Headlines

Special language

Headlines are the short titles above news reports (e.g. DOG FINDS ROMAN TREASURE). English news headlines can be very difficult to understand. One reason for this is that headlines are often written in a special style, which is very different from ordinary English. In this style there are some special rules of grammar, and words are often used in unusual ways.

Grammar

1. Headlines are not always complete sentences. Many headlines consist of noun phrases with no verb.

   • MORE WAGE CUTS
   • LUXURY HOTEL DEATH
   • EXETER MAN’S DOUBLE MARRIAGE BID

2. Headlines often contain strings of three, four or more nouns; nouns earlier in the string modify those that follow.

   • FURNITURE FACTORY PAY CUT PROTEST

   Headlines like these can be difficult to understand. It sometimes helps to read them backwards. FURNITURE FACTORY PAY CUT PROTEST refers to a PROTEST about a CUT (reduction) in PAY at a FACTORY that makes FURNITURE.

3. Headlines often leave out articles and the verb be.

   • SHAKESPEARE PLAY IMMORAL SAYS HEADMASTER
   • SCHOOLBOY WALKS IN SPACE

4. In headlines, simple tenses are often used instead of progressive or perfect forms. The simple present is used for both present and past events.

   • STUDENTS FIGHT FOR COURSE CHANGES (= … are fighting …)
   • BLIND GIRL CLIMBS EVEREST (= … has climbed …)

   The present progressive is used to talk about changes. Be is usually dropped.

   • BRITAIN GETTING WARMER, SAY SCIENTISTS
   • TRADE FIGURES IMPROVING

5. Many headline words are used as both nouns and verbs, and nouns are often used to modify other nouns (paragraph b above). So it is not always easy to work out the structure of a sentence. Compare:

   • US CUTS AID TO THIRD WORLD (= The US reduces its help … CUTS is a verb, AID is a noun.)
   • AID CUTS PROTEST (= There has been a protest about the reduction in aid. AID and CUTS are both nouns.)
   • CUTS AID REBELS (= The reduction is helping the revolutionaries. CUTS is a noun, AID is a verb.)

6. Headlines often use infinitives to refer to the future.

   • PM TO VISIT AUSTRALIA
   • HOSPITALS TO TAKE FEWER PATIENTS

   For is also used to refer to future movements or plans.

   • TROOPS FOR GLASGOW? (= Are soldiers going to be sent to Glasgow?)

7. Auxiliary verbs are usually dropped from passive structures.

   • MURDER HUNT: MAN HELD (= … a man is being held by police.)
   • SIX KILLED IN EXPLOSION (= Six people have been killed …)

   Note that forms like HELD, ATTACKED are usually past participles with passive meanings, not past tenses (which are rare in headlines). Compare:

   • AID PROTEST: PRESIDENT ATTACKED (= … the President has been attacked.)
   • AID PROTEST: PRESIDENT ATTACKS CRITICS (= … the President has attacked her critics.)
   • BOY FOUND SAFE (= The missing boy has been found safe; he is safe.)
   • BOY FINDS SAFE (= A boy has found a safe.)

8. As and in are often used instead of longer connecting expressions.

   • HOSPITAL BOSS AXED AS PATIENTS DIE (= … because patients have died.)
   • FOOTBALL MANAGER IN CAR CRASH

9. A colon (:) is often used to separate the subject of a headline from what is said about it.

   • STRIKES: PM TO ACT
   • MOTORWAY CRASH: DEATH TOLL RISES

   Quotation marks (‘…’) are used to show that words were said by somebody else, and that the report does not necessarily claim that they are true.

   • CRASH DRIVER ‘HAD BEEN DRINKING’

   A question mark (?) is often used when something is not certain.

   • CRISIS OVER BY SEPTEMBER?

note

For other styles with special grammar, (see here).

Vocabulary

Short words save space, and so they are very common in headlines. Some of the short words in headlines are unusual in ordinary language (e.g. curb, meaning ‘restrict’ or ‘restriction’), and some are used in special senses which they do not often have in ordinary language (e.g. bid, meaning ‘attempt’). Other words are chosen not because they are short, but because they sound dramatic (e.g. blaze, which means ‘big fire’, and is used in headlines to refer to any fire). The following is a list of common headline vocabulary.

