party (The Gazette, March 4, 2001)

∙The simple present tense is used to describe something happening in the present or in the past.

Example:

Continent fears outbreaks (The Gazette, March 4, 2001)

∙The simple present tense is used to describe both

something happening now, and something that happens repeatedly.

Example:

Nasdaq tumbles on recession fears [NP]

∙The present continuous is sometimes used, mostly to give the meaning of something that is developing. The auxiliary is/are is omitted.

Example:

Bikers flexing their muscles (The Gazette, March 4, 2001)

∙The auxiliaries: is/was/are/were and has/have/had are often omitted.

Example:

Microcell cutting Fido rates [TGM]

∙The infinitive is used to refer to the future.

Example:

Liberals to spend $700-million on research and development

projects [TGM]

∙Articles and conjunctions are often omitted.

Example:

Investors snap up JDS, Nortel [TGM]

∙In passive forms, the auxiliary is omitted and only the past participle is used.

Example: