How to Title an Essay: Guide with Creative Examples [2024]

It’s not a secret that the reader notices an essay title first. No catchy hook or colorful examples attract more attention from a quick glance. Composing a creative title for your essay is essential if you strive to succeed, as it:

  • causes the first impression;
  • reflects the tone, topic, and the purpose of the writing;
  • indicates the author’s credibility.

Thus, how you name your paper is of the same importance as the paper itself.

Good titles for essays should be concise and eye-catching. Nobody likes long and cumbersome headings that do not reflect the point of the paper. While tilting your work, pay enough attention to the word choice. How do you come up with a good title? Use your common sense and imagination. For more details, our experts prepared the sections below.

  • 💭 What Are Good Titles?

✔️ Finish Your Essay

🤲 sum it up, 🏷️ define the keywords, 🖊️ follow the format, ⚖️ change words, ✨ 23 creative title examples, 💭 what are good titles for essays.

A title is a critical part of any academic paper, so you must understand what to include and how to choose it. Here are some features that your heading has to show.

Strong Title Poor Title
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A title may become an attention-grabbing element if you compose it right. Don’t miss your chance to impress your audience from the first words.

The title has to intrigue the readers. If a heading you chose is too revealing, the audience will lose interest even before reading. So, be careful!

A concise title is key to success. Believe us, 5-12 words are entirely enough to reflect the paper’s idea. Choose the right words, though.

A title that contains more than 12 words is a fail. The readers will get lost in your essay’s theme. Will they decide to continue reading your work? Not likely.

A good title for an essay is the one that covers the entire topic. Keep that in mind while naming your paper.

Numbers and figures are helpful for an academic essay, but not for the title. Leave this data for the body paragraphs.

If you want to grab the readers’ attention, impress them with a catchy but easy title. The secret lies behind the heading’s simplicity.
.
Too complicated titles with difficult words DO NOT seem impressive. Instead, they confuse readers. Better come up with a simple but insightful one.

The title has to reflect the idea of the paper—don’t go too broad. Come up with the most specific heading that represents the core idea of your essay.

There is nothing wrong with the quotes. But in the body of the essay, not in the title. Use your imagination to name your work. Don’t steal someone else’s thoughts.

👩‍🏫 How to Title an Essay?

Are you struggling with formulating a heading? Yes, this task is quite challenging. But let’s figure out the basic rules.

The title of any paper should reveal:

  • What the paper is about. Cover the general idea of your work in the title.
  • Why the reader might be interested in it. Prove the relevance of your paper to the audience.
  • The context of the issue. A good title previews the full picture of the topic regarding its “when” and “where.”

To nail your essay heading, follow the guide below. Check our title examples if you are not sure about your abilities. You can also try and use a creative title page generator for a faster result.

Before writing a title to your essay, you should finish your paper. This way, you’ll be able to reread and get the whole idea to incorporate it into your title.

Moreover, you’ll see how long a title should be for an essay after finishing the entire piece. But remember: not too lengthy and not too wordy.

The essay title depends on the type of essay:

  • Narrative essay . For this kind of essay, the title should not provide any detailed info or reflect your position. It should only present the general idea of your piece of writing. For example, the narrative essay topic may look like this: My Thorny Pass to Success.
  • Argumentative essay . The title for an argumentative essay should clearly state the point you are going to support. For instance, you can choose the following heading: Social Media Has a Negative Effect on Teenagers.
  • Cause and effect essay . For this kind of essay writing, the title should be clear and provide a background of the issue. The reader should immediately understand what the problem is, what its cause is, what an effect is. Usually, writers use the words “due to” or “because” to highlight the cause-effect correlation. Look at the example: Because Coronavirus Attacks, People Start to Explore New Ways of Remote Working.
  • Persuasive essay . A persuasive essay should have a dynamic title that immediately calls to action. Moreover, the topic has to be relevant to the audience. For example, for students, the following title would be compelling: Sleep 7-8 Hours a Day: the Lack of Sleep Affects Academic Performance.

The most straightforward way of creating an essay title is summarizing. Sum up the whole paper in one sentence, focus on the central idea, cut the details, and use it as the title.

For this purpose, you can take your thesis statement and restate it, adding creativity. Or use the best summary generator you can find to simplify the task. But don’t forget to make sure that it sounds catchy and explains why the potential reader should check your essay.

For example:

Let’s imagine, you are writing about Artificial Intelligence, and your thesis statement sounds like this:

The purpose of this paper is to explore the advantages of Artificial intelligence’s influence on society and to discover possible outcomes.

Then, the title may be the following:

Artificial Intelligence – the Next Step into the Bright Future.

Every essay includes the key concepts that you explored and the terms that you used for this. You should find essential words and phrases and incorporate them into the essay titles. The keywords will focus the reader’s attention on the central topic of your paper.

You are writing about the negative impact of deforestation on the environment. These are your keywords, as they are the most vital ones. Thus, the title would sound like this:

Protecting the Environment: Deforestation Should be Stopped.

Every educational institution requires to format the academic papers for a particular writing style. Among a wide diversity of citation styles , the most popular ones are APA and MLA formats.

There are a lot of specific requirements regarding the essay title formats. So, let’s investigate these styles.

The APA style requires a title page at the beginning of your research paper. Here, where the readers first meet the heading. The title page should include the following:

  • The paper’s title. Centered, bold, capitalized, 3-4 lines below the top margin.
  • The author’s name (first name, middle initial, last name). Centered, not bold, two lines below the title.
  • The author’s affiliations. Centered, not bold, immediately after the name.
  • Number and name of the course.
  • The instructor’s name and title.
  • Page number in the top right corner.

See the example of an APA title page below:

The title page in APA format.

The MLA style does not require a separate title page. Still, some formatting rules are to be strictly followed.

  • The MLA paper should start one inch from the top of the document, flush left.
  • Write the author’s name, then the instructor’s name, the course number, and the date. Each item should be on a separate double-spaced line.
  • Add the title of your paper. It should be centered and capitalized.
  • Do not put quotation marks, underline, italicize, or boldface your MLA title. Just make it centered and capitalized.

Here is an example of an MLA title formatting.

The essay title in MLA format.

Before choosing a title, figure out is the tone of your essay. Is it more formal or friendly? Do you write it for a college or a personal blog?

Change the wording to make your title sound more catchy and positive. Or serious and official. You can try something new and come up with a creative title for your essay.

You need to write an article about the benefits of healthy eating for university and your online blog. For an academic essay, your title would probably look like this:

A Well-Balanced Diet Is a Key to a Healthy Organism.

In contrast, for a blog article, it would be better to write something like this:

An Apple a Day Keeps a Doctor Away: How Healthy Eating Helps us Be Fit.

Do you see the magic? One topic, different wording, and completely diverse tones as a result. So, try until you reach the most appropriate version of the title for your piece of writing.

Are you still struggling with the selection of a heading for your paper? Take a look at our creative essay title examples! Inspire, then turn on your imagination, and create a personal title.

Argumentative Essay Titles.

  • Intercultural Community at University: Prosperity or Constant Encounters.
  • Leadership Nature: a Congenital or an Acquired Feature?
  • Do Energetic Drinks Help or Harm the Organisms?
  • Why Should Sex Education Be Taught at Schools?
  • Should the Law Punish Bullying?
  • Guns Legalization is an Unsafe Way of Self-Protection.

Narrative Essay Titles.

  • Lady Macbeth – One of the Most Frightening Female Characters of Shakespeare.
  • The Art of Overcoming Failures: How to Deal with the Downfalls Easily.
  • Steve Jobs: from a Poor Student to a Multi-billionaire.
  • The Most Influential Person in my Life.
  • Three Biggest Events of my Life that Shaped me as a Person.
  • What Does it Mean to be a Loving Kid for your Parents?
  • What Does “Family” Mean to You?

Persuasive Essay Titles.

  • Never Judge the Person by their Appearance.
  • Music Should be Implemented as a Medical Treatment.
  • In the Battle Between E-Books and Paper Books, the Last Ones Should Win.
  • Remote Learning Cannot Replace Face-to-Face Classes.
  • Technology Addiction is a Threat to the Future Generation.
  • Murderers Should be Sentenced to Death Penalty.

Cause and Effect Essay Titles.

  • Because of Traveling Around the World, People Expand their Horizons.
  • Due to Massive Immigration, Countries Lose their Cultural Identity.
  • Home Abuse as a Cause of Depression and Suicide as its Effect.
  • Drug Addiction: a Cause for Psychological Disorder or an Effect?

Thank you for reading our article. Now you get how to come up with a good title for an essay. Don’t forget to share our page with your friends.

  • Writing an Effective Title: Quick Tips, Student Support Writing Center, University of Minnesota
  • Choosing a Title, Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Research Guides at University of Southern California
  • How Do I Write a Great Title: U-M LSA Sweetland Center for Writing, College of Literature, Science, and Arts, University of Michigan
  • General Format: Purdue Online Writing Lab, College of Liberal Arts, Purdue University
  • Formatting a Research Paper, Heading and Title: The MLA Style Center
  • Title Page Setup: APA Style, American Psychological Association
  • APA Title Page (Cover Page) Format, Example, Template: Saul McLeod, Simply Psychology
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Essay Title: Rules, Tips, Mistakes to Avoid

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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 What to Avoid When Writing a Title for an Essay?
  • 5 Take into account Your Paper Style
  • 6 Types Of Papers and the Best Titles For Them
  • 7.1 Questions make Catchy
  • 7.2 Describe the Paper in 5 Words
  • 7.3 Use One Direct Word
  • 7.4 Extract a Sentence from the Paper
  • 7.5 Take advantage of Pop-Culture
  • 7.6 Put “On” at the beginning
  • 7.7 Start with a Verb in “-ing”
  • 7.8 Give a Mental Visualization of Your Topic
  • 7.9 Modify a Title that was Rejected
  • 7.10 Choose 2 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 the title be?

Good paper titles could be the difference between the audience viewing or ignoring 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 work wonders in creating 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 write just that.

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. You want to think 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 heading could have the viewer on strings at the beginning, but they may not be disposed towards reading it to the end. Even so, it might not leave them with the desired impression.
  • 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 proper heading 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. Keep it concise and eye-catching, and ensure it is in active voice.

How to Title an Essay?

Having understood the importance of creative essay titles, you also know what features they are supposed to contain. The next item on the agenda is for you to know how to make a title for a write-up. 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.

Use your essay to develop your topic

This may seem rather confusing, but it is a very efficient step to follow while coming up with great naming ideas. You should start writing your essay once you have a subject matter identified. By the time you finish writing your essay, you can use the write-up details to construct the most suitable title. It would also give 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. And no matter how fun and memorable it may be, it might not be as successful if it does not capture what the audience is exactly looking for. 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 end up being 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. Though, 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.

The rules of MLA style  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 except prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, “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.

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 the use of figurative words because it is 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.

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. In fact, the Chicago style prescribes no further guidelines beyond title casing.

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What 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 into account Your Paper Style

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 tone of the essay itself in order to have the desired effect on the readers.

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Types Of Papers and the Best Titles For Them

There are several situations that could involve you writing an essay paper. And depending on the situation or the target of the piece, several kinds of papers exist as well. These may include a narrative paper, expository essay, business paper, and thesis statement in academic writing, among others. Some of the most creative examples of titles include:

Research Paper

The Role of COVID-19 in the Growth of Digital Services

Impacts of Climate Change on Developed Countries

Business Paper

Why Franchising Is the Way for New Small Business Owners

How Digital Services Can Influence the Global Supply Chain

College Essay

The Golden Rule of Wholesome Studentship

Finding Success in My Failures

Reflective Essay

The Time I Met My Mentor

My First Surgery

Personal Statement

My Nine Lives as an Immigrant Student

The Three Horsemen of Ambition

Literary Analysis

The Use of Symbolism in The Pulley

Thematic Preoccupations of Shakespeare’s Othello

Report Titles

Earlier Vaccinations Would Not Have Subsided the Coronavirus Pandemic

Students Want Mixed Dormitories in American Universities

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

Title The Government’s Role in Poverty Alleviation

Myths and Facts about Tuberculosis

10 Tips to Create an Exceptional Title

There are numerous ways in which a writer can craft a quality naming 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 own style is dependent on the type of essay and the purpose of the writing. In the quest to title an essay, here are some tips for arriving at a really creative title.

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 does that paper answers. You can compose a title out of it.

Describe the Paper in 5 Words

If you were, to sum up the entire paper in 5 words, what words would be chosen? 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 title.

Use One Direct Word

Sometimes the best essay title ideas are simpler than we think. For some essay topics, one idiom could be all you need. Though it might not be easy how to come up with one, it may give your research paper an edge over others.

Extract a Sentence from the Paper

It’s usually a good solution to pick the heading after the text is drafted. At this point, there are many title options. Just pick one that sums up your concepts better than the others.

Take advantage of Pop-Culture

Don’t be shy to use something related to pop culture. Titles for papers may definitely contain references to songs, books, or movies as long as they fit the paper topic. This could be especially powerful for college essay titles and other essays for younger readers. You just need to ensure that the audience can recognize it easily.

Put “On” at the beginning

Depending on what you’re writing, this option might be a bit tricky. It works very well for books, songs, or movie reviews. Just name the object of your research paper or article. For example, “On The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Start with a Verb in “-ing”

Especially persuasive essay types can greatly benefit from titles for papers starting like this. Be sure to find a verb straightforward enough to grab the attention.

Give a Mental Visualization of Your Topic

This works wonders when the topic you write about is art-oriented. Even if the mental image brings something that is not seen by most people, it could go far for those that grab it.

Modify a Title that was Rejected

Using old, rejected essay topics to design new ones is usually possible. All it takes is a bit of creativity and a decent name.

Choose 2 Variants That Were Considered and Declined; Then Join Them Together

Although 2 separate entities did 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!

Why is an essay title important?

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

How to Write a Research Paper in APA Format

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how to write a creative title for an essay

Best Tips on How to Title an Essay

how to write a creative title for 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.

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.

Don't forget that you can always rely on our professional academic assistance, whether you need a reflection paper , ideas for a strong essay title, or any other academic papers. Consider the following words - write my essay for me - magic keywords for delegating your most complex tasks to our skilled writers!

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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 creative title for 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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How to come up with a creative essay title in 5 Practical steps

Bob cardens.

  • November 30, 2023
  • How to Guides

Working on an important essay? Here’s how to come up with a creative essay title for your essay

Good essay titles should be concise, eye-catching, and comprehensive, reflecting the specific idea of your paper.

Avoid revealing too much, using long titles, or including numbers, figures, or quotes in the title.

You should consider utilizing popular phrases , summarizing your essay in three words, or using your thesis statement as a basis for the title.

Properly format and punctuate your essay title according to the citation style guidelines.

What You'll Learn

Qualities of a creative essay title

A good essay title plays a crucial role in capturing readers’ interest and setting the tone for the entire paper.

It serves multiple purposes, including conveying the essence of the essay, attracting attention, and indicating the author’s credibility.

A well-crafted title can make your essay stand out and entice readers to delve into your writing.

So, what are the qualities of a creative essay title ?

  • It should be memorable and unique, leaving a lasting impression on the reader’s mind.
  • A creative and attention-grabbing title can pique curiosity and make someone curious to learn more.
  • A good title should accurately reflect the content of the essay, giving readers a clear idea of the topic and main argument.

A goo d essay title includes ;

ComponentDescription
Catchy HookAn attention-grabbing phrase or question that entices readers
Relevant KeywordsWords or phrases that highlight the main theme or subject of the essay
Proper PunctuationCorrect use of punctuation marks according to the chosen citation style

Remember to balance creativity and clarity, ensuring that your title accurately represents your essay’s content and sets the right tone.

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  • Writing your essay first and then crafting the title afterward can be helpful . – This allows you to ensure that the title accurately reflects the content of the essay and serves as a fitting introduction for your readers.
  • Create the title by using your thesis statement as a basis . – By extracting keywords or phrases from your thesis, you can create a concise and focused title that encapsulates the main idea of your essay. This not only provides clarity for your readers but also enhances the overall coherence of your writing.
  • Incorporate popular phrases or clichés with a unique twist . – This can help to grab the attention of your audience and make your title stand out from the crowd.
  • Sum up your essay in three words , highlighting the core message or theme of your writing in a concise and impactful manner.
  • The title should be in line with the overall tone of your writing , whether it is serious, humorous, informative, or persuasive. – Matching your title’s tone to your essay’s tone creates a cohesive and engaging reading experience for your audience.

List of creative essay topics on college

  • The benefits of attending a community college before transferring to a four-year university
  • The impact of technology on college campuses
  • Exploring the role of student activism in college campuses
  • The challenges faced by international students in adapting to college life
  • The importance of liberal arts education in the modern world
  • The effects of social media on college students’ mental health
  • Exploring the rising trend of online education and its impact on traditional colleges
  • The role of college extracurricular activities in personal and professional development
  • The significance of diversity and inclusion on college campuses
  • The impact of college rankings and reputation on students’ decisions
  • Exploring the rise of entrepreneurship in college campuses
  • The benefits and drawbacks of a gap year before starting college
  • The role of college education in preparing students for the workforce
  • The importance of internships and experiential learning in college
  • The Challenges Faced by first-generation College Students and Their Road to Success
  • The effects of student loans on college graduates’ financial well-being
  • Exploring the pros and cons of attending a prestigious college versus a smaller institution
  • The role of college in fostering critical thinking and intellectual curiosity
  • The impact of college sports culture on students’ overall college experience
  • The significance of college study abroad programs in global awareness and cultural exchange

Read More on 50+ Good Research Paper Topics Mental Health with Prompts

Popular Phrases and Clichés for Essay Titles

Phrase/ClichéUnique Twist
Think outside the boxBreaking the Mold: Embracing Unconventional Ideas
A picture is worth a thousand wordsVisual Stories: Unraveling the Power of Images
Actions speak louder than wordsThe Impact of Deeds: Unveiling the Truth Behind Actions

By following these tips and utilizing creative strategies, you can create an effective essay title that captures the essence of your writing, engages your readers, and sets the tone for the rest of your essay.

Essay Title Formats and Punctuations

When it comes to formatting essay titles, different citation styles have specific guidelines that must be followed. Whether you are using MLA, APA, or Chicago style, understanding the correct format is essential for a well-presented and professional essay. Here is a breakdown of the essay title formats and punctuations for each style.

  • MLA Essay Title Format – In MLA style, the title of your essay should be centered and capitalized. You should capitalize the first and last words of the title, as well as every other word except prepositions, articles, and coordinating conjunctions. For example, “The Importance of Education in Society.”
  • APA Essay Title Format – APA style has specific requirements for essay titles. The title should be centered and written in title case, which means capitalizing the first letter of each major word. Additionally, the title should not exceed 12 words and should be clear and concise. For example, “The Effects of Social Media on Teenagers’ Mental Health.”
  • Chicago Style Essay Title Format – In Chicago style, the title should be capitalized, using title case. However, Chicago style gives more freedom to the writer and does not have specific guidelines like MLA or APA. It is important to maintain consistency throughout your essay. For example, “The Role of Technology in Modern Education.”

Punctuating Essay Titles

When punctuating essay titles , follow the rules of the specific citation style. In general, titles of longer works, such as books or movies, should be italicized or underlined.

Shorter works, such as articles or essays, should be enclosed in quotation marks . For example, The Catcher in the Rye or “The Importance of Being Earnest.”.

Citation StyleEssay Title FormatPunctuating Titles
MLACentered, capitalize first and last words, every other word except prepositionsItalicize or underline longer works, enclose shorter works in
APACentered, title case, not exceeding 12 wordsItalicize or underline longer works, enclose shorter works in
ChicagoCapitalized, title caseItalicize or underline longer works, enclose shorter works in quotation marks

Examples of Creative Essay Titles

Coming up with a creative essay title can be challenging, but it’s a crucial aspect of capturing readers’ attention and setting the tone for your writing. Here are some examples of creative essay titles that can inspire you to craft your own unique and captivating title:

List of 20 Examples of Creative Argumentative Essay Titles

  • The Implications of Artificial Intelligence on Future Job Markets
  • Should Vaccinations be Mandatory for Public School Enrollment?
  • The Rise of Deepfakes: A Threat to Personal Identity and Democracy
  • Is Universal Basic Income a Viable Solution to Technological Unemployment?
  • The Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Should We Edit Human DNA?
  • Can Renewable Energy Completely Replace Fossil Fuels by 2050?
  • The Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Opinion: A Force for Good or Bad?
  • The Death Penalty: A Just Punishment or a Violation of Human Rights?
  • Should Governments Regulate Fake News on the Internet?
  • Animal Testing: Necessary Medical Progress or Cruel and Unnecessary Practice?
  • The Impact of Climate Change on Global Migration Patterns
  • Surveillance vs Privacy: How Much Government Spying is Too Much?
  • Is the Gig Economy Empowering Freelancers or Eroding Worker Rights?
  • Mandatory Military Service – An Outdated Practice or Necessary for National Security?
  • Are Traditional Gender Roles Beneficial or Harmful in Modern Society?
  • The Influence of Corporate Lobbying on Democratic Processes
  • Should Colleges Be Tuition-Free, and How Would Society Benefit?
  • Veganism as a Moral Choice: Addressing the Ethical Concerns Regarding Animal Consumption
  • Can Space Exploration be Justified When There are Issues to Solve on Earth?
  • The Consequences of Social Stratification in Educational Opportunities

List of 20 Examples of Creative Narrative Essay Titles

  • “Whispers of the Old Willow: A Child’s Secret Adventure”
  • “Glimpses Beyond the Mirror: Otherworldly Encounters”
  • “Lost in the Library: The Tale of a Mythical Tome”
  • “The Puppeteer’s Promise: Strings Attached to Fate”
  • “Beneath the Hometown Sky: Memories Inked in Stars”
  • “Dancing with Shadows: A Nocturnal Revelation”
  • “Through the Eye of a Needle: Stitching Reality’s Fabric”
  • “The Melody of the Windswept Dunes”
  • “The Inkwell of Dreams: An Author’s Fantasy”
  • “Echoes from the Lighthouse: A Maritime Mystery”
  • “Flight of the Firefly: Illuminating the Darkened Path”
  • “The Clockmaker’s Creation: Ticking Toward Destiny”
  • “Veiled Realms beneath the Suburban Quiet”
  • “A Penchant for Poison: Secrets of an Apothecary’s Daughter”
  • “Reveries of a Solitary Walker in a Vanishing Town”
  • “Carnival of Whispers: The Masked Truths Unveiled”
  • “The Orchard’s Keeper: Roots Entwined with Lore”
  • “A Portrait Painted by Time Itself”
  • “The Last Train to Halcyon: The Journey Beyond”
  • “Waves Against Our Fate: The Chronicles of Seafarers’ Hearts”

List of 20 Examples of Creative Persuasive Essay Titles

  • The Future is Green: Why Renewable Energy is Inevitable
  • Homework: An Outdated Practice in Modern Education?
  • Dress Codes in Schools: Suppression of Expression or Necessary Order?
  • Social Media: Connecting People or Isolating Individuals?
  • The Power of Music: Can Melodies Shape Societies?
  • Animals Have Rights Too: The Case for Ethical Treatment
  • The School Lunch Revolution: Why Nutrition is a Priority
  • Plastic Bags: Convenience vs. Environmental Catastrophe
  • Video Games and Violence: Correlation or Causation?
  • Space Exploration: Worth the Investment or Money Down a Black Hole?
  • Fast Food Nation: The Health Costs of Convenience
  • Should Graffiti Be Considered Art or Vandalism?
  • Vegetarianism: A Healthier Way of Life or a Passing Trend?
  • Standardized Tests: Measuring Intelligence or Stress Levels?
  • Cellphones in Classrooms: Learning Tool or Distraction?
  • Zoos and Aquariums: Conservation Centers or Animal Prisons?
  • The Gig Economy: Freedom from 9-5 or Worker Exploitation?
  • Online Privacy – A Myth in the Digital Age?
  • Surveillance Cameras in Public Places: Safety vs Privacy
  • Mandatory Volunteering: An Oxymoron that Benefits Society?

Examples of Creative Scholarship Essay Titles

  • Beyond Grades: A Story of Overcoming and Achieving
  • The Colors of Determination: Painting My Educational Journey
  • Dancing with Possibilities: My Aspirations in Motion
  • Defying Odds: A Leap from Adversity to Academia
  • A Symphony of Dreams: Composing My Future
  • The Alchemist of Innovation: Transmuting Challenges Into Success
  • Bridging Worlds: An Odyssey from Heritage to Horizons
  • Shaping Destiny with a Palette of Passion and Perseverance
  • The Architect of Ambition: Building a Foundation for Change
  • Crafting Futures: My Quest for Knowledge and Craftsmanship
  • From Trials to Triumph: My Academic Expedition
  • Lighting Up the Mind: Illuminating the Path to Knowledge
  • Across Borders and Boundaries: A Scholar’s Voyage of Discovery
  • Fighting for My Future: A Tale of Tenacity and Triumph
  • Sailing Against the Wind: Charting a Course to Scholarship Success
  • The Power of Words: Weaving a Narrative Tapestry for Education
  • From Shadows to Sunshine: Radiating Hope Through Learning
  • The Melody of Progress: Harmonizing Hardship with Education
  • Pioneering Progress: Navigating New Territories in Learning
  • Lifting As I Climb: An Essay on Ambition and Altruism

Examples of Creative Nursing Essay Titles

  • Navigating the Complexities of End-of-Life Care in Nursing
  • The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Nursing Practice
  • The Future of Nursing: Innovations in Patient-Centered Care
  • The Role of Nurses in Managing Pandemic Outbreaks
  • Exploring Holistic Approaches to Pain Management in Nursing
  • Bridging Cultural Gaps: Effective Communication Strategies in Multicultural Nursing
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing: A Case Study Approach
  • The Power of Empathy: Building Stronger Nurse-Patient Relationships
  • Leadership in Nursing: Strategies for Advancing Healthcare Excellence
  • Embracing Technology: How Informatics is Transforming Nursing
  • Mental Health Advocacy: Expanding the Role of Psychiatric Nurses
  • Balancing the Scales: Addressing Work-Life Harmony in Nursing
  • Pioneering Practices: The Rise of Nurse Practitioners and Their Expanding Scope
  • Healing Beyond Medicine: Incorporating Alternative Therapies in Nursing Care
  • The Silent Crisis: Addressing Nurse Burnout and Retention Issues
  • Collaborative Care Models: Integrating Interprofessional Teams in Nursing Practice
  • Charting New Territories: The Role of Nurses in Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
  • Pediatric Palliative Care: A Delicate Balance Managed by Nurses
  • Combatting the Spread of Infectious Diseases through Nursing Innovation and Education
  • Life on the Frontlines: Personal Narratives of Nurses During Global Health Emergencies

Find more nursing topics and ideas

NB: Choose a title that accurately reflects your essay’s content, engages your audience, and piques their curiosity.

Coming up with a creative essay title requires attention to detail , understanding the purpose and qualities of a good title , and utilizing various techniques such as using your thesis , popular phrases , or summarizing the essay in three words.

Consider the format and punctuation guidelines for essay titles based on the citation style used.

How to come up with a creative essay title in 5 practical steps

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How To Write An Essay

How To Title An Essay

Barbara P

Learn How to Title an Essay Like a Professional Writer

14 min read

Published on: Mar 1, 2023

Last updated on: Jul 23, 2024

how to title an essay

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A title is the one thing that makes your essay and all academic papers impressive. This is because it is the first thing that 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.  A 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 daunting in reality. Creating a title is an art, and not everybody knows how to do it. 

This writing guide is provided to know how important it is to give a correct title to your writing and polish your writing skills. 

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What is an Essay Title

An essay title is the name or label given to an essay, which provides a brief summary of the main topic or theme of the essay.

It should be catchy, informative, and relevant to the content of the essay, while also giving readers an idea of what to expect from the writing. 

A good essay title should capture the reader's attention and make them interested in reading the essay.

Purpose and Importance of Essay Title

A title holds great importance in essay writing. It can easily make or break the quality of your work. 

Choosing a title that interests the audience and motivates them to read your essay. This is because they are intrigued, it serves as fertile land to present your knowledge, ideas, writing skills, and critical thinking.   

Qualities of an Essay Title

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 for writing essay types 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: A great essay title is always written in an 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

  • An attention-grabbing and catchy hook
  • Tone sets the overall mood or attitude conveyed by the title.
  • The focus keyword - the "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?

Almost all essay writers find it tricky to make an appropriate title for their essays. However, writing a title is not only based on good writing skills. You need to know the basics of creating it. 

A good and effective essay title can be created by taking the following steps:

1. First Write an Essay 

It will be extremely beneficial and easy to create a title once you have written an entire essay.

After writing your essay, you will be clear about what title suits your content the most. Complete your essay and then start reading it.

This will give you a clearer picture of how to address the essay properly.

Deciding on a topic or a title can be time taking. Another advantage of writing a title at the end is that it saves a lot of your time. 

Also, the wrong topic makes it difficult for you to choose the best essay title.  

Struggling with getting started with your essay? Check out this helpful guide on how to write an essay !

2. Use your Thesis Statement

There is another reason you should leave your title for an end.  An effective title provides a reason for the readers to read your essay. The best part to find a reason is in the thesis statement in the introduction of your essay. 

You can always get a title from a thesis statement or by using a part of that argument in the title. 

3. Popular Phrases

Catchphrases and cliches that go with the theme of your essay can be used as the titles as well. When popular phrases are appropriate and interesting, they make effective puns. 

Play with the cliches and twist them to create something of your own. Be creative and innovative for your titles as much as you can. 

4. Consider the Tone

Another trick to creating an effective title for your essay is to consider the essay's tone and come up with something related to it. 

If the tone and subject of your essay are serious and sad, never make the mistake of addressing your title in an informal and fun way.  

Do not try to go off the wall in such cases. The tone of your essay and the title have a strong connection to a good essay. 

5. Use a Central Idea or a Quote 

It is not mandatory but an easy way to create a title that uses a central idea. You can use a quote as the title of your essay topic. 

If the purpose is served correctly, even song lyrics work the best sometimes. 

6. Summary in Three Words

The most common and basic technique is to get a title from the summary of your essay. 

A writer can summarize the entire essay or the central idea and thesis statement in three words and write a title. 

This can be a title by putting it in a headline, inserting a colon, and stating the purpose of your essay. 

7. Movie Titles in an Essay 

A movie title can also be used as a title in an essay.

There are some basic ways to do that. A writer can highlight the title, use a capital letter for the first letter of the movie title, and italicize its font. 

Another technique is by creating a sentence structure and using a movie title in it. You can use quotation marks as well as the underlining tool. However, title the essay according to the field of study and don't make it irrelevant. 

Mistakes to Avoid While Giving a Title to Your Essay

Here are some tips to keep in mind when crafting effective essay titles to avoid common mistakes:

  • Positive themes

Avoid writing about sensitive, unethical, or immoral topics, such as drugs, prostitution, or murder.

  • Personal information

Your personal negative experiences should not be included in your essay. However, you can still include lessons learned from those experiences in a professional manner.

  • Relevant Questions

Make sure to ask questions that are relevant to your field of study to ensure you choose an appropriate topic.

  • Professional tone

Keep your essay professional and avoid including personal information or experiences that are not relevant. Your readers are not interested in your personal life.

  • Understanding requirements

It's important to understand your professor's requirements to avoid choosing the wrong topic and wasting time and effort.

  • Neutral perspective

Avoid taking an offensive approach in your essay and steer clear of controversial topics such as religion, abortion, and politics.

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. The format styles include MLA, APA, Chicago, and Harvard. 

MLA, APA, and Chicago are the most common formats that are usually used. If you are writing an essay choosing a specific format, all of the parts should be drafted accordingly. 

From titling an essay to drawing a conclusion, the writer must follow the format properly to create a strong essay. 

How to Title an Essay in MLA Format?

No matter which essay format you are using to shape your argumentative essay, descriptive essay, etc. The qualities of the title and components remain the same.

Although the formatting of the title may differ. 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. 

How to Format an Essay in APA Format?

If you are writing an essay in APA style, you might be wondering how to title an essay in apa format. 

Simply use the following guidelines to format your title and make your writing process easy: 

  • 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.

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 certain guidelines.

  • 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

How to Choose a Good Title for an Essay 

Choosing a good title for an essay is crucial as it sets the tone and theme for the reader. 

Here are some important qualities to consider when selecting a title:

  • Informative: A good title should give the reader an idea of what the essay is about. It should be concise and clearly convey the main topic or argument of the essay.
  • Catchy and Memorable: A title that is catchy and memorable can grab the reader's attention and make them more likely to read the essay. Consider using wordplay, puns, or alliteration to make your title stand out.
  • Unique: A title that is unique and original can make your essay stand out from others. Avoid using generic or cliche titles that have been overused.
  • Accurate: A title should accurately reflect the content of the essay. Avoid using sensational or misleading titles that do not accurately convey the main point or argument of the essay.
  • Relevant: A title should be relevant to the current times or issues. Especially in subjects like current events, social or political issues, and scientific research.
  • Reflective of Tone: The title should also reflect the tone of the essay. If the essay is humorous, the title should be as well. If the essay is serious or academic, the title should reflect that.

Essay Title Examples

Just like the tone of every essay differs, the title also differs from each type of essay. For example, movie titles can only be used for informal writing and narrative essays. 

Some examples of essay titles are provided below.


Finding My Voice: A Journey of Self-Discovery
Lessons Learned: Reflections on Life's Challenges
A Moment of Clarity: How I Overcame My Fears


The Use of Symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
Exploring the Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
An Analysis of the American Dream in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman


The Benefits of a Vegan Lifestyle for Our Health and the Environment
Gun Control: Balancing Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety
The Importance of Bilingual Education in Today's Society


Why Every Home Should Have a Pet
The Benefits of Meditation for a Balanced Life
Making the Switch to Renewable Energy: Why It's Time to Go Green


A Tale of Two Cities: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Living
The Similarities and Differences between Classical and Operant Conditioning
Comparing the Leadership Styles of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X


Overcoming Adversity: How I Grew from Life's Challenges
My Passion for Environmental Science and Sustainability
The Importance of Diversity in My Life and Future Career

Exploring the Relationship between Social Media and Mental Health
The Impact of Climate Change on Global Agriculture: An Analysis of Current Research
The Role of Women in Science: A Historical Perspective

Investigating the Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Treating Depression
The Effect of Music on Memory Retention: A Comparative Study
Examining the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities

Here are some more examples of essay titles.

Tips to Draft an Essay Title

Titles for Different Types of Essay

How To Title An Essay About A Book

Bad vs Good Essay Title Examples

My Essay About the Environment

Climate Change: Causes and Solutions

The Book I Read

The Impact of To Kill a Mockingbird 

Why I Love Music

The Evolution of Jazz Music

A Trip to the Beach

Finding Serenity by the Ocean

My Favorite Hobby

The Art of Photography: Capturing Life

Tips for Crafting an Outstanding Title 

Here are some tips for crafting an outstanding title:

  • 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: A good title should be specific and accurate. It should give the reader an idea of 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:

The success of your overall essay is not just based on how well you presented the argument and conducted research to gather the information. A title plays a vital role as well. 

Creative titles are like the icing on the cake. Nobody will want to read it when it will not appeal to them. 

Make your college essay and paper flawless, as they are the only thing that will get you scores in academics. So, you have to know what mistakes to avoid and what to do when title the essay.   

However, you can ask professionals at our best essay service to write your essays perfectly and with the best quality.

Place your " write my college essay for me " request today to get your essays and research papers written by professionals and get writing services at exciting prices. 

Also, try our AI writing tool to make your academic journey easier!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to use a question or a statement as my essay title.

Whether to use a question or a statement as your essay title depends on the content and purpose of your essay.

Using a question can be effective if your essay is exploratory and seeks to answer a specific question. On the other hand, using a statement can be more appropriate if your essay has a clear argument or thesis statement.

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Barbara is a highly educated and qualified author with a Ph.D. in public health from an Ivy League university. She has spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field, conducting a thorough study on a variety of health issues. Her work has been published in several major publications.

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how to write a creative title for an essay

How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples

(Last updated: 5 April 2024)

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Crafting an essay title is like designing the cover of a book – it's the first thing your professors see, setting the stage for what's inside. As such, the title is crucial because it's the reader's first impression. In this guide, we'll explore why a good essay title matters, offer tips to help you learn how to title an essay and provide examples to illustrate which titles work and which don't.

The Importance of a Good Essay Title

The significance of a good essay title cannot be overstated. Beyond its role as a mere label, a compelling title serves as a powerful tool for drawing your professor’s attention. A good title not only encapsulates the essence of the essay but also reflects the author's voice and perspective. It sets the tone for the entire piece, guiding readers in their interpretation and understanding of the content. Moreover, a well-crafted title can enhance the credibility and authority of the essay, signalling that the author has invested thought and care into their work.

How to Write a Good Title for Your Essay

Crafting a good title requires a blend of creativity, precision, and strategic thinking. To create an effective title, consider the following tips:

  • Brainstorm Ideas : Begin by brainstorming keywords, phrases, and concepts related to your essay topic. Explore different angles and perspectives that encapsulate the essence of your argument or analysis.
  • Consider the Audience : Reflect on your target audience and their interests, preferences, and expectations. Tailor your title to resonate with your intended readership, striking a balance between familiarity and intrigue.
  • Capture the Essence : Reports often incorporate tables, charts, graphs, and other visual aids to enhance the presentation of data and facilitate understanding.
  • Evoke Emotion or Intrigue : Tap into the emotional or intellectual curiosity of your readers by crafting a title that evokes emotion, prompts reflection, or poses a compelling question. Consider using provocative language, vivid imagery, or rhetorical devices to capture readers' attention.
  • Revise and Refine: : Once you've generated potential titles, take time to revise and refine them. Experiment with different word choices, phrasings, and structures until you find a title that resonates and feels cohesive with the content of your essay.

Characteristics of a Good Title

A good title shares several key characteristics:

Descriptive : Clearly communicates the topic or main idea of the essay. Engaging : Captures the reader's attention and sparks curiosity. Concise : Succinctly summarises the content without being overly long or verbose. Relevant : Directly relates to the content and theme of the essay. Original : Avoids clichés and generic phrases. Try to strive for originality and creativity.

Essay Title Examples (Good vs. Bad)

Let's examine additional examples of good and bad essay titles to illustrate these principles:

Good Title : "Exploring Identity: The Intersection of Culture and Self-Perception" Bad Title : "Essay on Identity"

The good title invites readers to explore complex questions surrounding identity and self-perception, fostering curiosity and engagement. In contrast, the bad title lacks specificity and fails to capture the richness and depth of the essay's subject matter.

Good Title : "Breaking Barriers: The Evolution of Women's Rights in the 21st Century" Bad Title : "Essay on Women's Rights"

The good title is engaging and suggests a narrative, while the bad title is a little bland and lacks imagination.

Writing a Catchy Title for Your Essay

To craft a catchy title, consider employing the following strategies:

Wordplay and Alliteration : Incorporate puns, alliteration, or clever wordplay to make your title memorable and attention-grabbing.

Question or Provocation : Pose a thought-provoking question or statement that challenges readers' assumptions or prompts them to reconsider their perspectives.

Use of Imagery and Metaphor : Invoke vivid imagery or metaphorical language that evokes emotion, stimulates the senses, or conveys abstract concepts in concrete terms.

Surprise Element : Introduce an unexpected twist or element of surprise that captures readers' attention and leaves them eager to learn more.

Elevate Your Essay with An Engaging Title

Writing a good title for your essay requires time, skill, and a keen understanding of your subject matter. Crafting an essay title is more than just a formality—it's an art that can set the stage for the narrative that follows. With practice and attention to detail, you'll master the art of essay titling and unleash the full potential of your written creations.

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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

On this Page

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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Forging good titles in academic writing

Published on March 20, 2015 by Shane Bryson . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The title is the first thing your reader will see, and most readers will make their first judgements of your work based on it. For this reason, it’s important to think about your titles carefully.

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Table of contents

Informative, striking, appropriate, title templates, writing effective headings, other interesting articles, informative title.

Your title should, above all else, convey the topic of your paper. In other words, no matter how witty, clever, original, or otherwise appealing your title may be, it fails if it is not informative.

Decide whether you’ve given a sense of the paper’s topic and claims by comparing your title’s content to the most important aspect(s) of your dissertation statement or hypothesis and conclusions.

Striking title

A striking title is one that entices your audience to read, so know your audience’s tastes.

The analogy of cultivating sexual attraction in a prospective mate is useful here: some audiences will be enticed by a title’s edginess (as with, for example, V. Alneng’s “‘What the Fuck is a Vietnam?’ Touristic Phantasms and the Popcolonization of [the] Vietnam [War],” published in Critique on Anthropology ); others will almost always prefer a more straightforward title (as with J.C. Henderson’s “War as a tourist attraction: The case of Vietnam,” published in the International Journal of Tourism Research ).

You should be able to gauge how edgy your title can be by the tone of your discipline or the publication you’re submitting to, and your main concern should be forming a title that appeals to your readers’ specific tastes.

Consider also that a title that highlights the paper’s fresh insights will often be striking.

An endocrinologist, for example, might become very excited upon seeing the collaboratively authored article “Comparison of the effects on glycaemic control and β-cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients of treatment with exenatide, insulin or pioglitazone: A multicentre randomized parallel-group trial,” published in 2015 in the Journal of Internal Medicine .

This rather long title is more acceptable in the sciences, where what readers tend to find provocative in a title is the degree to which it reveals the paper’s specifics.

Appropriate title

Ensuring that your title is appropriate in a way of making sure not only that your audience understands it, but also that its appeal contributes to its meaning. To make sure the title will be understood, you need to consider how familiar your research topic will be to your audience.

