Headings
Maximum heading length is 8 words, 6 words is ideal
H1 & H2 capitalize all important words, no end punctuation (Sociology Sub-Plans)
Do not capitalize:
Articles (a, an, the)
Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor)
Short prepositions (at, by, in, near, to, from)
H3 & H4 capitalize only the first word in heading, no end punctuation
Headlines
When writing headlines, less is more
Headlines should be no longer than 8 words, 6 words or fewer is ideal
Do not include punctuation in headlines (No exclamation points!)
Try cutting out unnecessary words such as “a” and “the,” as complete sentences aren’t always necessary
If possible, use abbreviations for Universities, Institutions, conferences, and events to shorten headline length
Keep in mind: having 1 long headline in a news feed is not the end of the world, but having multiple long headlines is significantly less readable and usable for users
Best Practices
- Getsto the point
Gives a broad overview of information, not too specific
Good Examples
- “Jeffry Simpson Receives Teaching Award”
- “Showcasing Our Global Impact: CLA International”
- "Canoes: Indigeneity, Relocation, and MaintainingTradition"
Rewrite
The headline “Psychology Professor John Doe Says Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is Problematic” could be rewritten as“U Psychologist: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Problematic”
