Essay Writing Guide

How To Title An Essay

Last updated on: Jun 28, 2024

How to Title an Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide for Effective Titles

By: Nova A.

Reviewed By: Chris H.

Published on: Feb 5, 2019

How to Title an Essay

Are you tired of struggling to create captivating titles for your essays? It can be frustrating to spend hours only to end up with a lackluster title that fails to engage your readers.

But here's the thing: a weak title can significantly impact the success of your essay. It's the first thing your readers see, and it sets the tone for their expectations. A dull or generic title may cause your audience to lose interest before they even start reading.

Luckily, there is a simple yet effective solution to this problem. By following a few key strategies, you can learn how to title an essay that captures attention and piques curiosity.

In this blog, we will guide you through creating engaging essay titles step by step. 

Whether you're a student or a writer, these tips will help you to craft titles that make your essays shine.

How to Title an Essay

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What Is The Purpose Of An Essay Title?

An essay title serves a crucial purpose in the world of writing. It goes beyond being a formality and plays a strategic role in captivating readers and enhancing the impact of your work.

The purpose of an essay title can be summarized into four key objectives.

  •  Attention Grabbing:

A creative title instantly grabs the reader's attention, acting as a hook that sparks curiosity. It entices them to explore your essay further.

  • Setting Expectations:

An essay title communicates the main theme, subject matter, or argument of your writing. It sets the tone and prepares readers for what lies ahead.

  • Creating Interest and Relevance:

A carefully chosen title makes your essay relatable and interesting to your target audience. It also establishes a connection between their interests and your topic.

  • Reflecting the Essence:

The title of your essay should reflect its core essence and purpose, acting as a concise representation of the ideas.

What Are The Rules For Essay Titles?

When it comes to creating essay titles, different formatting styles have specific rules and guidelines to follow. In this section, we will explore the rules for essay titles in three commonly used formats: MLA, APA, and the Chicago Manual of Style.

Guidelines for Essay Titles in MLA Format

In MLA format, essay titles have the following rules:

Capitalization

  • Capitalize the first and last words of the title.
  • Capitalize all principal words, including nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
  • Do not capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or), or prepositions, unless they are the first or last word of the title.

Italics or Quotation Marks

  • Italicize the titles of complete works (books, journals, movies, etc.). Place titles of shorter works (articles, essays, poems) in quotation marks.

Example: 

Guidelines for Essay Titles in APA Format

In APA format, essay titles have the following rules:

  • Capitalize the first word of the title and any subtitles.
  • Capitalize all proper nouns.
  • Only capitalize the first word after a colon if it begins a subtitle. 
  • Italicize the titles of longer works (books, journals, movies, etc.).
  • Do not use quotation marks for titles.

Guidelines for Essay Titles in Chicago Manual of Style Format

In the Chicago Manual of Style format, essay titles have the following rules:

  • Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions.

Italics or Quotation Marks:

  • Italicize the titles of larger works (books, journals, movies, etc.).
  • Use quotation marks for titles of shorter works (articles, essays, poems).

How To Make Your Essay Title Eye Catching

Finding the perfect essay title can be a creative challenge. In this section, we will explore effective strategies for brainstorming your essay title to ensure it captures the essence of your work and engages your readers.

Here's What Your Essay Title Should Include

When brainstorming your essay title, consider including the following elements:

Identify key terms or concepts related to your essay's topic or main argument. These keywords should be relevant, descriptive, and reflective of the content.

  • Tone and Style:

Determine the appropriate tone and style for your essay. Consider whether your title should be formal, academic, creative, or catchy, depending on the purpose and audience of your essay.

  • Focus and Scope:

Reflect on the main focus and scope of your essay. Consider the specific angle, perspective, or aspect you are exploring in your writing.

  • Engaging Language:

Use language that captivates and intrigues readers. Employ strong verbs, vivid adjectives, or thought-provoking phrases to make your title stand out.

Example of an Effective Essay Title: "Unveiling the Hidden Wonders: Exploring the Biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest"

What Not to Include in Your Essay Title

While brainstorming your essay title, it's important to avoid certain elements that may weaken or confuse your title. Consider the following:

  • Vague or General Terms:

Avoid using generic terms or phrases that lack specificity. Instead, opt for precise and descriptive language that accurately represents your essay's content.

  • Abbreviations or Acronyms:

Unless widely recognized, avoid using abbreviations or acronyms that may confuse readers. Aim for clarity and ensure that your title can be easily understood by a broad audience.

  • Excessive Length:

Keep your title concise and avoid unnecessary wordiness. A long, convoluted title may overwhelm readers and fail to capture their attention.

  • Clichés or Overused Phrases:

Steer clear of clichés or overused phrases that may make your title appear unoriginal or uninspiring. Strive for creativity and uniqueness to make your title memorable.

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Essay title examples

Here are three examples of essay titles for each of the given topics:

How to Title an Essay for College

"From Dreams to Reality: Navigating the Path to College Success" "Unveiling the Future: Crafting an Essay Title that Defines Your College Journey" "Beyond the Application: The Power of a Compelling College Essay Title"

How to Title an Essay about a Book

"Unveiling the Literary Tapestry: Analyzing [Book Title] through an Engaging Essay Title" "Pages of Wisdom: Crafting an Essay Title that Unveils the Depths of [Book Title]" "Beyond the Cover: Exploring the Themes of [Book Title] through an Evocative Essay Title"

How to Title an Essay for a Scholarship

"Dreams Rewarded: Crafting an Essay Title that Shines for Scholarship Success" "Unveiling Potential: Illuminating Your Journey to Scholarship with an Impactful Title" "Beyond the Application: The Art of Composing a Compelling Scholarship Essay Title"

 How to Title an Essay about Yourself

"Unveiling the Layers: Crafting a Reflective Essay Title that Defines Me" "The Journey Within Exploring Identity through an Introspective Essay Title" "Beyond the Mirror: Unraveling My Story through a Captivating Essay Title" 

Essay Title Examples: Bad vs Good

Here are examples of bad and good essay titles to illustrate the difference:

Bad Essay Title:

 "Essay about Cats"

This title is too vague and lacks creativity. It does not give any indication of the specific focus or purpose of the essay.

Good Essay Title: 

"Paws and Purrs: Exploring the Mysterious Charms of Domestic Cats"

This title is more engaging and intriguing. It captures the attention of the reader by using playful language.

 "Climate Change"

This title is overly broad and does not provide any insight into the specific aspect of climate change that the essay will address.

"Melting Point: Understanding the Devastating Impacts of Arctic Ice Loss on Global Climate"

This title is specific and highlights the focus of the essay: the connection between Arctic ice loss and the broader issue of global climate change. It indicates a deeper exploration of the subject matter.

 "My Trip to Europe"

This title is generic and lacks creativity. It fails to convey any unique perspective or aspect of the trip.

Good Essay Title:

 "Wanderlust Unleashed: A Journey through Europe's Enchanting Landscapes and Timeless Culture"

This title is more engaging and captures the essence of the essay. It suggests a personal narrative infused with the exploration of Europe's diverse landscapes.

4 Tips While Choosing an Essay Title

Choosing the right essay title is essential for capturing the interest of your readers and accurately representing your work. 

In this section, we will provide four valuable tips to consider when creating a title for your essay. 

Reflect the Content:

Ensure that your essay title accurately reflects the main theme and tone of your essay. It should provide a clear indication of what readers can expect to find in your writing. 

Avoid misleading or ambiguous titles that may confuse or disappoint your audience.

Example: If your essay explores the impact of social media on society, a suitable title could be

 "The Digital Revolution: Unraveling the Influence of Social Media on Modern Society."

Engage and Intrigue:

Craft a title that captivates your readers and piques their curiosity. Use strong verbs, and catchy hooks, to make your title stand out from the crowd. Aim to evoke an emotional response or generate interest in your topic.

Example: Instead of a generic title like "The Importance of Exercise," opt for a more engaging title such as

 "Unleashing the Power Within How Exercise Transforms Mind, Body, and Soul."

Keep it Concise:

Keep your title concise and avoid excessive wordiness. A long and convoluted title may confuse or overwhelm readers. 

Aim for clarity and brevity, while still capturing the essence of your essay. Shorter titles are often more memorable and impactful.

Consider Your Audience:

Take into account the target audience for your essay. Consider their interests, knowledge level, and expectations. Tailor your title to resonate with your specific readership. 

A title that speaks directly to your audience's needs and desires will be more effective in capturing their attention.

Example: If your essay targets parents seeking parenting advice, a relevant title could be 

"Raising Resilient Kids: Nurturing Strength and Confidence in Today's Challenging World."

Choosing the perfect essay title is a critical step in creating a captivating and impactful piece of writing. 

It serves as a gateway to your essay, capturing the attention of your readers and setting the tone for what lies ahead. 

By following the four tips outlined in this blog, you can craft a title that reflects your essay's content, engages your audience, and leaves a lasting impression. Start your essay off on the right foot with a title that shines boldly and confidently.

Ready to take your essay writing to the next level? Visit 5StarEssays.com today and experience top-notch academic assistance. 

Our team of expert writers is here to help you with all your essay needs. Whether you're looking for essay writing, editing, or proofreading services, we've got you covered. 

Let expert writers at  5StarEssays.com  assist you with “ write my essay for me ” worries! 

Nova A.

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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Writing Beginner

How to Write a Book Title in an Essay (+48 Examples)

Knowing how to properly format book titles in your essay is crucial. This guide will walk you through the various rules and conventions, ensuring that your writing is polished and professional.

Here’s how to write a book title in an essay.

Basic Rules for Writing a Book Title in an Essay

Let’s get right into the basic rules that you will use most of the time.

Italicize Book Titles

In most style guides, such as MLA, APA, and Chicago, book titles should be italicized. This helps to distinguish the title from the rest of the text and makes it clear to the reader.

  • Correct: To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Incorrect: To Kill a Mockingbird

Use Quotation Marks for Shorter Works

Shorter works, such as articles, essays, chapters, and short stories, should be placed in quotation marks.

  • Correct: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
  • Incorrect: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

How to Write a Book Title in Different Scenarios

Man writing an essay at a desk -- How to Write a Book Title in an Essay

Table of Contents

Of course, sometimes, you’ll run into different situations where you might need to change how you write book titles in your essays.

In this section, I’ll cover as many of these scenarios as possible, along with examples.

1. MLA Format

In MLA format, book titles are italicized. If you are writing an essay in MLA format, ensure that you follow this rule.

Additionally, titles of articles, essays, chapters, and web pages should be placed in quotation marks.

This style is commonly used in humanities and liberal arts. MLA format emphasizes the clarity of source titles, helping to avoid confusion and ensure proper citation.

MLA guidelines help maintain consistency across academic writing, making it easier for readers to follow and understand references.

  • Correct: In The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald explores themes of decadence and idealism.
  • Correct: The chapter titled “The Custom-House” in The Scarlet Letter provides essential background.

2. APA Format

APA format also requires book titles to be italicized.

This style is commonly used in the social sciences. Titles of articles, chapters, and other shorter works are placed in quotation marks.

APA format focuses on date-driven citations, so the book title should stand out to help the reader quickly identify the source.

Using italics for book titles in APA ensures clarity and consistency, helping to distinguish the titles from other elements of the citation.

  • Correct: The study is detailed in The Psychology of Learning .
  • Correct: In the book Thinking, Fast and Slow , Daniel Kahneman discusses cognitive biases.

3. Chicago Style

Chicago style, used in history and other disciplines, also calls for book titles to be italicized.

This format is flexible and allows for both footnotes and endnotes.

Titles of articles, chapters, and shorter works are placed in quotation marks. The Chicago Manual of Style provides extensive guidelines for source citation and text formatting.

By italicizing book titles, Chicago style ensures that references are clear and unambiguous, aiding readers in locating the sources.

  • Correct: The author of War and Peace is Leo Tolstoy.
  • Correct: In her analysis, the book Pride and Prejudice is frequently cited.

4. In-Text Citations

When referencing a book title in the body of your essay, it should be italicized.

If you are referring to a specific chapter or section, place the title of the chapter in quotation marks.

This ensures clarity and helps the reader distinguish between the book title and other elements of your text.

In-text citations need to be precise and clear to ensure that the reader can easily identify the source material and verify the information.

  • Correct: The theme of betrayal in 1984 is evident throughout the novel.
  • Correct: The essay “Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson is often quoted in academic circles.

5. In a Works Cited Page

In your works cited page, format book titles according to the style guide you are using.

For MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, book titles should be italicized.

This section provides full bibliographic details, making it easy for readers to locate your sources.

Properly formatting book titles in your works cited page ensures that your references are clear and consistent, which is crucial for academic integrity and credibility.

  • MLA: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby . Scribner, 2004.
  • APA: Fitzgerald, F. S. (2004). The Great Gatsby . Scribner.
  • Chicago: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby . New York: Scribner, 2004.

6. Handwritten Essays

If you are writing an essay by hand, underline book titles instead of italicizing them.

This is because italics can be difficult to distinguish in handwritten text.

Underlining provides a clear way to differentiate book titles from the rest of your writing.

In handwritten essays, maintaining clear and legible formatting is important to ensure that the reader can easily recognize book titles and other elements of your text.

  • Correct: Moby Dick should be underlined in a handwritten essay.
  • Incorrect: Moby Dick should not be italicized in a handwritten essay.

7. Titles Within Titles

If a book title appears within another book title, italicize the main title and use quotation marks for the title within the title.

This distinction helps clarify the structure of the titles and ensures that each component is properly formatted.

Formatting titles within titles correctly avoids confusion and maintains the clarity and readability of your text.

  • Correct: She read A Study of “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe .
  • Correct: His analysis in Understanding “Moby Dick” was groundbreaking.

8. Multiple Works by the Same Author

When referencing multiple works by the same author in an essay, list the titles in italics and separate them with commas.

This formatting helps readers easily identify the different works and understand the scope of the author’s contributions.

Properly formatting multiple works by the same author ensures that your references are clear and organized, making it easier for readers to follow your analysis.

  • Correct: Orwell’s 1984 , Animal Farm , and Homage to Catalonia all critique social structures.
  • Correct: Austen’s novels, Pride and Prejudice , Emma , and Sense and Sensibility , are classics.

9. In a Bibliography

In a bibliography, book titles should be italicized, and other details should follow the respective style guide’s rules.

This ensures that your sources are listed correctly and consistently, making it easy for readers to find them.

A properly formatted bibliography is essential for academic integrity, providing a clear and comprehensive record of the sources you have used.

  • MLA: Orwell, George. 1984 . Secker & Warburg, 1949.
  • APA: Orwell, G. (1949). 1984 . Secker & Warburg.
  • Chicago: Orwell, George. 1984 . London: Secker & Warburg, 1949.

10. In a Research Paper

In research papers, book titles should be italicized, and any specific sections, like chapters or essays, should be in quotation marks.

This clear differentiation helps readers distinguish between the entire work and individual parts.

Proper formatting in research papers ensures that your references are clear and professional, making it easy for readers to verify your sources.

  • Correct: The character development in The Catcher in the Rye is significant.
  • Correct: The chapter “The Catcher in the Rye” in Salinger’s book highlights the main theme.

11. In a Thesis or Dissertation

Theses and dissertations require strict adherence to formatting rules, so ensure book titles are italicized.

Proper formatting in these extensive research papers demonstrates attention to detail and adherence to academic standards.

Italicizing book titles in a thesis or dissertation helps maintain consistency and professionalism, which is crucial for the credibility of your work.

  • Correct: The influence of Crime and Punishment on modern psychology is evident.
  • Correct: In her dissertation, she cited Brave New World extensively.

12. In a Presentation

When preparing a presentation, italicize book titles in your slides or handouts to maintain professional formatting.

This practice ensures that your presentation is clear and visually appealing, reinforcing your points effectively.

Properly formatting book titles in presentations enhances the readability and professionalism of your slides, making your information more accessible to the audience.

  • Correct: Key themes in To Kill a Mockingbird include justice and morality.
  • Correct: The impact of The Iliad on literature cannot be overstated.

13. In a Discussion Post

When writing discussion posts for online classes or forums, italicize book titles to follow proper formatting.

This helps maintain clarity and ensures your posts are taken seriously by other participants.

Properly formatting book titles in discussion posts demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for academic conventions, enhancing the credibility of your contributions.

  • Correct: I found The Great Gatsby to be a profound critique of the American Dream.
  • Correct: In Frankenstein , Mary Shelley explores themes of creation and responsibility.

14. In a Book Review

In book reviews, the title of the book being reviewed should be italicized to clearly distinguish it from the rest of the text.

This practice ensures that readers can easily identify the book you are discussing.

Properly formatting book titles in reviews enhances the readability and professionalism of your writing, making your review more engaging and credible.

  • Correct: The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a haunting tale of survival.
  • Correct: In her review of Beloved , she highlights the emotional depth of the narrative.

15. In a Literary Analysis

Literary analysis essays should follow the same formatting rules, with book titles italicized.

This helps distinguish the titles from other parts of the text, making your analysis clear and organized.

Proper formatting in literary analysis ensures that your references are easily identifiable and enhances the overall professionalism of your essay.

  • Correct: The symbolism in The Scarlet Letter is intricate and multifaceted.
  • Correct: Macbeth by Shakespeare is a study in ambition and power.

16. In a Creative Writing Piece

Even in creative writing, when referencing other works, book titles should be italicized to maintain clarity.

Proper formatting ensures that your references are easily identifiable, even in a more informal context.

Italicizing book titles in creative writing helps to maintain consistency and professionalism, enhancing the readability and credibility of your work.

  • Correct: She often thought of herself as a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice .
  • Correct: His journey felt like something out of The Hobbit .

17. In a History Essay

In history essays, book titles are italicized, and other works such as articles or chapters are placed in quotation marks.

This formatting helps clarify sources and makes your essay more professional.

Properly formatting book titles in history essays ensures that your references are clear and easily distinguishable, enhancing the credibility and readability of your work.

  • Correct: The events in All Quiet on the Western Front illustrate the horrors of war.
  • Correct: In the book The Guns of August , the causes of WWI are detailed.

18. In a Science Paper

Even in science papers, book titles should be italicized to ensure professional and clear presentation.

This practice helps to maintain consistency and clarity in your citations and references.

Properly formatting book titles in science papers ensures that your sources are easily identifiable and enhances the overall professionalism of your work.

  • Correct: The theories in The Origin of Species revolutionized biology.
  • Correct: In his book A Brief History of Time , Stephen Hawking explores complex physics concepts.

19. In a Philosophy Paper

Philosophy papers require careful citation, with book titles italicized and other works properly formatted.

Accurate formatting reflects a commitment to scholarly rigor and helps readers locate your sources easily.

Properly formatting book titles in philosophy papers ensures that your references are clear and professional, enhancing the credibility and readability of your work.

  • Correct: Plato’s The Republic is fundamental to understanding his philosophy.
  • Correct: The ideas in Being and Time by Heidegger are complex and profound.

20. In a Law Essay

Law essays often reference important texts and cases, with book titles italicized for clarity.

Proper formatting ensures that your legal citations are clear and professional, facilitating easy reference.

Italicizing book titles in law essays helps to maintain consistency and clarity, making your references easily identifiable and enhancing the overall professionalism of your work.

  • Correct: In The Common Law , Oliver Wendell Holmes outlines fundamental legal principles.
  • Correct: The casebook Constitutional Law is widely used in legal education.

21. In a Social Studies Essay

Social studies essays should also follow proper formatting rules, with book titles italicized.

This practice helps to clearly distinguish the sources and enhances the readability of your essay.

Properly formatting book titles in social studies essays ensures that your references are clear and consistent, making it easier for readers to locate your sources and enhancing the credibility of your work.

  • Correct: The impact of Silent Spring on environmental policy was significant.
  • Correct: In Guns, Germs, and Steel , Jared Diamond explores the factors influencing human societies.

Here is a good video about how to write a book title in an essay:

Summary Chart: How to Write a Book Title in an Essay

Final thoughts.

By following the formatting rules outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your writing is clear, professional, and polished.

For more guides on writing essays (and more), check out some of our other blog posts below.

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how to write a story title in an essay

Formatting Titles

by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published October 2, 2020 · Updated November 5, 2020

how to write a story title in an essay

Let’s face it: For whatever reason, formatting titles can be confusing, especially if you think about all the titles that need proper formatting–the title placed on the title page of a paper, the title of a journal article mentioned in the body of a paper, the title of a newspaper or a website on the list of references. There are titles of books and titles of chapters in those books; titles of blogs and titles of blog entries. Some titles are italicized and some are put in quotation marks. Titles on the list of references require formatting–some titles use title case, some sentence case; some titles are italicized and some are not. And then there are those situations where titles are used in in-text citations–some titles are truncated and italicized; some are put in quotation marks–you get the idea. 

First off, I am not going to address how to format titles when citing in the paper or listing on the list of references—those are formatting guidelines for another time. I am going to focus on titles on the title page, the first page of the paper, and within a paper. Here is what you need to keep straight:

Titles require special capitalization called title case. Title case requires one to

  • capitalize the first letter of the first and last words of a title;
  • capitalize the first letter of all verbs;
  • capitalize all words of four or more letters;
  • capitalize the first letter of all other words except a, an, the, short conjunctions such as “for, and, but,” and prepositions of fewer than four letters (words like “up, in, off”);
  • capitalize the first letter of a word following a colon or dash;
  • capitalize the first letter of a subtitle. 

When a title appears on the title page of an APA Style 7th edition student paper, that title should be centered, bolded, and in title case—no need to use all caps, no need to italicize or underline, and no need to use quotation marks or place a period at the end. 

Simply type out the title using title case and bold it–that’s it.

On the first page of the essay, center and repeat the title, bold it, and use title case. Again, do not use any special formatting. Do not use a bigger font size or style. Do not underline or italicize and so forth. Just use title case, bold, and center the title on the first page of the essay.

Easy enough, right?

Titles that appear within an essay require special formatting in addition to title case. If the title is for an article—content that is part of a greater whole—then the title should have quotation marks around it. If the title is for a book, journal, newspaper, or some other whole work, then the title is italicized.

Let’s say you have an article titled “The New Coffee Culture” that appears in the journal Studies in Popular Culture . Let’s also say that for whatever reason, you name both titles in the body of your paper. The article “The New Coffee Culture” appears in the journal Studies in Popular Culture , so the article is content that appears in a greater whole, right? 

Both titles would be in title case. The article “The New Coffee Culture” would have quotation marks around it, and the title of the journal, Studies in Popular Culture , would be italicized. 

I hope this blogcast clarifies exactly what you need to do when formatting titles in typical usage situations in APA style. 

Until next week–

Kurtis Clements

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Essay Title: Rules, Tips, Mistakes to Avoid

Bonnie Adair

Table of contents

  • 1 What Makes a Good Title?
  • 2.1 Use your essay to develop your topic
  • 2.2 Identify keywords and take advantage of them
  • 2.3 Use Multiple Titles
  • 3.1 MLA Format
  • 3.2 APA Format
  • 3.3 Chicago Format
  • 4 Things to Avoid When Writing a Title for an Essay
  • 5 Take Your Paper Style Into Account
  • 6 Types Of Papers and the Best Essay Title Examples Titles
  • 7.1 1. Questions make Catchy Titles.
  • 7.2 2. Describe the Paper in 5 Words.
  • 7.3 3. Use a Hook in Your Title.
  • 7.4 4. Give a Mental Visualization of Your Topic.
  • 7.5 5. Choose Two Variants That Were Considered and Declined, Then Join Them Together.
  • 8.1 Why is an essay title important?
  • 8.2 Can a title be a question?
  • 8.3 How long should essay titles be?

Good paper titles could differ depending on whether the audience views or ignores your essays. When chosen carefully, essay titles could well capture the attention of someone who would not typically read the topic. Learning the proper method for titling an article can create an attention-grabbing heading. A well-titled article will also tell readers what to expect. Knowing how to create a topic for an essay that commands the reader’s attention is important. That is why this piece is designed to help you learn how to title an essay.

What Makes a Good Title?

The importance of a great title cannot be overemphasized in the essay-writing process . And that is where you question yourself – what makes good essay headlines?

  • A good title for an essay must be memorable. Learn how to title an essay by thinking up something that stands out as much as possible to capture the audience’s eyes and minds. Remember – your title is the first thing your reader sees.
  • Your essay name must possess a near-perfect degree of accuracy. Titling an essay like a clickbait headline could have the viewer on strings at the beginning, but they may not be disposed towards reading it to the end. Use your writing skills to develop a good title that reflects your paper.
  • A good essay title has to be written in a language the target audience would understand easily. You might want to keep the language of your essay headline simple, but it should reflect as much expertise as the target audience would reasonably expect.
  • A catchy title for an essay must be easy to read. The main idea is that your title gives a brief insight into what the audience should expect. When learning how to title an essay, keep it concise and eye-catching, and ensure it is in active voice.

How to Title an Essay?

Good essay title examples are those that carry a clear message. An essay title must talk about what you want to achieve or state a fact you wish to stand upon. If you talk about Boston lettuce crops, it has to be a strong essay title that makes an argument. If your essay specifically explores perspective for something, mention an issue with an event or some logical connection. For example, if you talk about perspective in Hitchcock’s films, the examples should come first. Speaking of example essay titles think of this:

“The agricultural effect of Boston lettuce crops”

“Window perspective in Hitchcock’s use of light and camera angles”

“Environmental Factor Affects Specific Boston Lettuce Crops: pros and cons”

“The Ways Free Wi-Fi Can Be Dangerous”

Such an essay title concisely states the message and avoids negative language sounds with unnecessary bits!

Having understood the importance of creative essay titles, you also know what features they should contain. This is not an arbitrary undertaking. It is a multi-step ritual that helps you ensure you are on the right track to connect with your audience using a catchy essay title. Speaking of guidelines for essay titles, keep things interesting and creative as you think of an engaging title. You may use title examples like these:

“The controversy of blue light on Boston lettuce”

“Modern artists’ answers differ based on their honesty levels”

“Why does reading this blog regularly help maintain inner balance?”

As you can see, an effective title can be different, ranging from creative titles to potential titles that ask a question. The very art of essay titling must summarize what the post says and contain focus keywords. Pick at least three keywords to meet in your essay writing if you have a particular subject.

Use your essay to develop your topic

This may seem rather confusing, but it is a very efficient step to follow while developing great naming ideas. You should start writing your essay once you have identified a subject matter. When you finish writing your essay, you can use the write-up details to construct the most suitable title. It also gives you much more clarity on the subject matter and what the audience wants from it since you would have conducted more research on the issue. As such, your title can be more precise and connected to the paper.

Identify keywords and take advantage of them

Your essay’s title must scream “This is what you want” to the reader. No matter how fun and memorable it is, it might not be as successful if it does not capture what the audience wants. This is where keywords will work for you. They are terms that would let readers know that your essay is relevant to what is in question.

For instance, imagine trying to research articles on symptoms of pregnancy – but the name you see has nothing like “symptoms” or “pregnancy” in them. They might be catchy essay headers and even be related to the search, but they don’t exactly strike you like that is what you seek. You don’t need to stuff your title with key phrases. Just two or three core ones will do the trick.

Use Multiple Titles

Nobody said you have to use just one main topic. Segmenting your paper and sub-titling each makes your essay much more readable.

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Essay Title Formats and Punctuations

It is perfectly fine if you would rather freestyle your essay heading. After all, a little creative license never hurts as long as you craft a good essay title. However, you might want to play it safer by defining parameters, especially if your essay is formal. In that case, you should opt for an essay title format. These are internationally recognized sets of prescribed guidelines for titling your papers. There are three main essay title styles – the MLA, the APA, and the Chicago.

MLA style rules emphasize that your essay topics should be centralized on the page. Perhaps the most important rule of this style is that the title must be written in “title case”. This means every word should begin using capital letters

prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, and “to” when it is alongside a verb in its infinitive form and articles. However, the first and last words must have capital letters, no matter what they are. This style also discourages italicizing, underlining, or placing the topics in quotation marks except for book titles.

For example:

Warning to the world in Lord of the Flies As you can see, the book’s title is in italics.