In an academic essay, you can use highly technical terms in your title, but generally avoid terms that the average well-read person in your discipline might not know.

In any writing that has a broad audience, titles need to avoid language that is too sophisticated; a news article, for example, should be easily understood by all.

As a second consideration of appropriateness, make sure that your title does not entice without substance.

The title of Alneng’s paper, for example, does not use “fuck” merely to shock and therefore entice the reader; the uncommon use of a swearword here helps convey the topic of the article: more or less vulgar representations of Vietnam.

The same is true for other striking titles, such as Nancy Tuana’s “Coming to Understand: Orgasm and the Epistemology of Ignorance,” published in Hypatia .

The title’s sexually charged play on words (“coming to understand”) hooks the audience, but is not merely a hook. The pun is directly relevant to the essay’s argument, which is that sexual pleasure offers an important form of knowledge.

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  • Use key terms. Find words that your audience can easily identify as markers of the topic matter. These will include, for example, terms that convey the field of research, central concepts, or subjects of study.
  • Identify the context (sometimes called “the location”). By context, I mean the source or the setting of the discussion, depending on discipline. In a history paper this might be a certain century or era; in literary studies a certain book or author; and in the sciences an organism or compound.

The following is a list of title formats, with examples of each. I’ve given the names of the publications in brackets to give a sense of how different disciplines treat titles.

Note that these are not mutually exclusive patterns (i.e. it’s possible to have various combinations; e.g. General & interesting: Informative & specific). Note also that this is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

  • Striking: Informative – The Specter of Wall Street: “Bartleby, the Scrivener” and the Language of Commodities ( American Literature )
  • Informative: Striking – Carbon capture and storage: How green can black be? ( Science )
  • General: Specific – The issues of the sixties: An exploratory study in the dynamics of public opinion ( Public Opinion Quarterly )
  • “Quotation”: Discussion (social studies) – “I’d rather not talk about it”: Adolescents’ and young adults’ use of topic avoidance in stepfamilies ( Journal of Applied Communication Research )
  • “Quotation”: Discussion (literary studies) – “I Would Prefer Not To”: Giorgio Agamben, Bartleby and the Potentiality of the Law ( Law and Critique )
  • Simple and precise – Methodological issues in the use of Tsimshian oral Traditions (Adawx) in Archaeology ( Canadian Journal of Archaeology )
  • Topic: Method – Mortality in sleep apnea patients: A multivariate analysis of risk factors ( Sleep )
  • Topic: Significance – LC3 binds externalized cardiolipin on injured mitochondria to signal mitophagy in neurons: Implications for Parkinson disease ( Autophagy )
  • Technical and very specific – Single-shot quantum nondemolition measurement of a quantum-dot electron spin using cavity exciton-polaritons ( Physical Review )

Although similar, headings are not the same as titles. Headings head paragraphs and help structure a document. Effective headings make your paper easily scannable.

Common high level headings in dissertations and research papers are “Methods”, “Research results”, and “Discussion”. Lower level headings are often more descriptive.

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How to Title an Essay: Step by Step Guide 🤓| Studyfy

How to Title an Essay

how to write a creative title for an essay

Well, neither does your teacher, professor, or boss. The difference is that they don’t have a choice and have to. A good title helps you stand out, and that’s part of the reason why a title is so important. Just knowing the right way to title an essay can boost your grades! 

A good title has to grab the reader’s attention. It’s the first thing someone sees, so think of it as your first opportunity to impress. The title needs to be catchy but focused on the content of your essay. A good title is simple yet informative. Sounds tough? Don’t worry, this article will cover all you need to know about how to title an essay perfectly. 

How to Choose a Good Title for an Essay

A good title makes a reader think “Yes! I want to read the rest of this!” but a title also has to accurately reflect the content of the paper. It’s not just students, one of the differences between an average writer and an expert is how well they can write a title. If you want to work in social media, advertising, or any kind of content writing, learning how to write a title for an essay is an essential skill to have. 

There are two main components of a good essay title.

Catchy Hook

Anyone that’s ever written anything knows that having a catchy hook in your introduction is a requirement, but most people forget that you can include a hook in the title itself. Remember, you want to stand out and differentiate yourself from the competition. 

There are a few places to hunt for keywords to fit into your title. The essay prompt or research question is a good place to start but using words in your thesis statement ensures that your topic accurately reflects the main point of your essay. The use of keywords like this ensures that your title reflects what the essay is about. You’ll know you’ve found the right keywords if they seem like two or three word summaries of the main point of your essay. 

How to Come up With a Title for an Essay

How to create a title for an essay in a way that makes it stand out from the crowd requires creativity, hard work, and time. That may seem like a lot just for a title, but it’s worth it. Follow these bits of advice and craft the perfect title!

Write your title at the end

Just because the title is the first thing someone reads doesn’t make it the first thing you should write! Coming up with a good title is tough and requires a deep understanding of the content of the paper. That means it’s usually better to write the title at the end after you’re done with a couple of drafts of your paper. 

Though it’s good to write according to a plan, often, new thoughts can take your essay in an unexpected direction, this is another reason why its good to start with a working title as a placeholder and go back to write the final title at the end. 

Use your thesis 

A good title hints at what the thesis statement will be. A thesis statement is a summary of the main argument and purpose of the paper, so use your thesis statement as a source of inspiration for your title. This makes sure that your title has predictive power since it’s drawn from the thesis statement itself. 

Simple but not too simple

There is no rule about how long a good title should be - there are benefits to short titles and benefits to long titles. Short titles are direct and clear and better suited for simpler, straightforward essays. Longer titles may be more appropriate for complex or very specific essays. No matter what though, make sure that your titles are easy to understand. 

Make sure your title is specific

A title that’s too general may seem like it’s describing your essay, but it isn’t. Is your essay just about “Mobile Gaming in 2020” or is it about “The Impact of Coronavirus Lockdowns on the FTP Mobile Game Industry”? The first title may be short and to the point, but it doesn’t give enough specific information about the content of the essay. Remember, a good title hints at what the essay is going to be about, but also intrigues the reader. Generic and broad titles don’t do that. 

Your title needs to be believable 

Just because a lot of titles you see on the internet are clickbait, doesn’t mean that you need to write an over the top title as well. Especially if you’re writing a paper for academia, make sure your title doesn’t over-promise what you’re going to cover in the essay. 

Write your title in the active voice

Write your title in the active voice, that is, the subject acts upon the verb rather than the subject receives a verb's action. Writing in the active voice uses fewer words and is more concise and engaging - perfect for writing a catchy title. 

Rewrite famous movies, books, quotes, phrases, quotations, etc. 

Creativity is an important element of coming up with a catchy title. If you can find a famous phrase that you can rework into the perfect title for your essay, go for it! For example, a paper about mitosis and meiosis (cell division) can be titled “Live Long and Prosper”.

Match the style and tone of your essay

It wouldn’t make sense to have an amusing title for an essay about a refugee crisis. Make sure that your title reflects the tone of your essay. Some titles work better depending on the essay style. For example, the title of a persuasive essay would be different than the title of a reflective essay. 

Who’s the audience?

Of course, how you title an essay depends on who you’re writing it for. A blog post targeted towards your friends or prospective followers is going to have a different title than an essay for your stuffy old history teacher. Your young science teacher who loves memes and blows up things in class might appreciate a different type of title. A university application essay usually needs to be more formal. Try and find out as much as you can about who is going to read your essay and cater both your essay and title to them. 

To use or not to use: Colons in essay titles

Using a colon to separate an essay title into two sections used to be the norm. It became so common in fact, that now they are considered cliche. There may be a few occasions when using a colon is just perfect, but avoid overusing it. The best way to use a colon is by inserting a creative phrase or clever quote behind the colon. For example, the title of this section. 

Use evocative imagery

An easy way to make your title catchy is by using imagery. If you can make the reader imagine something in their mind based on your title, you’re starting off with a win. “Stepping into the void: The first spacewalk” is a much better title than simply “The first spacewalk. 

These tips should help you answer how to come up with an essay title!

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Common Titling Mistakes

The deadline is racing towards you and you still don’t have a title! After panicking and writing whatever pops into your head, check to make sure you don’t do any of the following.

  • Either bold your title or underline it  -  Doing both is overkill and rather than stressing the title, makes it look cluttered and messy.
  • Don’t make your title too short - A good title should let the reader predict what the essay is going to be about.
  • Don’t make your title too long.- A long title might give more information about the essay, but it can be cluttered and overloaded with dense information.
  • Don’t use slang, jargon, or abbreviations - You want to make sure that the title is clear. If the teacher has to look up a word in your title, you’re starting off badly. 
  • Don’t get too personal - Your title should entice the reader. Whatever strong arguments you want to make should be made in the body of the essay.  ‍

Make sure your title reflects the content of the essay - This often happens when the title is written first and then the essay. Start with a placeholder title and after the essay is done, work on creating a title that accurately reflects the main purpose of the essay. 

Improved Essay Titles

You might have an idea about what the title should be as you’re working on your essay, but there are still things to watch out for. Sometimes the perfect title pops into your head fully formed, but more often than not, a good title takes thought, effort, time, and several rewrites. Make sure to set aside some time just to work on the title. 

An Exploration of the Best Way to Spend Time During Lockdown Based on Personal Experience

This title might do a good job of explaining what the essay is about but it’s too long and wordy.

Better title: My Lockdown Chronicles: What to do With Unexpected Free Time

An Analysis of Avengers: Endgame

This title is too broad. The topic is interesting but there’s no hook to engage the reader.

Better title: Why Avengers: Endgame is Modern Storytelling at its Best 

Badly Breaking the myths about drug overdose 

This title seems forced. The topic is very serious, so trying to use a pun in the title can come across as incongruent. It also depends on the reader knowing the show Breaking Bad and making the connection. Depending on the audience, this might be the perfect title though, so make sure to consider your audience when writing and titling an essay. 

Better Title: An Analysis of Drug Overdose Deaths in the 2010s

The Best Colorful Birds

This title doesn’t give any specific information or talk about what the reader can expect to learn from the essay.

Better Title: Why Birds of Paradise Evolved to Become the Brightest Birds

Did you like our inspiring Essay Title Guide?

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Essay Title Ideas

Catchy essay title examples

A catchy title can start your reader off intrigued, entertained, and overall, just in a positive state of mind. That’s a good way to get noticed and boost your grade on the essay! Here are some examples of attention-grabbing essay titles.