Term	Meaning
act	take action; do something FOOD CRISIS: GOVERNMENT TO ACT
aid	military or financial help; to help MORE AID FOR POOR COUNTRIES UNIONS AID HOSPITAL STRIKERS
alert	alarm, warning FLOOD ALERT ON EAST COAST
allege	make an accusation WOMAN ALLEGES UNFAIR TREATMENT
appear	appear in court accused of a crime MP TO APPEAR ON DRUGS CHARGES
axe	abolish, close down; abolition, closure COUNTRY BUS SERVICES AXED SMALL SCHOOLS FACE AXE
BA	British Airways BA MAKES RECORD LOSS
back	support AMERICA BACKS BRITISH PEACE MOVE
ban	forbid, refuse to allow something; prohibition US BANS STEEL IMPORTS NEW BAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS
bar	refuse/refusal to allow entry HOTEL BARS FOOTBALL FANS NEW BAR ON IMMIGRANTS
bid	attempt JAPANESE WOMEN IN NEW EVEREST BID
blast	explosion; criticise violently BLAST AT PALACE PM BLASTS CRITICS
blaze	fire SIX DIE IN HOTEL BLAZE
block	stop, delay TORIES BLOCK TEACHERS’ PAY DEAL
blow	bad news; discouragement; unfortunate happening SMITH ILL: BLOW TO WORLD CUP HOPES
bolster	give support/encouragement to EXPORT FIGURES BOLSTER CITY CONFIDENCE
bond	political/business association NEW TRADE BONDS WITH ICELAND
boom	big increase; prosperous period SPENDING BOOM OVER, SAYS MINISTER
boost	encourage(ment); increase (noun or verb) PLAN TO BOOST EXPORTS
brink	edge (of disaster) WORLD ON BRINK OF WAR
Brussels	the European Union administration BRUSSELS BANS BRITISH BLACKBERRY WINE
call (for)	demand/appeal (for) CALL FOR STRIKE TALKS HOSPITAL SCANDAL: MP CALLS FOR ENQUIRY
campaign	organised effort to achieve social or political result MP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR PRISON REFORM
cash	money MORE CASH NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS
charge	accusation (by police) THREE MEN HELD ON BOMB CHARGE
chop	abolition, closure 300 BANK BRANCHES FACE CHOP
City	London’s financial institutions NEW TRADE FIGURES PLEASE CITY
claim	(make) a statement that something is true (especially when there may be disagreement); pay claim demand for higher wages SCIENTIST CLAIMS CANCER BREAKTHROUGH NEW POLICE RACISM CLAIM TEACHERS’ PAY CLAIM REJECTED
clamp down on	deal firmly with (usually something illegal) POLICE TO CLAMP DOWN ON SPEEDING
clash	quarrel, fight (noun or verb) PM IN CLASH OVER ARMS SALES STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE
clear	find innocent DOCTOR CLEARED OF DRUGS CHARGE
Commons	the House of Commons (in Parliament) MINISTERS IN COMMONS CLASH OVER HOUSING
con	swindle TEENAGERS CON WIDOW OUT OF LIFE SAVINGS
crackdown	firm application of the law GOVERNMENT PROMISES CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS DEALERS
crash	financial failure BANK CRASH THREATENS TO BRING DOWN GOVERNMENT
curb	restrict; restriction NEW PRICE CURBS
cut	reduce; reduction BRITAIN CUTS OVERSEAS AID NEW HEALTH SERVICE CUTS
cutback	reduction (usually financial) TEACHERS SLAM SCHOOL CUTBACKS
dash	(make) quick journey PM IN DASH TO BLAST HOSPITAL
deadlock	disagreement that cannot be solved DEADLOCK IN PEACE TALKS
deal	agreement, bargain TEACHERS REJECT NEW PAY DEAL
demo	demonstration 30 ARRESTED IN ANTI-TAX DEMO
ditch	abandon EDUCATION MINISTER DITCHES FEES CUT PLAN