This formatting APA style is particular about the brevity of the title, stipulating a maximum of 12 words. It emphasizes a short and straight-to-the-point without abbreviations or redundancies. A title in this style aims to share as much information with the audience in as few words as possible. It does not encourage using figurative words because they are used in technical and professional writing. Thus, expect to see it deployed toward a research paper title and formal articles. It also supports centralizing the title toward the top of the page. For example:

Effects of Marine Pollution: A Study of Modern Maritime Practices

Chicago Format

Like the other two formats, this style is particular about having the title in the title case. However, it gives more leeway and license to the writer than the others. The Chicago essay title style prescribes no further guidelines beyond title casing. It can be placed as the main title with a subtitle as the next line. See this example:

The Character of a Man

The Style and Cultural Aspects in Robin Hood’s Legends

More than just a spell check

Things to Avoid When Writing a Title for an Essay

Developing interesting titles for essays can be a challenge for some. Tips include avoiding negativity and offensive or controversial terms and keeping it professional. Even the cover page could be done properly thanks to a writing service like the APA title page generator, which can also help you write a good title for an essay.

Making a good start means staying positive. Even when the essay topics are dreary, attempt to write less negatively. Good headlines for essays also use appropriate language to attract more possible readers to the paper. Lastly, its image should remain neutral – don’t overshare.

Take Your Paper Style Into Account

The style of your essay is essential to your topic. Identify and study what kind of essay it is, e.g., an argumentative essay or narrative essay, and ensure that the essay topic reflects it. Essays have tones depending on their kind, the audience, and the subject matter. For instance, academic writing would likely assume a formal tone. Having identified the tone of your essays, you should ensure your essay topics don’t go off-key. It should complement the essay’s tone to have the desired effect on the readers. Think about your essay style before you title an essay.

how to write a story title in an essay

When creating an essay title, consider how it fits any of the styles above. This will help you formulate a question or argument.

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Types Of Papers and the Best Essay Title Examples Titles

Several situations could involve you writing an essay paper. Depending on the situation or the piece’s target, several papers also exist. These may include a narrative paper, expository essay, business paper, and thesis statement in academic writing, among others. You can use creative or otherwise funny titles unless they are not offensive. Some of the most creative essay title examples include:

Good Title for a Research Paper

  • The Role of COVID-19 in the Growth of Digital Services
  • Impacts of Climate Change on Developed Countries
  • Why Is Power Chasing White Whales Not Ethical?

Effective Title for a Business Paper

  • Why Franchising Is the Way for New Small Business Owners
  • How Digital Services Can Influence the Global Supply Chain
  • What Business Factor Affects Specific Crops in Agriculture

A Catchy Title Example for a College Essay

  • The Golden Rule of Wholesome Studentship
  • Finding Success in My Failures
  • APA Format is Typically Challenging For Students?

Reflective Essay

  • The Time I Met My Mentor
  • My First Surgery
  • Why Are the iPhone and iPad Keyboards Hard to Use?

Personal Statement

  • My Nine Lives as an Immigrant Student
  • The Three Horsemen of Ambition
  • My Pursuit of Power Chasing in Education.

Literary Analysis

  • The Use of Symbolism in The Pulley
  • Thematic Preoccupations of Shakespeare’s Othello
  • How to Avoid Potentially Offending a Reader?

Report Titles

  • Earlier Vaccinations Would Not Have Subsided the Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Students Want Mixed Dormitories in American Universities
  • Scooping Ice Cream Taught Me About Healthcare Issues

Good Titles for Essays about Yourself

  • Why I Am the Way I Am
  • A Letter To the 7-Year-Old Me

Good Titles for Narrative Writing

  • The Day the World Stood Still
  • My Perfect Birthday Party

MLA Essay Title Format

  • The Old Man and the Sea: A Critical Analysis of Ernest Hemingway
  • Why You Can Do What You Do Without Knowing Who You Are

Argumentative Essay

  • Are Electric Cars the Solution To Carbon Emissions?
  • Should Reparations Be Paid To Marginalized Groups?

Compare and Contrast Essay

  • Left Wing Versus Right Wing: What Ideologies Do We Need?
  • Good Versus Bad: The Constant Clashes of Morality

Persuasive Essay

  • Why Dogs Make Better Pets Compared to Cats
  • Digital Banking: The Peak of Fintech

Scholarship Essay Titles Examples

  • What Can You Contribute to the Student Community?
  • Narrate a Defining Experience in Your Life

Nursing Essay

  • COVID-19 and the Growing Demand for Nursing Staff
  • Prioritizing Ethical Education in the Nursing Profession
  • Test Scores Three Stats in ER Evaluation

Good Example APA Title Essay

  • The Government’s Role in Poverty Alleviation
  • Myths and Facts about Tuberculosis
  • Why Looking Through the Rear Car Window Helps You Stay Safe.

Looking for specific tips you know well? Remember that an essay’s title must not contain unnecessary words. When using MLA format, you also have a header showing your course. It means that academic papers already show where you are coming from. Since every format requires that essay titles appear on the front or a title page, it grabs the reader’s attention.

A good essay title tells readers about what’s going to be next. If you want to discuss the dangers of free wi-fi access, make it a thesis statement. For example: “Making wi-fi access free provides access to malicious activities”. Likewise, “Growing Boston lettuce crops has been affected by the heavy rains” is not a good essay title when stated alone. A much better essay title would be “Effects of blue light on Boston Lettuce crops helped to avoid damage”. It still contains the main idea.

5 Ways to Create an Exceptional Essay Title

There are numerous ways in which a writer can craft a quality gaming experience. Unless you use a title generator for an essay , titling an essay is as simple or as hard as the writer makes it. It is often necessary to edit the essay online multiple times. Finding their style depends on the type of essay and the purpose of the writing. Speaking of tips and examples, our experts believe in the following methods:

1. Questions make Catchy Titles.

Interesting headings for essays can be created by using a cause-and-effect approach. Start considering a common problem and think about what question that paper answers. Look at the example of your writing so you can compose a title out of it.

2. Describe the Paper in 5 Words.

If you sum up the paper in 5 words, what words would be chosen? If you blog regularly, you’ll notice how clarity always helps. Not only does this unique creation bring some fun to the process, but it can also birth a catchy phrase – which translates to a highly effective best essay title. An applicable catchy phrase can be helpful as well.

3. Use a Hook in Your Title.

Sometimes, the best essay title ideas are simpler than we think. For some essay topics, a good hook could be all you need. Though it might not be easy to develop one, it may give your research paper an edge. Remember that it can be a phrase, figurative language, punny, or otherwise funny.

4. Give a Mental Visualization of Your Topic.

This works wonders when the topic you write about is art-oriented. It provides a rear window perspective like clear keywords, blue light, or “every principle word” words. When you remain creative, your essay-writing process improves as well.

5. Choose Two Variants That Were Considered and Declined, Then Join Them Together.

When two separate entities do not work out, it does not mean that those phrases can’t work together for your new paper. So keep that list of paper titles and write papers with confidence!

Why is an essay title important?

Can a title be a question, how long should essay titles be, readers also enjoyed.

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how to write a story title in an essay

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How to Write a Book Name in an Essay

Last Updated: February 14, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Noah Taxis and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA . Noah Taxis is an English Teacher based in San Francisco, California. He has taught as a credentialed teacher for over four years: first at Mountain View High School as a 9th- and 11th-grade English Teacher, then at UISA (Ukiah Independent Study Academy) as a Middle School Independent Study Teacher. He is now a high school English teacher at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in San Francisco. He received an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education. He also received an MA in Comparative and World Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BA in International Literary & Visual Studies and English from Tufts University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 68,022 times.