Underage Romance: An Analysis of the Ages of William Shakespeare’s Characters 
An Alien Among Us: What if Superman Was Real?
The Day the Planet Caught a Virus
The Rise and Fall of the Alpha Male
Memes Before the Internet

College Essay Title examples

When answering a college essay, make sure you read and follow the instruction carefully. Not following the often very strict requirements is. Generally speaking the tone of the essay, and therefore the title should be more serious but don’t be afraid to let your personality come through. Have a look at these examples.

Why Building Houses in a Third World Country was Unsatisfying
The Daily Struggles of an International Student
Energy Equals MC Hammer: My First Day of Dance Class
A Showdown Between William Shakespeare and Hamilton
Mahatma Gandhi’s Disobedience Without Violence

Argumentative Essay Title Examples

An argumentative essay is an opportunity to convince the reader about your view on a topic. Since the goal of an argumentative essay is to make an argument using facts, research, and logic, your title should state your position on the issue. These examples should steer you in the right direction. 

Artificial Intelligence Will Not Matrix Humanity
The Best Soup Is Your Grandmother’s
Oh, the Humanity: Why the Death Penalty Should Be Abolished
Scientific Backing for the Benefits of Video Games
Trial and Error: Better Than the Scientific Method?

Persuasive Essay Title Examples

A persuasive essay appeals to emotions to influence the reader. The main difference between an argumentative essay and a persuasive essay is that an argumentative essay uses facts and research while a persuasive essay relies on emotional appeals. How do these title examples make you feel?

A Glamorous Path to Self Hatred: Modern Beauty Standards
Surreptitious Racism and Why It’s More Difficult to Erase
Saving the Planet, One Tree at a Time
The Natural Way to Heal: Ayurvedic Medicine
Testing the Uneducated: Medical Testing in Third World Countries

Narrative Essay Title Examples

Narrative essays can be thought of as short stories. They ask a writer to share an experience clearly and concisely while making a clear point. The titles of these essays can be more playful and ambiguous. Take a look at some examples.

The Pleasure of Discovering an Amazing New Anime
A Missed Opportunity: Why I Didn’t Attend My Uncle’s Funeral
When my Teacher Became a Father Figure
How Being Bullied Made Me a Kinder Adult
Bloody Victory: My First Mixed Martial Arts Win

Research Paper Title Examples

Research papers test your ability to find credible sources and synthesize complex information into a well-structured format. These are almost exclusively academic, and as such, have formal titles. The first versions of these titles often end up being very long, so spend some time whittling away any extra information. Take a look at the examples below. 

The Effects of Caffeine on Attention and Sleep
Experimental Evidence for the Use of Music in Boosting Agricultural Yields
Not Stinky: Bathing Culture in Ancient China
The Impact of Western Media on 13 to 30-Year-Olds in Asia 
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: A Guide on How to Plan Ahead

English Essay Titles Examples

Writing a title for an English essay doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, if you’re studying literature, you should take the opportunity to flex your creative writing skills. Don’t overdo it though! Titles still need to be predictive, comprehensible, and engaging. Examples down below. 

Akala: A Modern Day Shakespeare
Why We’re Already Living in the Brave New World
The Impact of Foreign Writers on Modern English Literature
The Terrifying Origins of Folk Tales
The Times They Are a-Changing: Analyzing Mark Twain’s Writings in 2019

Quick Recap

A great title piques the interest of the reader and starts their journey at a high point. Whether it’s online or for school, you have to find a way to stand out from the very beginning. A good title takes time and effort, but coming up with the perfect title can also be fun, and it absolutely makes a difference to your grade. 

Ask these questions to make sure that your title is good. 

  • Does the title predict what the paper is about?
  • Does the title use keywords effectively?
  • Does the title accurately reflect the tone of the essay?
  • Is the title appropriate for the audience?
  • Is the title interesting?

Remember these tips when brainstorming an essay title. 

  • Think of an interesting hook
  • Use keywords (Your thesis is a good place to look)
  • Write your title after you’ve written the essay, not before
  • Simple but not too simple, it should be predictive
  • Use as few words as possible while being informative and interesting
  • Keep it believable
  • Match the tone and style of your essay
  • Think about the audience
  • Use imagery
  • Rework a popular phrase
  • Use active voice
  • Avoid unnecessary words and jargon
  • Avoid abbreviations ‍

The title of your essay can make or break your grade, so it's important to choose one that is attention-grabbing and relevant to your topic. If you're struggling to come up with a good title, don't worry! Studyfy has compiled a list of over 300 essay topics to inspire you. And if you still need help with your essay, including proofreading and editing, or if you need to " pay someone to do my essay ", Studyfy's team of experts is always available to help. They offer dissertation writing services , research paper service , and even have an admission essay writer to help you get into your dream school. Just reach out to them for all your academic needs!

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How to come up with a Good Title for an Essay

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Although often overlooked, having a good title for your essay creates an excellent first impression on your readers. After all, it is the first contact point between you and your readers. Therefore, it is most likely that a good title for any paper (essay, research paper, term paper, dissertation, etc.) is necessary for you to warm the hearts of your assessors, supervisors, teachers, and professors. The thing is, titles have a magical way of creating a first impression of an essay or any written piece.

Given this understanding, your essay's title has to shine. When it is appealing, you are already sure that you have knocked your professor off their feet and are busy on your way towards better grades. Consider the title as a means of expressing yourself. It lets your readers understand your thought process, making them interested in reading to settle their doubts and feed their anticipations.

When you select the right essay title, you give a good impression, set a good tone for the paper, and raise the bar higher for your readers so that they anticipate reading more in the introduction and see how you have defended your thesis in the body paragraphs.

In this comprehensive guide, our best essay writers take you through making a good essay title to achieve excellent grades, a wide readership, and accolades from your professors.

Reasons to Have a Good Title for an Essay

Creating a prosperous essay title is not something you take for granted.

Do not confuse a title with a title page. In this case, a title is a name that describes the essay and is contained in the title page or cover page (the first page of your essay that contains your name, course details, class details, subject, date of submission, and professor's name).

Here are some reasons why you should have an eye-catching title for your essay and papers:

  • It is the first thing your lecturer, professor, and other readers see before they read the essay. You have to create a lasting good impression.
  • A good title makes your essay successful. When you have a catchy, relatable, and relevant title, you persuade the reader to dig into your essay sentence-by-sentence and paragraph after paragraph to the last bit.
  • A good title reflects the tone and purpose of the essay, making it easier to anticipate some ideas. It signposts ideas in your essay.
  • An effectively written title makes your essay stand out from the rest of your peers.
  • It also makes it easy to skim through your essay, anticipating solid points and ideas.

The truth about marking college papers is that most do not have much time to read papers. They are busy, and the easier you make it for them to read your paper, the better. Every essay begins with a title and builds ideas from it. When you write a title that communicates what your essay is about and have a hook to grab your readers' attention, you have aced your essay title, but there is more, which we look into in the next section.

What Makes a Good Title for an Essay?

Compare your essay title to an advertisement, more of a billboard. If it is successful, people are eager to read and explore the essay's contents.

A good essay title is 8-10 words long, grabs the readers' attention, gives a clear picture of the essay topic and arguments, uses the correct terminology, and uses a colon to combine different ideas or thoughts.

Here are some qualities of a good title you should consider as you develop one for your essay:

  • It creates interest and draws the attention of the readers to the essay.
  • It is descriptive, provocative, vivid, creative, and informative.
  • Reflects the purpose and tone of the essay. As you try to make it catchy, ensure that it credibly reflects what your essay is about.
  • Sets the scope of the essay from the onset.
  • Pulls down words or phrases from the essay.
  • Does not contain colloquial expressions, metaphors, or clichés.
  • It is direct and straightforward. It should be easy to read. Complicated titles make it hard to comprehend and anticipate what the essay is about.
  • Formatted well and placed as per a writing styles convention.
  • Accurate, relatable, and relevant. The title should be brief and concise. Longer titles confuse readers and demonstrate you have not perfected your writing skills.
  • Written in a language that the target audience understands.

A great title is significant for your essay. Before submitting the essay, ensure it has the qualities listed above. Now that you know what makes a good title, let us jump into the specific components.

Essential Components of a Good Title

When writing any essay , you need to ensure that the title contains these main parts:

  • Hook. You need to include a catchy hook to introduce the subject of your argument or the topic of your essay effectively. You also grab your readers' attention, signaling to them that the essay is worth reading.
  • Topic Keywords. Include keywords related to the essential topics, ideas, and points you have explored in detail in the essay. Tell the readers what the essay is all about. These words and phrases express the core or gist of your essay.
  • Focus on Keywords. These keywords help readers understand more about your argument's source and the point of origin of the concepts you have explored in the essay. These keywords answer your essay's "when/where" question aspect.

Do not hesitate to use a colon to separate the hook from the keywords; it is allowed. Let us use an example to explain these components.

 "The Pathway to Hope: The Struggles, Challenges, and Wins of Immigrants in America"

In this example, "The Pathway to Hope" is the hook, and the topic keywords include "struggles,' "challenges," and "wins." The focus keyword is America. Note that the title effectively addresses all the aspects of an excellent essay title we discussed.

Steps for Creating a Perfect Title for an Essay

You now know why you need a good title and what components to include in making one. Next, let us look at the steps to creating a title that your professor will read and want to read the rest of your essay and aware you the best grade for it.

Step 1: Write the Essay First and the Title Last

You can only develop a good title for an essay after writing it. Writing first and titling last is one of the best formulas when writing a title of an essay or any written piece.

The assumption is that when you have written the entire essay, you can summarize it into three words, understand its tone and scope, and know the main argument (the thesis).

In addition, after you have written and polished the essay, you have captured all that matters. You have no time to waste and can quickly come up with a great title that represents what you have written about in the essay.

Instead of spending much time brainstorming about the title, go straight to research and writing and leave it for the last part. You will be surprised it comes naturally. You can take a 5-10 minute break before setting in to develop the title for your essay.

Step 2: Read the Essay Fast

After writing and polishing the essay, you need to skim through your essay one more time to identify the main points, including the thesis statement. As you skim, summarize the contents of your essay or the thesis in three words or less. Select two or three words from your introduction or conclusion; ensure they are short, descriptive, and straightforward.

Step 3: Formulate and Polish the Essay Title

You do not just come up with a title one time. Instead, you will have alternatives to choose from. The beauty of having a list of potential titles is that you can filter them out using the tips we share in this article (see the next section) to arrive at the final selection that makes for the best essay title. Once you have the title, ensure that you polish it to a brief, memorable, and creative name that you give the essay. The title is the identity of your essay. Therefore, make it spotless and memorable. Polishing means rewording, restructuring, punctuating, and editing for grammar.