dole (BrE)	unemployment pay DOLE QUEUES LENGTHEN
drama	dramatic event; tense situation PRINCE IN AIRPORT DRAMA
drive	united effort DRIVE TO SAVE WATER
drop	give up, get rid of; fall (noun) GOVERNMENT TO DROP CHILD LABOUR PLAN BIG DROP IN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT
due	expected to arrive QUEEN DUE IN BERLIN TODAY
duo	two people DISABLED DUO ROW ACROSS ATLANTIC
EU	the European Union EU TRADE MINISTERS TO MEET
edge	move gradually WORLD EDGES TOWARDS WAR
envoy	ambassador FRENCH ENVOY DISAPPEARS
face	be threatened by HOSPITALS FACE MORE CUTS STRIKERS FACE SACK
feud	long-lasting quarrel or dispute FAMILY FEUD EXPLODES INTO VIOLENCE: SIX HELD
find	(noun) something that is found BEACH FIND MAY BE BONES OF UNKNOWN DINOSAUR
firm	determined not to change PM FIRM ON TAX LEVELS
flak	heavy criticism GOVERNMENT FACES FLAK OVER VAT
flare	begin violently RIOTS FLARE IN ULSTER
foil	prevent somebody from succeeding TWELVE-YEAR-OLD FOILS BANK RAIDERS
fraud	swindle, deceit JAIL FOR TICKET FRAUD MEN
freeze	keep(ing) prices, etc at their present level; block(ing) a bank account MINISTER WANTS TWO-YEAR PAY FREEZE DRUG PROFITS FROZEN
fuel	provide reason for growth (of anger, protest, etc) PAY FREEZE FUELS UNION ANGER
gag	censor(ship), prevent(ion) from speaking AFRICAN PRESIDENT ACTS TO GAG PRESS FURY AT PRESS GAG
gems	jewels £2m GEMS STOLEN
go	resign; be lost, disappear PM TO GO? 4,000 JOBS TO GO IN NORTH
go for	be sold for PICASSO DRAWING GOES FOR £5m
go-ahead	approval SCOTTISH ROAD PLAN GETS GO-AHEAD
grab	take quickly or violently INVESTORS GRAB SHARES IN SCOTTISH COMPANIES
grip	tight hold; hold tightly REBELS TIGHTEN GRIP ON SOUTH COLD WAVE GRIPS COUNTRY
gun down	shoot TERRORISTS GUN DOWN PRIEST
hail	welcome, praise PM HAILS PEACE PLAN
halt	stop (noun or verb) CAR PLANT TO HALT PRODUCTION
haul	amount stolen in robbery, or seized by police or customs TRAIN ROBBERY: BIG GOLD HAUL RECORD DRUGS HAUL AT AIRPORT
head	lead; leader PM TO HEAD TRADE MISSION COMMONWEALTH HEADS TO MEET IN OTTAWA
head for/to	move towards ECONOMY HEADING FOR DISASTER, EXPERTS WARN
heed	pay attention to GOVERNMENT MUST HEED HOUSING CRISIS, SAYS BISHOP
hike (AmE)	rise in costs, prices, etc INTEREST HIKE WILL HIT BUSINESS
hit	affect badly SNOWSTORMS HIT TRANSPORT
hit out at	attack (with words) PM HITS OUT AT CRITICS
hitch	problem that causes delay LAST-MINUTE HITCH DELAYS SATELLITE LAUNCH
hold	arrest; keep under arrest MAN HELD AFTER STATION BLAST POLICE HOLD TERROR SUSPECT
in (the) red	in debt; making a financial loss BRITISH STEEL IN RED
jail	prison JAIL FOR PEACE MARCHERS
jobless	unemployed (people) THREE MILLION JOBLESS BY APRIL?
key	important, vital KEY WITNESS VANISHES
landslide	victory by large majority in election LANDSLIDE FOR NATIONALISTS
launch	send(ing) (satellite, etc) into space; begin(ning) (campaign, etc); put(ting) (new product) on market ENVIRONMENT MINISTER LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR CLEANER BEACHES BRITISH COMPANY LAUNCHES THROW-AWAY CHAIRS SPACE TELESCOPE LAUNCH DELAYED
lead	clue (in police enquiry) NEW LEAD IN NIGHTCLUB MURDER CASE