When you’re writing an essay that includes a book title, it can be confusing to write the title correctly. However, it’s really easy once you know the rules. How you write the title will vary a little bit depending on the style your instructor assigns and if you are typing or handwriting the essay. Luckily, it's easy to follow the rules for writing a book name in an essay.

Writing Help

how to write a story title in an essay

Typing an Essay in MLA or Chicago Style Format

Step 1 Capitalize the first letter of all nouns, verbs, and adjectives in the book name.

  • For example, you would write To Kill a Mockingbird , The Lord of the Rings , or Wuthering Heights .

Step 2 Avoid capitalizing articles, prepositions, or coordinating conjunctions.

  • If you have the book name in front of you, you can just copy it down as it is printed.
  • Articles include a, an, and the.
  • Prepositions include at, in, on, of, about, since, from, for, until, during, over, above, under, underneath, below, beneath, near, by, next to, between, among, and opposite.
  • Coordinating conjunctions include the FANBOYS, which are for, and, not, but, or, yet, and

Step 3 Include punctuation in the italics if it’s part of the title.

  • For example, you would write the name of William Faulkner’s novel Absalom, Absalom! with both the comma and the exclamation point in italics.

Step 4 Highlight the book name.

  • If the highlight bar goes away, try again, making sure that you don’t click anywhere on the page after you highlight the book name.

Step 5 Click the italicize icon to format the title.

  • Alternatively, you can press the italicize icon before you type the title.
  • If you’re using Microsoft Word to type your essay, the italicize key may appear if you hover over the highlighted book name.

Step 6 Left click your mouse on another area of the document.

  • If the next word after your title appears italicized when you resume typing, simply highlight it and click the italicize icon to remove the formatting.

Step 7 Use quotation marks instead of italics if the book is part of an anthology.

  • For example, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is sometimes published in one volume. In this case, you could write the name of the first novel as "The Fellowship of the Ring" when citing it in an essay.

Typing an Essay in APA Format

Step 1 Capitalize the first word and all words longer than 4 letters.

  • Capitalize the first letter of the words, not the entire word.
  • If the word is a two-part hyphenated word in the title, you should capitalize both words. For example, you would write Blue River: The Trial of a Mayor-Elect .
  • If there is a dash or colon in the title, you should capitalize the word after the punctuation, regardless of how long the word is. As above, you would write Blue River: The Trial of a Mayor-Elect .

Step 2 Include any punctuation in the italics if it’s part of the book name.

  • For example, you would write Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? with the question mark italicized.

Step 3 Highlight the title.

  • If the book name is not highlighted, left click and drag your cursor again, making sure that you don’t click again anywhere on the page.

Step 4 Click the italicize icon to change the format of the title.

  • If you are using Microsoft Word, the italics icon may appear when you hover over the highlighted book title. It’s okay to click this key.

Step 5 Move your cursor off of the title.

Handwriting an Essay

Step 1 Capitalize the words according to the style format you are using.

  • For MLA and Chicago style essays, capitalize the first word of the book name and every word other than articles, prepositions, or coordinating conjunctions. For example, write The Lord of the Rings .
  • If you’re using APA style, capitalize the first word and all words longer than 4 letters. [9] X Research source This means you would write Public Policy in Local Government .

Step 2 Underline the complete title.

  • If you’re writing on lined paper, it may help to follow along the line of the paper. However, make sure your line is dark enough so that your instructor will see that you properly underlined the book name.

Step 3 Underline punctuation if it’s part of the title.

  • For example, you would write Judy Blume’s Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by underlining the punctuation marks as well as the words.

Expert Interview

how to write a story title in an essay

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about academic writing, check out our in-depth interview with Noah Taxis .

  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html
  • ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_literature/formatting.html
  • ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/underline-or-italicize-book-titles/
  • ↑ https://askus.library.wwu.edu/faq/116757
  • ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/apa/books_ebooks
  • ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/italics-quotations/italics

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how to write a story title in an essay

Best Tips on How to Title an Essay

how to write a story title in an essay

How to Make a Good Title for an Essay

The success of an essay heavily depends on its title. This may not come as a surprise given that the essay title is the first aspect to provide the reader with a sneak peek into the text. It piques our interest to read the paper in the first place and gives us a preview of what to expect from the author.

Our research paper writing help prepared a thorough guide on how to title an essay. Here you may find tips and tricks for developing an effective APA or MLA essay title. So, let's dive straight into the article for more exciting details!

Essay Title Format

During your essay writing process, ensure you know the stylistic requirements before beginning an essay. Knowing the format you need to employ is crucial because different style manuals may have varying requirements. Mostly, you could have used an APA or MLA essay title format. Our service, where you can buy essay online , explains these two in more detail below.

Essay Title MLA

If you're required to create an essay title MLA format, check whether your instructor wants you to make a separate cover page. If not, put a heading at the beginning of your work that includes your name, the name of your professor, the course ID, and, lastly, the date.

On the other hand, if you must present a cover page for your essay title MLA, then you need to include the following:

  • The name of the college
  • The title of your paper
  • The subtitle of your paper, if applicable
  • Your first and last name
  • Your teacher or professor's name
  • The class name or course number
  • The date the paper is due

The formatting instructions are as follows:

  • Double-spaced
  • Times New Roman font
  • Size 12 font
  • Apart from very short terms, each word's initial letter should be capitalized. The initial word, however, must always be uppercase.
  • The title page shouldn't include a header with the page numbers.

Essay Title APA

Having discussed the MLA format essay title, let's explore what the APA student title page includes:

  • The paper title
  • Author names
  • Institutional affiliation where the author carried out the study
  • Name and number of the course
  • Professor name
  • Page number

The title of an essay format instructions:

  • double-spaced
  • 1" margins
  • 12-point Times New Roman
  • According to APA, your title should be targeted and brief, without unnecessary words or abbreviations

How to Choose a Good Title for an Essay: Important Qualities

Nobody will read a dull headline. Your title should grab your audience's attention and encourage them to read the rest of the work. As it is one of the initial things readers see, having a strong attention grabber is essential when writing an essay from scratch. To fully understand how to come up with a title for essay that is strong and exciting, let's consider a few following factors:

Employ a Catchy Hook - Usually, the title of essay format follows a similar basic structure, especially if they are used for an academic article. The hook serves as a unique component that attracts the reader. It's a captivating statement informing others about the topic of the essay. You can also explore several types of sentences with examples that can help you develop the ideal hook structure.

Consider Topic Keywords - These are essential terms or expressions pertinent to your subject and help your reader understand the focus and body of your article. These focus keywords should serve as a brief, one- to two-word article summary. You can choose some terms from the research topic your instructor gave you, but after your thesis statement is formed, this is where you should hunt for ideas.

Use a Colon - A colon is frequently used in academic titles to separate concepts and sentences. The standard procedure is to place a clever remark or brief quotation before the colon. Although these beginning words offer flavor, they can be overdone. Because of this, some individuals find using the colon to be repugnant. Therefore be careful not to misuse this method.