Related Readings:

  • Writing a synthesis essay
  • Steps for good expository writing
  • How to analyze a poem
  • Steps for writing a bomb movie review
  • Ideas and tips for police brutality essays
  • Tips for writing an argumentative essay fast

Tips for Selecting a Great Essay Title without Sweating

As you undertake the three steps above, here are a few tips to help you write an outstanding essay title.

  • Write the title last. Essay titling is not part of the writing process. You should not waste time coming up with a suitable title. Instead, write the essay first, and the title will appear naturally.
  • Use the thesis statement . When writing the essay title, you can condense the thesis into a title or at least make them interdependent.
  • Consider your audience. The title should appeal to your audience. Therefore, if you write for a knowledgeable or semi-literate audience, ensure you mind your words and tone effectively.
  • Make it simple. When your title is simple, clear, and concise, it has a way of winning the trust and time of your readers. Ensure you capture the focus and topic keywords as you frame your title. A great title is direct and straightforward.
  • Format the title correctly. When writing the title, ensure that the titles or names of books, articles, plays, and songs that are part of it are either italicized or in quotes.
  • Use the correct punctuation. Ensure that your essay title is well punctuated. A simple mismatch can make the readers misinterpret its intended meaning. Do not use punctuation marks randomly but only when necessary. When you use italics or quotes, be consistent throughout the essay.
  • Use compound titles. Ensure that your essay title contains an evocative primary title followed by a more descriptive title. You can use a colon to separate the two. See the example we gave above.
  • Never use abbreviations. Avoid including abbreviations, jargon, slang, and other unnecessary lingo in your essay title. Be as simple as possible.
  • Rework any clichés and popular phrases. When you identify popular catchphrases in your essay title, ensure that you substitute them with formal phrases and words.
  • Capitalize well. When writing the title, capitalize it in the title case.
  • You can use questions. Sometimes, exciting titles can be questions. Consider the question you can ask and compose a title around it.
  • Limit it to 8-10 words. A good title is short, clear, and informative. Do not waste words writing a long and boring title.
  • Check journals for motivation. When writing the title of your essay or research paper, consider the catchy and informative titles used in journal articles discussing the same ideas as those in your essay or paper.

Our Final Words on Crating Strong Titles

An essay title is more than just a combination of words. It has to be strong, informative, direct, and concise. Ensure your essay title is placed on your title or cover page for easier identification. Developing a good topic takes time, practice, commitment, and dedication. Therefore, be easy on yourself and consult widely.

Related Reading: H ow to write the title of an article in a paper.

When you write a captivating essay title, you will earn the best grades. Instead of just reading the title page, introduction, and conclusion , the professor will be interested to read your entire paper and award you the best grades/marks. We hope you will make the best essay title going forward.

If you need help writing essays with well-formulated titles, you can hire our professional writers. They are experts in writing well-formatted essays fast and immediately. No matter the essay research topic or idea , we have your back.

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Components of Essay Title

Useful rules of creating interesting titles, steps to create essay titles, mistakes to avoid, tips for crafting an effective essay title, how to title an essay.

When it comes to essay writing, the title plays a crucial role in setting the tone for the entire piece. A well-crafted title can attract readers and make them eager to delve into the content of your essay. In this post, we will explore the art of titling an essay and discuss the key components that make a title effective.

A good essay title should have a catchy hook that grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning. Think of the title as the icing on the cake - it should be enticing and intriguing, enticing readers to dive into the text. However, it's important to ensure that the content of the essay lives up to the promise of the title. A great hook is only effective if it is supported by strong and engaging content.

For example, consider the title "Last journey: the tales of African migrants on the Mediterranean Sea." The phrase "last journey" immediately captures attention and sets a tone of tragedy and hardship.

Regardless of the type of essay, a well-crafted title typically includes the following components:

  • A Catchy Hook : The hook is the element that draws readers in and piques their interest. It should be creative and engaging, setting the tone for the rest of the essay. A good title should make readers curious and eager to explore the content further.

When crafting your essay title, focus on developing a hook that is both attention-grabbing and reflective of the content. Remember, the title is the first impression that readers will have of your essay, so make it count.

  • Topic Keywords: A good title should include topic keywords that describe the essay and identify the concept under review.
  • Focus Keywords: It is important for a title to contain focus keywords that tell the place and time being reviewed, making the title more professional and informative.

Creating an interesting title can be a challenging task, but there are certain rules to follow. Here are some basics on how to come up with a title for an essay:

  • Title every piece of writing: Create engaging headings for each section to give them a distinct identity.
  • Ensure the title reflects the theme: Choose a heading that accurately summarizes the content of the text to avoid confusion.
  • Think beyond the assigned topic: Explore different angles and perspectives when brainstorming title options.
  • Use proper capitalization: Capitalize the first letters of all words in the title, except for pronouns, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.
  • Avoid underlining titles: Boldface is sufficient for emphasis; underlining may be excessive.
  • Review and revise the title: Check for grammar, spelling, and overall effectiveness of the heading in conveying the message of the text.
  • Use colons appropriately: When combining two distinct topics in a title, separate them with a colon.
  • Seek inspiration from renowned writers: Study the works of famous authors to enhance your writing style and techniques.

Now that we have touched the basics, read about how to create a title for essay. View the steps to know how to write a creative and effective title

1. Write your essay as the first step but the title as the last: The first step is to write it in the first place and for this, you may consider using an . You should form the content that the writer develops argument or view of the perfect topic. However, you can have a working title to start with, but later you can change it for a better one that attracts your attention based on the content. The type of essay determines what kind of heading you would give it.

2. Use your thesis: When reading a heading informs you why you are reading it. Since headline comes last, you can start creating thesis statement and writing the purpose of an essay. It is practical to take part in creation of thesis statement.

When generating essay title ideas, avoid using clichés and popular phrases as they can make your title less unique and engaging. Instead, try to come up with original and creative titles that reflect the content of your essay.

Avoid using quotes verbatim in your title. While quotes can be a great source of inspiration, it's important to put them in your own words to make the title more personalized and reflective of your writing style.

Make sure the tone of your title matches the tone of your essay. Using the wrong tone can confuse readers and make them lose interest in your writing. Keep it consistent and appropriate for the content.

Simplicity is key when it comes to crafting a title. Avoid using complex sentences or language that may confuse readers. Keep it clear, concise, and easy to understand.

Be original and give your title a unique voice. Avoid copying other authors' titles and make sure your title stands out from the rest. Make it your own and let your personality shine through.

Choose the right words for your title to accurately reflect the content of your essay. Avoid using inappropriate or misleading words that may misrepresent your writing.

Avoid using jargon or abbreviations in your title. Make sure your title is clear and easily understandable to a wide audience. Use full words instead of abbreviations to ensure clarity.

Draw inspiration for your title from the summary of your essay. Summarize the main points of your essay and use them to create a catchy and relevant title that captures the essence of your writing.

When creating titles for essays, avoid common mistakes such as using clichés, copying quotes verbatim, mismatching tone, overcomplicating the title, lacking originality, using inappropriate words, using jargon or abbreviations, and not drawing inspiration from the essay's summary.

  • Avoid negative themes: It is important to steer clear of sensitive, unethical, or immoral topics in your writing. 
  • Avoid making your negative past public: Your personal history should not be the focus of your writing. If you have learned valuable lessons from past experiences, you can incorporate them into your work without going into unnecessary detail.
  • Ask the right questions: Asking relevant questions related to your field of study is crucial in selecting a suitable topic for your essay.
  • Avoid being overly personal: Keep your writing professional and avoid delving into personal anecdotes or details that are not relevant to the topic at hand.
  • Follow the professor's guidelines: It is essential to understand and adhere to your professor's requirements to ensure that you choose a suitable topic and meet the necessary criteria for your assignment.
  • Avoid taking an offensive stance: Refrain from choosing controversial or offensive topics, such as religion, politics, or other contentious issues, in your writing.

If you're struggling to come up with a catchy title for your essay, consider these helpful tips:

  • Use a key sentence from your essay as a potential title.
  • Get creative and modify your chosen sentence to make it more engaging.
  • Start your title with popular question words like "What," "Where," "When," or "Who."
  • Consider using "How" and "Why" questions to pique interest.
  • Place your title above the main topic to grab attention.
  • Draw inspiration from famous book, movie, or song titles that align with your essay's theme.
  • If your title seems too basic, add a unique twist to make it more compelling.
  • Combine two simple titles to create a more dynamic headline.
  • Test different title options to see which resonates best with you.
  • Seek feedback from others if you're struggling to choose a title.
  • Experiment with different word counts for your title, from two words to five words.
  • Put a creative spin on clichés to make your title stand out.
  • Ensure your title is grammatically correct and free of spelling errors.
  • Avoid using overly complex language that may alienate readers.

Crafting an interesting title is a task that requires dedication and effort. As an , you are like a baker creating a masterpiece. Just like a baker decorates a cake with icing to enhance its appearance, a well-crafted title can make your essay more appealing.

Just as a cake without icing may taste delicious but lack visual appeal, an essay without a good title may not attract readers. So, make sure to put effort into creating a captivating title for your essay. Now that you have learned how to title an essay, go ahead and craft one yourself or use our essay title generator.

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How to Title an Essay?

Purpose and importance of essay title.

An essay title bears great importance, which is why a wrong headline choice can make or break the quality of the paper you submit. Why? The reason is simple. The title you choose has to intrigue your professor or other readers. It must make them want to start reading the whole thing to find out what you wrote and how you developed an argument. This is especially important for an argumentative essay topic . That is why the words you use are vital to the success of the entire work.

The title is, in fact, the first thing your professor, client, or other readers see and your job is to get the “This seems very interesting” reaction, rather than “Oh God, this will be boring.”

Some may assume that the text is the only thing that matters. Every part of your paper plays a huge role if you want to get positive feedback and a good grade. Choosing a title that encourages people to read your essay because they’re curious also allows you to find fertile ground to showcase your knowledge, wisdom, and writing skills simultaneously. This is particularly important for freelance writers whose success depends on the number of people who open and read their essays and articles.

What Are the Qualities of a Good Essay Title

Before you start writing a title for your essay, it is always useful to know more about the qualities that every headline should have. When you know all characteristics of good titles, you’re bound to make wise decisions and complete this part of the essay writing process successfully.

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Below we present the most important qualities for the title of your paper:

Eye-catching – think about it. Do you prefer reading content or academic papers with boring headlines, or you’re more inclined to opt for something with an interesting, eye-catching deadline? The answer is obvious

Credible – most students and freelance writers make mistakes by trying to make their titles catchy. In such a way, they stray from the truth, thus making the headline inaccurate or a complete, blatant lie. Nothing will anger your professor like a heading that doesn’t correspond to the truth

Easy to read – nobody likes complicated and tricky titles, not even your professor. Stay away from strange phrases, complex structures, and even some uncommon fonts when writing your headline

Active voice – if your heading contains verbs, always make sure they’re in active rather than passive voice. For instance, instead of “Is regression of society caused by celebrity culture”, you should write “How does celebrity culture contribute to the regression of society?”.

