News Headlines
1 special language
Headlines are the short titles above news reports (e.g. RUSSIAN WOMAN LANDS ON MOON). 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.
2 grammar
a Headlines are not always complete sentences. Many headlines consist of noun phrases with no verb.
MORE WAGE CUTS HOLIDAY HOTEL DEATH
EXETER MAN’S DOUBLE MARRIAGE BID
b Headlines often contain strings of three, four or more nouns; nouns earlier in the string modify those that follow.
FURNITURE FACTORY PAY CUT ROW
Headlines like these can be difficult to understand. It sometimes helps to read them backwards. FURNITURE FACTORY PAY CUT ROW refers to a ROW (disagreement) about a CUT (reduction) in PAY at a FACTORY that makes FURNITURE.
c Headlines often leave out articles and the verb be.
SHAKESPEARE PLAY IMMORAL SAYS HEADMASTER
SCHOOLBOY WALKS IN SPACE
d In headlines, simple tenses are often used instead of progressive or perfect
forms. The simple present is used for both present and past events.
BLIND GIRL CLIMBS EVEREST (= … has climbed … )
STUDENTS FIGHT FOR COURSE CHANGES (= … are fighting … )
The present progressive is used to talk about changes. Be is usually dropped.
BRITAIN GETTING WARMER, SAY SCIENTISTS
TRADE FIGURES IMPROVING
e Many headline words are used as both nouns and verbs, and nouns are often
used to modify other nouns (see paragraph 2b). 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 ROW (= There has been a disagreement 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.)
f 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?)
g 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 ROW: PRESIDENT ATTACKED (= … the President has been attacked.)
AID ROW: 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.)
h As and in are often used instead of longer connecting expressions.
HOSPITAL BOSS AXED AS PATIENTS DIE (= … because patients die.)
FOOTBALL MANAGER IN CAR CRASH
A colon (:) is often used to separate the subject of a headline from what is said about it.
STRIKES: PM TO ACT MOTORWAY CRASH: DEA TH 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?
3 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.
act :take action; do something FOOD CRISIS: GOVERNMENT TO ACT
Aid: military or financial help; to help MORE AID FOR POOR COUNTRIES
UNIO’NS AID HOSPITAL STRIKERS
Alert: alarm, warning FLOOD ALERT ON EAST COAST
allege make an accusation WOMAN ALLEGES UNFAIR TREA TMENT
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); to increase; an increase PLAN TO BOOST EXPORTS
brink edge (of disaster) WORLD ON BRINK OF WAR
Brussels the European Community parliament and administration
BRUSSELS BANS BRITISH BLACKBERRY WINE
call (for) demand/ appeal (for) CALL FOR STRIKE TALKS
HOSPITAL ROW: 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
RACISM CLAIM IN NAVY TEACHER’ 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
dole 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 DNO people HANDICAPPED 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 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 FRA UD 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 consortship), prevent (ion) from speaking AFRICAN PRESIDENT ACTS TO GAG PRESS
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 DRA WING GOES FOR £5m
go-ahead approval SCOTTISH ROAD PLAN GETS GO-AHEAD
grab take violently INVESTORS GRAB SHARES IN SCOTTISH COMPANIES
grip control; 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 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 DIVORCE FIGURES, 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
IRA Irish Republican Army IRA LEADER MAKES STATEMENT
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
lash criticise violently BISHOP LASHES TV SEX AND VIOLENCE
launch send (satellite etc) into space; begin (campaign etc); put (new product) on market
SPACE TELESCOPE LAUNCH DELAYED
ENVIRONMENT MINISTER LAUNCHES CAMPAiGN FOR CLEANER BEACHES
BRITiSH FIRM LA UNCHES THROW-A WA Y CHAIRS
lead clue (in police enquiry) NEW LEAD IN PHONEBOX 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 ROW LOOMS
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
mercy intended to save lives DOCTOR IN MERCY DASH TO EVEREST
mission delegation (official group sent to conference ete) SHOTS FIRED AT UN MISSION
mob angry crowd; organised crime / Mafia (AmE)
MOBS RAMPAGE THROUGH CITY STREET 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
MEP Member of the European Parliament MEPS WANT MORE PAY
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 the Prime Minister’s residence (No 10 Downing Street) ANOTHER Petition HANDED IN AT No 10
OAP old age pensioner; anybody over 65 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 ROW OVER AID CUTS
pact agreement DEFENCE PACT RUNS INTO TROUBLE
pay wages TRANSPORT PAY TALKS BREAK DOWN
PC 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 hold (prices etc) at present level BANKS PEG INTEREST RA TES
pensioner old age pensioner; anybody over 65 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 election; 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 head of government 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
CHURCH CALLS FOR BRITISH PULL OUT FROM ULSTER
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 criticize DOCTORS RAP NEW MINISTRY PLANS
rates (bank) interest rates RATES RISE EXPECTED
record bigger than ever before RECORD LOSS BY INSURANCE FIRM
riddle mystery MISSING ENVOY RIDDLE: WOMAN HELD
rift division, disagreement LAB0UR RIFT OVER DEFENCE POLICY
rock shock, shake BANK SCANDAL ROCKS CITY
IRELAND ROCKED BY QUAKE
row noisy disagreement, quarrel NEW ROW OVER PENSION CUTS
rule out reject the possibility of
PM RULES OUT AUTUMN ELECTION sack dismiss(al) from job
STRIKING POSTMEN FACE SACK
saga long-running news story NEW REVELATIONS IN BANK 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 FIRM TO SHED 5,000 JOBS
slam criticise violently BISHOP SLAMS DEFENCE POLICY
slash cut, reduce drastically GOVERNMENT TO SLASH HEALTH EXPENDITURE
slate criticize PM SLA TES BISHOP
slay (AmE)murder FREEWAY KILLER SLAYS SIX
slump fall (economic) EXPORTS SLUMP CITY FEARS NEW SLUMP
snatch rob, robbery BIG WAGES SNATCH IN WEST END
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 to change; a change DEFENCE POLICY SWITCH
swoop to raid; a police raid POLICE IN DAWN SWOOP ON DRUGS GANG
threat danger TEACHERS’ STRIKE THREAT
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
Ulster Northern Ireland PM IN SECRET TRIP TO ULSTER
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 BABYFOOD?
Vow: promise EXILED PRESIDENT VOWS TO RETURN
walk out: leave in protest CAR WORKERS WALK OUT OVER WAGE FREEZE
web :world-wide web, internet WEB SHOPPING UP BY 50% IN TWO YEARS
wed :marry BISHOP TO WED ACTRESS