Ask a Question - To write essay title that is strong, consider asking a question. But, use it with caution because posing a question will make your tone less formal. As long as the question is suitably phrased to meet the subject of your essay, feel free to employ it. Always check to see if the title question still applies to your points in the essay's body. The thesis statement should be appropriately reflected as well.

Find Inspirational Quotes - There is no formula for selecting essay titles from the textual content. You may get playful and choose any quotation, proverb, or catchphrase that applies to your particular publication and works as a title. You may also create a great essay title using well-known expressions or idioms. Doing so will help your readers relate to and feel more comfortable discussing your subject.

How to Title an Essay headline

Here are other rules for how to create a good title:

  • Title every section of writing: In the process of writing, create interesting subheadings to give your paragraphs an identity. Also, they make your text look ordered and clear. 
  • The title must bear the theme of the text: choose a title that summarizes the essay. 
  • Capitalize all words with certain exceptions: Capitalize the first letter of every word in the title, but do not capitalize pronouns, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.
  • Avoid underlining the title: Since topics come in boldface, underlining it will amount to overemphasis. Some authorities say that if you must underline it, do not bolden it.
  • Review the final version of the title: Do not forget to do a quick review of the final version of the title—check for grammar, structure, spelling and so on. Re-read it to determine if the title has given justice to the essay. Confirm if the topic is catchy enough to attract your reader’s attention. 
  • When using a colon in your title, follow the rules: Since we are dealing with punctuation rules here, let us talk about the colon – when you have two eye-catching topics, separate them with a colon.

Student’s Guide on How to Come Up with a Title for an Essay

Titling an essay can be easy, but there are a few core principles to be taken into account. The following tips will help you stay on track and avoid any common pitfalls.

Essay Goes First

Never start with a title! If you write it before the rest of the text, it will be based on it, and it should be vice versa. Writing an essay before choosing a heading will give you a clear understanding of what should make sense to the reader. Re-read the finished paper several times to decide on the title. The last thing to create is a title - such strategy will give more time to spend on crafting an essay outline, conducting research, or writing the paper itself.

How to Title an Essay, Complete Guide 2

What are you writing about? What is the style of your paper, and is it an academic essay or a free-form essay like a narrative essay? If the topic of your essay is “Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?” your title should not be humorous; it should be strict and to the point.

If your topic is “Why do people like watching funny cat videos?”, feel free to craft a funny title. Determine the tone of your essay and base your title on it—in consideration with the essay’s topic.

The tone can be:

  • Serious - “The implications of global warming”
  • Funny - “How cats and dogs love their masters”
  • Amiable - “Ways to fight depression”
  • Persuasive - “Why positive thinking is a must have skill for every person”
  • Informative - “Ten rules for creating a chemical at home”

The main goal of a title is to name its paper. There is no need to tell an entire story in the title, or provide any useless details. Sum up your paper in a few words! Another way to do this is to sum up your thesis statement, as it represents the main idea of your essay. Take your thesis and squeeze it into 3-4 words. Imagine that you are creating a title for your favourite newspaper or a slogan for Coca-Cola.

Don’t use fancy words! Take 2-3 main words (keywords), put them together, and stop wasting your time. Avoid jargon and abbreviations.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is something that can help any student and young writer reap benefits. While working on a title, detect the words related to the central idea of the paper. Type the words into the search field of Google and add the word “quote.” A search engine will show numerous web pages with in-text quotations that could be useful. Select the fragment you like. It is possible to learn how to make a creative title for an essay in this way.

Discover several more tips from experts:

  • Never forget the “What,” “Who,” “When,” “How,” “Why,” and “Where” questions (if you start with one of these questions, your title has a chance of getting noticed);
  • Come up with an unexpected image not related to the selected topic;
  • Sometimes, starting with a lie increases the chances of a title being able to catch an eye;
  • Review our catchy essay title examples.

how to write a story title in an essay

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Need Some Help With Your Essay's Title?

Feel free to contact EssayPro and we will provide you with a writing help at a moment’s notice. With the years of essay writing experience, titling becomes second nature, so you no longer need to worry about having a catchy headline on your paper.

Essay Title Examples: Bad vs Good

The strongest essay titles condense lengthy essays into concise statements. When wondering how to make an essay title, think carefully about your stylistic choices and essay format to produce an excellent one. Our dissertation help has provided essay title examples to let you understand the difference between good and bad ones more vividly.

bad good essay titles

Bad Essay Title Examples

As we discussed how to create an essay title and the specific elements that go into it, you should have a clear idea of how important it is to craft a strong title. In contrast, first, look at weak essay title ideas that can break your paper. This should serve as an example of why your heading should not be like this:

Ex 1: ' How Television Has Changed Our World ' - too vast and not informative

Ex 2: 'The Ara Pacis Augustae' - unclear for those who don't know Latin

Ex 3: 'The Most Poisonous Frog' - does not provide any insight

Ex 4: 'A Brief History of Subcultures and How They Manifest Themselves in a Constantly Changing Socio-Economic Environment' - too long and complicated

Ex 5: 'The Little Mermaid 29 Years Later: Selling a Harmful Sexist Message Through a Naughty Image' - inappropriate language

Good Essay Title Examples

Now that you know what a bad essay title looks like, let's explore good essay title examples as their substitutes. Examine the following essay title format styles that will give you a clear understanding.

Ex 1: ' The Electronic Babysitter: A Social History of Uses of the Television' - gives an exact description of what the essay will be about

Ex 2: ' The Modern Historical Significance of the Ara Pacis Augustae to the City of Rome' - here, the reader can understand what they will be reading about

Ex 3: ' A Deadly Beauty: The Evolution of Skin Coloration and Toxicity of the Poisonous Dart Frog' - clear, informative, and on-point.

Ex 4: 'Reconsidering Counterculture in Contemporary Society' - informative enough and brief

Ex 5: 'The Projection of Gender Stereotypes in The Little Mermaid' - employs appropriate language

Catchy Essay Title Ideas

You now understand that long, complicated headlines do not accurately convey the paper's main idea. Take ample time to consider the word choice before tilting your work. How do you create good essay titles? Think creatively and with common sense. But meanwhile, for your convenience, we compiled title ideas for essays you may use as inspiration.

Persuasive Essay Titles

  • Why Receiving College Education is Important: Examining Long-term Benefits
  • Face-to-Face Courses Cannot Be Replaced by Online Learning
  • An MBA Does Not Ensure Corporate Success.
  • Every Company Should Adopt a Green Strategy.
  • Energy Drinks Represent a Lucrative Market Segment.
  • Aircraft, Excess Weight Charges, Need to be Prohibited.
  • Patients' Life Shouldn't be Put to Death by Nurses.
  • Google Glasses May Increase the Number of Auto Accidents.
  • All of the Conventional Malls Will Soon be Replaced By Online Shopping
  • How Do Team-building Exercises Contribute to the Development of Inventions?
  • Illegal immigrants are entitled to remain in the US.

