How to Write Essay Titles and Headers

A great essay title does three jobs in six to ten words: it signals the topic, hints at the angle, and invites the reader in. Most student titles do only the first.

The 3-part formula

1. Topic signal: the reader knows what the essay is about
2. Angle hint: a clue that you have a position, not just a topic
3. Invitation: a verb, image, or contrast that makes the reader curious

The two-part title (with colon)

The colon title is a classic for a reason. It lets you do two jobs cleanly.

• Pattern: Hook : Specific Topic
• "The Quiet Collapse: How Algorithm Changes Reshaped Local News"
• "After the Map: Why Modern GPS Failed Hurricane Recovery"
• "Selling Silence: The Quiet Industry Behind Noise-Canceling Headphones"

Header levels (H1, H2, H3)

• H1: the essay title (one per essay)
• H2: major sections (3–6 typical)
• H3: subsections within an H2 (use sparingly)

Header rules

• Use sentence case OR title case, but stay consistent
• Headers should be skimmable — readers should grasp the essay from headers alone
• Avoid generic headers: "Conclusion," "Body Paragraph 1," "Discussion"
• Be specific: "Why the 2008 Bailout Worked" beats "Discussion of Bailouts"

What to avoid in titles

• One-word titles: "Climate" tells the reader nothing
• Question marks for everything: overused and weakens claims
• Cute puns: rarely land; often confuse
• "An Analysis of…": the dullest title pattern in academic writing

Word count for a title

Six to twelve words is the sweet spot. Under six = too vague. Over twelve = a sentence pretending to be a title. Run the title through the Free Word Counter for a fast check.

Test your title

Read the title aloud. Then ask:

• Does it tell me what the essay is about?
• Does it suggest you have a position?
• Would a stranger be intrigued enough to keep reading?

If two answers are yes, you have a strong title. If only one, revise.