leak	unofficial publication of secret information PM FURIOUS OVER TAX PLAN LEAKS
leap	big increase LEAP IN IMPORTS
life	imprisonment ‘for life’ LIFE FOR AXE MURDERER
link	connection, contact NEW TRADE LINKS WITH PERU
loom	threaten to happen VAT ON FOOD: NEW PROTESTS LOOM
Lords	the House of Lords (in Parliament) LORDS VOTE ON DOG REGISTRATION
lotto	the national lottery DANCING GRANDMOTHER IN RECORD LOTTO WIN
mar	spoil CROWD VIOLENCE MARS CUP FINAL
media	newspapers, radio and TV GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS GRIP ON MEDIA
MEP	Member of the European Parliament MEPS WANT MORE PAY
mercy	intended to save lives DOCTOR IN MERCY DASH TO EVEREST
mission	delegation (official group sent to conference, etc) SHOTS FIRED AT UN MISSION
mob	angry crowd; (AmE) organised crime / Mafia MOBS RAMPAGE THROUGH CITY STREETS MOB LEADERS HELD
move	step towards a particular result (often political) MOVE TO BOOST TRADE LINKS WITH JAPAN
MP	Member of Parliament MP DENIES DRUGS CHARGE
nail	force somebody to admit the truth MP NAILS MINISTER ON PIT CLOSURE PLANS
net	win, capture TWO SISTERS NET £3m IN POOLS WIN
No 10	Number 10 Downing Street (the Prime Minister’s residence) ANOTHER PETITION HANDED IN AT No 10
OAP (BrE)	old-age pensioner; anybody over retirement age OAPS MARCH AGAINST WAR PLANS
odds	chances, probability JONES RE-ELECTED AGAINST THE ODDS
on	about, on the subject of, concerning NEW MOVE ON PENSIONS
opt for	choose WALES OPTS FOR INDEPENDENCE
oust	drive out, replace MODERATES OUSTED IN UNION ELECTIONS
out to	intending to NATIONALISTS OUT TO CAPTURE MASS VOTE
over	about, on the subject of, because of PROTESTS OVER AID CUTS
pact	agreement DEFENCE PACT RUNS INTO TROUBLE
pay	wages TRANSPORT PAY TALKS BREAK DOWN
PC (BrE)	police constable PC SHOT IN BANK RAID
peak	high point BANK LENDING HITS NEW PEAK
peer	lord; Member of the House of Lords PEERS REJECT GOVERNMENT WAGE-FREEZE BAN
peg (BrE)	hold (prices, etc) at present level BANKS PEG INTEREST RATES
pensioner (BrE)	old age pensioner; anybody over retirement age PENSIONER SKIS DOWN MONT BLANC
peril	danger FLOOD PERIL IN THAMES VALLEY
pit	coal mine PIT TURNED INTO MUSEUM
plant	factory STEEL PLANT BLAZE
plea	call for help BIG RESPONSE TO PLEA FOR FLOOD AID
pledge	promise GOVERNMENT GIVES PLEDGE ON JOBLESS
PM	Prime Minister EGG THROWN AT PM
poised to	ready to, about to TORIES POISED TO MAKE ELECTION GAINS
poll	public opinion survey TORIES AHEAD IN POLLS
pools	football pools: a form of gambling in which people guess the results of football matches SISTERS SHARE BIG POOLS WIN
premier	prime minister GREEK PREMIER TO VISIT UK
press	the newspapers BID TO GAG PRESS OVER DEFENCE SPENDING
press (for)	urge, encourage, ask for urgently MINISTER PRESSED TO ACT ON HOUSING OPPOSITION PRESS FOR ENQUIRY ON AIR CRASHES
probe	investigation; investigate CALL FOR STUDENT DRUGS PROBE POLICE PROBE RACING SCANDAL
pull out	withdraw; pull-out withdrawal US PULLS OUT OF ARMS TALKS MINISTER URGES PULL-OUT FROM OLYMPICS
push for	ask for, encourage SCHOOLS PUSH FOR MORE CASH
quake	earthquake HOUSES DAMAGED IN WELSH QUAKE
quit	resign, leave CHURCH LEADER QUITS MINISTER TO QUIT GOVERNMENT
quiz	question (verb) POLICE QUIZ MILLIONAIRE SUPERMARKET BOSS