Academic Essay Titles

  • Several English Dialects: The Link Between Various Cultures
  • Instagram: A social media innovation
  • Is it possible to reverse drug-induced brain damage, and if so, how?
  • What the Future Holds for Humans in the Light of Artificial Intelligence
  • The Story of Two Nations after Decades of Conflict: North and South Korea
  • Video Games and Their Learning Context in Schools
  • Free Wi-Fi: Strategies for Enhancing the City's Economy

Strong Research Paper Titles

  • Digital World Cybersecurity
  • E-business to Provide New Paths for Booksellers
  • Outsourcing for Large Businesses
  • Preparing for College Costs for High School Students
  • What News Reporters Should Do in the Digital Age and How to Do It: Examples
  • The Transformative Power of Music: How Heavy Metal Impacted My Life

Best Essay Titles for College Students

  • The Possible Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Humans
  • The Potential for Time Travel in Virtual Reality
  • What Role Has Mathematics Played in Human History?
  • How to Succeed in the Real Estate Industry
  • E-Commerce: An Empire of Virtual Businesses Worth Millions of Dollars
  • How to Achieve Financial Independence in the Digital Age Without Opening a Real Business

More Creative Titles for Essays

  • When getting rewarded for their grades, would kids do better left alone?
  • How Does Fake News Impact the Mainstream press?
  • Homelessness in Contemporary Society: A Dilemma
  • What News Reporters' Best Job Is in the Digital Age and How to Uphold It
  • Elon Musk: Brilliant Mind or Insane Person?
  • Positives and Negatives of Employing a Smoker
  • Do We Employ the Appropriate Student Success Metrics?

Professional Academic Help

Now that you know how to make a good title for an essay, you should also understand that you should approach the task as a process. While composing your essay title, you must condense your whole thesis and point of discussion into a single, concise, yet powerful sentence. If you have time before your deadline, give it some thought and don't hurry.

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How To Title An Essay?

How to title an essay in mla format, what are some good titles for an essay.

Daniel Parker

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

how to write a story title in an essay

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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What about MLA format?

All research papers on literature use MLA format, as it is the universal citation method for the field of literary studies. Whenever you use a primary or secondary source, whether you are quoting or paraphrasing, you will make parenthetical citations in the MLA format [Ex. (Smith 67).] Your Works Cited list will be the last page of your essay. Consult the OWL handout on MLA for further instructions.

Note, however, the following minor things about MLA format:

  • Titles of books, plays, or works published singularly (not anthologized) should be italicised unless it is a handwritten document, in which case underlining is acceptable. (Ex. Hamlet , Great Expectations )
  • Titles of poems, short stories, or works published in an anthology will have quotation marks around them. (Ex. "Ode to a Nightingale," "The Cask of Amontillado")
Tip If you're using Microsoft Word, you can easily include your name and page number on each page by following the these steps:
  • Open "View" (on the top menu).
  • Open "Header and Footer." (A box will appear at the top of the page you're on. And a "Header and Footer" menu box will also appear).
  • Click on the "align right" button at the top of the screen. (If you're not sure which button it is, hold the mouse over the buttons and a small window should pop up telling you which button you're on.)
  • Type in your last name and a space.
  • Click on the "#" button which is located on the "Header and Footer" menu box. It will insert the appropriate page number.
  • Click "Close" on the "Header and Footer" window.
That's all you need to do. Word will automatically insert your name and the page number on every page of your document.

What else should I remember?

  • Don't leave a quote or paraphrase by itself-you must introduce it, explain it, and show how it relates to your thesis.
  • Block format all quotations of more than four lines.
  • When you quote brief passages of poetry, line and stanza divisions are shown as a slash (Ex. "Roses are red, / Violets are blue / You love me / And I like you").
  • For more help, see the OWL handout on using quotes .

IMAGES

  1. How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples

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  2. How to Title an Essay: Guide with Creative Examples [2023]

    how to write a story title in an essay

  3. How to Create a Good Story Title: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

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  4. How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples

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  5. How to Write a Great Title for an Essay or Short Story by Mrs Shakespeare

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  6. 🏷️ How to write a title in an essay. How to Title an Essay: Tips and

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  2. Story Writing Class 10th|| How to write Story in Class 10th||

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Title an Essay, With Tips and Examples

    Guidelines for essay titles in Chicago Manual of Style format. Chicago style also requires that essay titles be in title case. Other than that, Chicago style doesn't have specific guidelines for what a title should or shouldn't include. Here is an example of an essay title in Chicago style: 2021 Returns: What We Projected vs. Actual Returns

  2. MLA Titles

    In MLA style, source titles appear either in italics or in quotation marks: Italicize the title of a self-contained whole (e.g. a book, film, journal, or website). Use quotation marks around the title if it is part of a larger work (e.g. a chapter of a book, an article in a journal, or a page on a website). All major words in a title are ...

  3. How to Title an Essay to Make It More Engaging

    "Unveiling the Layers: Crafting a Reflective Essay Title that Defines Me" "The Journey Within Exploring Identity through an Introspective Essay Title" "Beyond the Mirror: Unraveling My Story through a Captivating Essay Title" Essay Title Examples: Bad vs Good. Here are examples of bad and good essay titles to illustrate the difference: Bad ...

  4. How to Write a Book Title in an Essay (+48 Examples)

    Summary chart: How to Write a Book Title in an Essay. Final Thoughts. By following the formatting rules outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your writing is clear, professional, and polished. For more guides on writing essays (and more), check out some of our other blog posts below. Read This Next

  5. Formatting Titles

    Just use title case, bold, and center the title on the first page of the essay. Easy enough, right? Titles that appear within an essay require special formatting in addition to title case. If the title is for an article—content that is part of a greater whole—then the title should have quotation marks around it. If the title is for a book ...

  6. How to Title an Essay: Tips on Coming up with a Good Title for an Essay

    Table of contents. 1 What Makes a Good Title?; 2 How to Title an Essay?. 2.1 Use your essay to develop your topic; 2.2 Identify keywords and take advantage of them; 2.3 Use Multiple Titles; 3 Essay Title Formats and Punctuations. 3.1 MLA Format; 3.2 APA Format; 3.3 Chicago Format; 4 Things to Avoid When Writing a Title for an Essay; 5 Take Your Paper Style Into Account; 6 Types Of Papers and ...

  7. 4 Ways to Write a Book Name in an Essay

    When you're writing an essay that includes a book title, it can be confusing to write the title correctly. However, it's really easy once you know the rules. How you write the title will vary a little bit depending on the style your instructor assigns and if you are typing or handwriting the essay. Luckily, it's easy to follow the rules for ...

  8. How To Write Titles in Essays (With Tips)

    Writing titles in an essay requires attention to detail and an understanding of writing formats. Whether composing the essay's title and subtitles or citing other works, your titling should remain consistent. Essays inspire and inform the reader, and effective titles reflect the mood and purpose. In this article, we discuss how to format titles ...

  9. How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples

    Here are other rules for how to create a good title: Title every section of writing: In the process of writing, create interesting subheadings to give your paragraphs an identity. Also, they make your text look ordered and clear. The title must bear the theme of the text: choose a title that summarizes the essay. Capitalize all words with certain exceptions: Capitalize the first letter of ...

  10. Formatting

    This handout provides examples and description about writing papers in literature. It discusses research topics, how to begin to research, how to use information, and formatting. ... Titles of books, plays, or works published singularly (not anthologized) should be italicised unless it is a handwritten document, in which case underlining is ...