Learn How to Title an Essay Like a Professional Writer

A title is the one thing that draws attention and makes your essay and all academic papers impressive. This is because it is the first thing a reader looks at and decides whether to give your essay a shot or not. 

Naturally, things with amusing and interesting titles tend to be more read-worthy.  The right and accurate title can either make your essay a success or a complete disaster. 

It might sound easy to give a title to your essay, but it can be complicated in reality. Creating a title is an art, and not everybody knows how to do it. 

This writing guide provides easy steps to give your essay the perfect title. We’ll learn how important it is to give a correct title to your writing and polish your writing skills.  

Qualities an Essay Title Should Have

A title holds great importance in essay writing. It can easily make or break the quality of your work. When coming up with the topic or title for your essays, keep in mind that it should contain the following qualities:

• Eye-catching and unique: The title should be eye-catching and unique to grab the reader’s attention.
• Based on facts: A good title is always believable and based on facts. Especially different types of essays and papers that stand on facts and logic, should have believable titles. 
• Audience-appropriate: Readability is key. Using fancy and bombastic vocabulary that is not common for the audience will affect the readership. 
• Tone: An engaging title is always written in the active voice. 
• Brief and Short: The title should be brief and to the point. Avoid dragging titles into long sentences. 
• To-the-Point: An essay title should be accurate and clearly present the main theme of the essay. This will allow the reader to know what to expect from the document. 

Components of an Essay Title

Just as all formal writings have an outline to follow, a good essay title is constructed using a formula as well. Keep in mind that the shorter, the better. A title must not exceed 10 to 12 words.The components of an essay title include:

• A catchy and interesting hook
• Tone sets the overall mood or attitude conveyed by the title.
• The focus keywords - “where” and “when” in your essay. 

Once you know the importance and elements of an essay title, you are more likely to create a better title.

How to Title an Essay in 6 Easy Steps

A good title gives readers a clear idea of what the essay is about. It should be short, easy to understand, and interesting. Here’s how to come up with a strong title:

Step 1: Know What Your Essay Is About 

Before you write a title, think about the main point of your essay.

• What is your essay really about?
• Who is going to read it? What would interest them?
• What’s the tone of your essay? Is it serious, funny, or thoughtful? Try to match the title to that tone.

Step 2: Be Clear and Specific 

Make sure your title clearly tells what the essay is about.

• Use words that describe your topic.
• Stay away from titles that are too general or confusing.

Step 3: Keep It Short 

A good title doesn’t need to be long.

• Use just a few strong words.
• Don’t add extra words that don’t help.

Step 4: Use Important Words from Your Essay 

Pick words or phrases that are connected to your main idea.

• This helps the reader understand what to expect.
• It also makes your title feel more connected to your writing.

Step 5: Try Using a Question 

Sometimes, asking a question can make the title more interesting.

• It can make the reader want to find out more.
• Only do this if it fits your topic and tone.

Step 6: Use a Two-Part Title (Optional) 

You can use a colon to split your title into two parts.

• The first part grabs attention.
• The second part explains what the essay is about.

Example: “Lost and Found: A Lesson in Friendship”

How to Title an Essay in Different Formats?

All academic essays require a format through which the writer shapes his document. This format varies from academic level to level and institution as well.

MLA, APA, and Chicago are the most commonly used formats. Let's take a look at how to title your essay using each of these formats.

How to Title an Essay in MLA Format?

For an MLA style, format your essay title in the following pattern:

• On the cover page of your essay, using double spacing, write your name in the upper left corner
• Along with your name, present your instructor’s name, the course title, and the date. 
• Double-space a line and using centered alignment, provide the essay title in font size 12 pt. 
• Do not bold or italicize the title.
• Capitalize important words only, and not the articles in the title.  

Sample Title:

"The Role of Public Libraries in Digital Literacy"

How to Format an Essay in APA Format?

Simply use the following guidelines to format your title in APA style:

• Type the title in upper and lowercase letters
• Use centered alignment on the upper half of the page and write the title
• The title in APA style should not exceed more than 12 words
• Avoid using abbreviations and irrelevant words 
• The title should be presented in a line or two and not more than that
• Use double spacing between the lines 
• Beneath the title, write your name and the institutional affiliation. 

Sample title:

"How Job Rotation Can Improve Employee Satisfaction and Productivity"

How to Title an Essay Chicago Style

To create an appropriate final version of the title for your essay in Chicago style, you should follow the guidelines provided below:

• Use a heading level 2 (H2) for your title
• Center the title on the page and use title case capitalization
• Keep the title informative and concise, aiming for no more than 12-15 words
• Consider including relevant keywords to make your essay easier to find
• Avoid using slang or informal language in your title
• Use proper grammar and punctuation.

Sample title:

"The Shift Towards Remote Work: Benefits and Challenges"

Essay Title Examples

Just like the tone of every essay differs, the title also differs from each type of essay. Here are some examples of titles for different types of essays.

Here are some more examples of essay titles.

Bad vs Good Essay Title Examples

Check out these examples of bad essay titles vs. good ones:

Tips for Crafting an Outstanding Title

Consider these practical tips to create an outstanding title for your essay:

• Brainstorm: Begin by brainstorming a list of potential titles for your essay or paper. Write down as many ideas as you can think of, even if they seem silly or irrelevant at first.
• Be Specific: The perfect essay title concisely states what the essay is about. Avoid vague or general titles that don't provide any useful information.
• Use Keywords: Including keywords in your title can make it easier for readers to find your work in searches. Consider what words or phrases a person might use to search for your topic and incorporate them into your title.
• Be Creative: A creative and unique title can make your work stand out from others. Consider using wordplay, puns, alliteration, or metaphors to create a memorable and attention-grabbing title.
• Keep It Short and Sweet: While a title should be specific and informative, it should also be concise. Try to keep your title under 10-12 words, as longer titles can be difficult to read and remember.

For more tips, you can check out this video.

In Summary,

The success of your essay depends not just on the content, but also on a strong title. A good title grabs attention and sets the tone for your essay.

While creating the perfect title can be tricky, following these simple tips can help you craft one that’s effective. Just like icing on a cake, a creative title makes your essay stand out.

Remember, a well-chosen title can make a big difference in how your essay is received, so take the time to get it right!

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