raid	enter and search; attack (noun and verb), rob, robbery POLICE RAID DUCHESS’S FLAT BIG GEMS RAID
rampage	riot FOOTBALL FANS RAMPAGE THROUGH SEASIDE TOWNS
rap	criticise DOCTORS RAP NEW MINISTRY PLANS
rates	(bank) interest rates RATES RISE EXPECTED
record	bigger than ever before RECORD LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY
riddle	mystery MISSING ENVOY RIDDLE: WOMAN HELD
rift	division, disagreement LABOUR RIFT OVER DEFENCE POLICY
rock	shock, shake BANK SEX SCANDAL ROCKS CITY IRELAND ROCKED BY QUAKE
row (BrE)	noisy disagreement, quarrel NEW ROW OVER PENSION CUTS
rule out	reject the possibility of PM RULES OUT AUTUMN ELECTION
sack (BrE)	dismiss(al) from job STRIKING TRAIN DRIVERS FACE SACK
saga	long-running news story NEW REVELATIONS IN RUNAWAY DUKE SAGA
scare	public alarm, alarming rumour TYPHOID SCARE IN SOUTHWEST
scoop	win (prize, etc) PENSIONER SCOOPS LOTTO FORTUNE
scrap	throw out (as useless) GOVERNMENT SCRAPS NEW ROAD PLANS
seek	look for POLICE SEEK WITNESS TO KILLING
seize	take (especially in police and customs searches) POLICE SEIZE ARMS AFTER CAR CHASE £3m DRUGS SEIZED AT AIRPORT
set to	ready to; about to INTEREST RATES SET TO RISE
shed	get rid of CAR MAKERS TO SHED 5,000 JOBS
slam	criticise violently GENERAL SLAMS DEFENCE POLICY
slash	cut, reduce drastically GOVERNMENT TO SLASH HEALTH EXPENDITURE
slate	criticise PM SLATES BISHOP
slay (AmE)	murder FREEWAY KILLER SLAYS SIX
slump	fall (economic) EXPORTS SLUMP CITY FEARS NEW SLUMP
snatch	steal, robbery BIG WAGES SNATCH IN WEST END TEENAGE ROBBERS SNATCH POLICE CAR
soar	rise dramatically IMPORTS SOAR FOR THIRD MONTH
spark	cause (trouble) to start REFEREE’S DECISION SPARKS RIOT
split	disagree(ment) CABINET SPLIT ON PRICES POLICY
spree	wild spending expedition BUS DRIVER SPENDS £30,000 IN THREE-DAY CREDIT CARD SPREE
stake	financial interest JAPANESE BUY STAKE IN BRITISH AIRWAYS
storm	angry public disagreement STORM OVER NEW STRIKE LAW
storm out of	leave angrily TEACHERS’ LEADERS STORM OUT OF MEETING
stun	surprise, shock JOBLESS FIGURES STUN CITY
surge	sudden increase; rise suddenly SURGE IN JOBLESS FIGURES
swap	exchange HEART SWAP BOY BETTER
sway	persuade HOSPITAL PROTEST SWAYS MINISTERS
switch	change (noun or verb) DEFENCE POLICY SWITCH MORE HOMES SWITCH ELECTRICITY SUPPLIERS
swoop	to raid; a police raid POLICE IN DAWN SWOOP ON DRUGS GANG
threat	danger THREAT OF FLU EPIDEMIC
toll	number killed QUAKE TOLL MAY BE 5,000
top	(adj) senior, most important TOP BANKER KIDNAPPED
top	(verb) exceed IMPORTS TOP LAST YEAR’S FIGURES
Tory	Conservative VICTORY FOR TORY MODERATES
trio	three people JAILBREAK TRIO RECAPTURED
troops	soldiers MORE TROOPS FOR BORDER AREA
UK	the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) BRUSSELS CRITICISES UK JAIL CONDITIONS
UN	the United Nations UN IN RED: CANNOT BALANCE BUDGET
urge	encourage GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT ON POLLUTION
US	the United States of America US URGED TO PULL OUT OF MIDDLE EAST
VAT	value added tax NEXT, VAT ON BABY FOOD?
vow	promise EXILED PRESIDENT VOWS TO RETURN
walk out	leave in protest CAR WORKERS WALK OUT OVER WAGE FREEZE
wed	marry BISHOP TO WED ACTRESS