Tips for writing headings

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Write your headings in a way that makes it easy to skim the table of contents for relevant information.

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Make headings parallel

In technical writing, identical structures aren’t a sign of weak style but a key principle to enhance readability.

Parallel structures make the content more predictable. Readers don’t have to process a new structure but can instead attend to the words alone.

Try to keep headings within a chapter, section, or other unit grammatically parallel—especially those on the same level.

No:

Washing of trucks
Washing cars
How can you wash a motorcycle?
How to wash a bicycle

No:

Washing trucks
Washing cars
Washing a motorcycle
Washing a bicycle

No:

Washing trucks
Cleaning cars
Giving a wash to motorcycles
Cleansing bicycles

Yes:

Washing trucks
Washing cars
Washing motorcycles
Washing bicycles

Move the distinctive information to the beginning of the heading

When possible, position the most characteristic information at the beginning of a heading. This makes it easy for readers to quickly skim a table of contents for relevant information.

No:

Database Setup
Database Reorganization
Database Compression

No:

How to Set Up the Database
How to Reorganize the Database
How to Compress the Database

Yes:

Setting Up the Database
Reorganizing the Database
Compressing the Database

Use verbs rather than nouns

When possible, use verbs rather than nouns. By using verbs, your headings become shorter, more concrete, and more practical.

No:

Configuration of the Server

Yes:

Configuring the Server

Use short, strong verbs instead of longer, verbose forms:

No:

Conducting a Data Analysis

Yes:

Analyzing Data

Make titles concise

Titles must be concise but also comprehensible. Don’t use full sentences, but include whatever articles and prepositions are necessary to make the meaning of the title clear.

Avoid beginning a heading with a needless article.

No:

The Parameters Tab

Yes:

Parameters Tab

Titles that appear on a high hierarchy level within the table of contents should be particularly short because longer titles make it difficult to grasp a document’s structure from the table of contents.

Titles that appear on a lower hierarchy level can be slightly more verbose because:

Users view these titles less often.

Topics on a low hierarchy level are often highly specialized topics that need more explanation than general topics at the top level.

If it helps to improve the readability of headings, it’s OK to use colons, parentheses, or dashes.

Use singular nouns

Readers usually act on one thing at a time, so use singular nouns in your headings. However, when a singular noun doesn’t make sense, using the plural is OK.

No:

Creating New Documents

Yes:

Creating a New Document

No:

Printing Reports

Yes:

Printing a Report

Yes:

Managing Folders

Don’t be vague

Avoid beginning headings with “Using …” or “Working with ….” These headings are often vague and don’t communicate the topic information type clearly. Instead, try to find a heading that clearly describes either a task or a concept to be discussed.

No:

Using the Spelling Checker

Yes:

How the Spelling Checker Works (if you want to describe the concept)

or:

Checking Your Spelling (if you want to describe the task)

Attract the right readers

A good title doesn’t attract as many readers as possible—it attracts the right readers.

There’s nothing wrong with motivating readers to read a topic by pointing out the benefits. However, don’t promise more than the topic can actually deliver.

No:

Batch printing

Yes:

Saving time with batch printing


Write meaningful headings

Designing: Heading paragraph styles

Designing: Subheading paragraph styles

Writing: Capitalization of headings

Writing: Be parallel

Writing: Feel free to repeat a word

Writing: Use short, common words

Writing: Watch for “…ed”

Writing: Always use the same terms

Writing: Use contractions

Writing: Use strong verbs