The Title Says It All

Crafting a good title is like bending a straight line into a seamless connected circle. Let me explain. Titles are the first thing readers see, yet they are often the final part of writing a manuscript, and just as often given the least attention. Guides on writing scientific papers recommend starting with the Methods section, followed by Results, Discussion, Introduction, Abstract, and Title. There is a certain degree of logic to this linear order, since authors already have detailed notes and documentation on the methods used, the results obtained, and the interpretation of the results when they begin to write a paper. The title, however, is the component that closes the circle. The title draws from the other sections of the paper and becomes the face of the paper—the descriptor, the advertisement, the pitch. Like a billboard, it is your 10-second opportunity to connect with the passerby (the reader). So it is important to make the title count. Here I provide some tips and examples to help you reach this goal. When asked “How long should a title be?” my response is that the length should be just right. This is not to avoid the question, but to tell the author that a title should balance the number of words needed to describe the content of the article against losing or confusing the reader with too many words. How a title looks to the eye can mean as much as what it says. In most cases, titles end up being better if words are removed rather than added. Avoid using wasted words such as “a study of,” “investigation of,” “development of,” or “observations on.” Readers understand that you would not be writing the paper unless you had studied, investigated, developed, or observed something. Similarly, avoid including adjectives such as “new,” …