Brief – whenever you can, make an essay title concise. Long headlines are confusing and don’t demonstrate your skills for laconic writing

Accurate – regardless of the topic or niche and under no circumstances write an inaccurate essay title. It would help if you gave your readers a clear idea of what they will read in an essay. Never try to mislead. It can only harm the overall quality of the essay, and your professor will not appreciate it

What Are The Components of the Essay Title?

Our experts state that all types of essays have their outline formula you can use to write a high-quality paper. If you build your heading, you can create your formula too. Below are the main components of your essay’s title:

  • A catchy hook – introduces the paper in a creative way
  • Topic keywords – the “core” of your essay. This component identifies concepts you’ll be exploring
  • Focus keywords – the “where/when” of your essay. Together with topic keywords, these are vital for your headline and provide more info that makes it professional

Example: Buy Me a Date: Consumerization and Theories of Social Interaction in 21st Century Online Dating Sites

Let’s deduce:

  • Catchy hook – “buy me a date”
  • Topic keywords – “consumerism, social interaction, dating”
  • Focus keywords – “21st century”

checklist for writing a title for an essay

Stuck on How to Title an Essay?

Check out these example essay titles. Essay Topic Generator Look for topic View more

How to Create Essay Title

Now that you know the importance of essay titles and the qualities they should have, it’s time to learn how to create them. Don’t feel bad about yourself if you can’t make a good essay title on the spot. Even the most prolific writers experience writer’s block when choosing an ideal headline. The writer’s block isn’t the issue here. It matters how you overcome it and create the title. Here are a few ideas that you’ll find useful.

Write Essay First, Title Last

Creating the title and writing your essay may seem logical, but doing the opposite can be more beneficial. Most authors never start with the title. Of course, you may have some working headline in mind, allowing you to focus, develop an argument, and so on. But, writing your paper will give you a clear idea of what to use in your title. As you write and reread your essay, you’ll know what to say in the title and intrigue your reader. You’ll experience your “Aha; I’ll write this” moment.

Another benefit of creating a title is that you won’t waste too much time. It is not uncommon for students to spend hours just figuring out the proper title for their essays. That’s the time you could have spent researching, creating an outline, or writing. If you still feel confused, you can get professional   online writing help at Edusson.

Use Your Thesis

Here is yet another reason to leave the title for the end. Good titles offer your reader (or more of them) the reason for reading your paper. Therefore, the best place to find that reason is the thesis statement you’ve already written in the introduction. Try working the thesis statement, or at least a part of it, into a title.

Let’s say your thesis statement is this: “The American colonies rebelled against Great Britain because they were tired of being taxed, and they resented British military presence in their lives and homes.”

To create a title, you may use the alliteration “Tired of Taxes and Troops,” or you can opt for “Rebellion of American Colonies against British Rule: Taxes, Troops, and other factors.”

Use Popular Phrases and Clichés You Can Re-work

Popular catchphrases that apply to the essay’s topic make eye-catching titles, too, particularly when the phrase is amusing or creates an interesting pun. Besides popular phrases, you can also go for clichés and make some tweaks to re-work and adapt them to the topic of your essay and title itself. For instance: “Fit to be tried: The battle over gay marriage in the courts”.

Consider the Tone of Your Essay

Of course, the tone of your essay plays an important role in creating a perfect title. If you are writing about a serious topic, don’t be witty, silly, or off-the-wall with your headline. If your essay is a personal statement with some anecdotes, you can go for a sparkling yet intelligent title. Always make sure the tone of the title and essay match. Bear in mind that even in amusing titles, you should avoid using jargon. Don’t use abbreviations in your headlines as well.

Use Quote or Central Idea

This isn’t a general rule, but it is handy when applicable. Your title can feature a quote or a part of it taken from our similar interesting essay topics and ideas you’re writing about. If appropriate and relevant to the subject, even a part of a song lyric can serve the same purpose. You can take a fragment of a thought-provoking quote when your essay is about a book. For example: “Toil and trouble: Murder and intrigue in Macbeth”.

Sum Up Your Essay in THREE WORDS

This is a useful technique for creating essay titles. All you have to do is to sum up your entire essay or a thesis statement in three words and use them to build the headline, put a colon and then insert what your essay is all about.

how to write a creative title for an essay

How to Punctuate an Essay Title

Many authors find it difficult to punctuate titles in essays. Properly punctuating titles may be tricky, because the standards aren’t always consistent. Here are some professional tips from our expert that used to write a college essay for students for appropriately punctuating titles using italics, capitalization, and quotation marks.

Although the criteria for proper title capitalization vary widely, here are a few guidelines. Except for articles and prepositions, capitalize the first and final word in a title and every other word in the title. Some people recommend capitalizing prepositions with five or more letters. Of course, just the initial letter is capitalized.

Use punctuation marks only when essential, not at random . Commas, colons, and semicolons are examples of punctuation marks that should be used when they are required. Quotation marks should be placed wherever one occurs in the text of an essay or on the works-cited page.

If your essay contains a subtitle, place a colon after the title and the subheading on the following line underneath it . Even if your headline and subtitle are very short, use two lines. Your work’s additional titles or headers should be bolded but not bigger than the text that follows them. Arrange them to the left and insert them either at the beginning of a section with a period or on their line without a period.

Self-sufficient works or collective essays are italicized . For example, the title of a newspaper might be placed in italics. The title of an article, a song from an album, and a TV episode would be in quotation marks.

Using italics instead of quotation marks consistently throughout your text is critical. The standards for capitalizing and punctuating titles differ in writing. Certain writing assignments need to use one writing handbook’s format over another. Therefore, it might be useful to consult your professor to choose the best guidebook to follow for academic work.

Examples of Good and Bad Titles for Essays

Unsurprisingly, the reader is drawn to an essay title immediately. Nobody loves lengthy and clumsy headlines that do not convey the paper’s main argument. Pay close attention to the word choice as you angle your work. Make use of your rational thinking and creativity. Our specialists that can gladly help you to write essays for money produced the sections below for further information.

It should be simple to read

Essay titles that are completed yet difficult to grasp will not aid you. As a result, it is better to avoid using difficult terms and ideas. Choose something that every level of the reader may read and understand.

Good: “Joseph Stalin vs. Winston Churchill”, “How to Deal with Depression”, “Pros and Cons of Freelance”.

Bad: “Employees Use Social Networking Rather Than Concentrating During Work Hours”, “When Should You Start Giving Your Baby Solid Foods”

It must be short

The title of your essay should not be overly lengthy. It should instead be succinct and straight to the point. Long essay headlines will mislead your readers and not highlight your writing abilities.

Good: “Best App for Writers”, “The Effect of Racism”.

Bad: “What Do School Shooting Survivors Do When They Return to School”

It must be captivating

If you write a good title, it might become an attention-grabbing aspect. Don’t pass up the opportunity to wow your audience right away.

Good: “Suppose This Happened on Your First School Day”, “Do You Engage in Any of These 10 Awkward Behaviors?”

Bad: “Everlasting Feelings”, “Recent Advances in Kidney Failure Treatment”

Mistakes to avoid

  • Avoid negative tone and sensitive problems
  • No dramatic and unclear titles
  • Don’t overuse fonts and punctuation
  • Be simple and avoid complicated language
  • Try to sound professional, don’t use filler words

25 Captivating Titles For An Essay

Do you want your essay to persuade your readers or professor? Start with the right words in the title. How your words sound matter more than how sensible they are. One of the greatest principles every student must adhere to is to create meaningful and persuasive papers. The first important step is choosing a catchy topic. If you feel lost, you can look up a list of argumentative topic examples from your field of study. A captivating subject can do a ton of wonderful things: increase the readers’ engagement, grab the professor’s attention, make your paper more interesting, and score higher marks.

What topic idea do you think would make someone start reading your paper immediately? Interesting, confident, creative, striking, bold are some of the words that describe the best essay titles.

Regardless of the paper, you handle, use the following steps on your way to crafting an interesting topic.

  • Find a creative hook, fact, or quote
  • Get the right words to describe your idea
  • Think about a statement that summarizes your paper

Are you stuck wondering how to title your essay? Don’t worry – we have a great selection of catchy college essay titles that will capture the reader’s attention. Our list is sure to help you make a lasting impression on your professor or any other reader. If you need further assistance, you can also take advantage of our literature review service for the best results.

Argumentative Essay Title Examples

  • Society Has The Responsibility Of Fighting Anorexia
  • Every Country Must Activate The Death Sentence
  • Is The US Education System Of Any Help To International Students?
  • The Most Corrupt Nations In The World
  • Is Politics A Practical Art Or An Inborn Talent?
  • Does Alcohol Destroy The Brain?
  • The Most Appropriate Age To Vote
  • Spanish Is Not The Easiest Language To Learn
  • Do Steroids Help Or Destroy Human Body?

Persuasive Essay Title Examples

  • Capitalism: The Perpetrator Of Social Development
  • Are Illegal Immigrants A Big Issue?
  • Alternative Medicine: Pros And Cons
  • What Role Do Guidance Counselors Play In The Mental Health Of Teenagers
  • TV As A Major Contributor To Violence In Society
  • How Would Superman Be In The Real World?
  • Horror Movies Must Be Banned For Kids’ Sake

Catchy Essay Title Examples

  • Team Games Should Be Played By Both Boys And Girls
  • Zoos Vs. Human Prisons
  • The Good Side Of  War
  • Marijuana Can Assist In Peacemaking
  • School Kids Should Stop Wearing Uniforms
  • The Use Of Filthy Language On The Internet
  • Technology Is Turning People Into Zombies
  • The Pros And Cons Of Globalization
  • Tsunami Is A Death Wave

Bottom line

The success of your essay doesn’t only depend on the argument you develop, research you do, the title matters as well. Most students struggle to find an ideal headline, but with a few easy tips and tricks from this post, you can forget about frustrations, save some time, and create a catchy and informative headline to intrigue readers. But if you have some doubts, why not try custom essay writing at Edusson and make sure you have everything in place for a successful essay?

FAQ About How to Title an Essay

Can an essay title be a question.

Yes, it can be a question. It should be related to the facts presented in the essay and should represent the thesis that the author intends to prove. But don’t overuse it. Sometimes it may add to your essay a less formal tone.

How Long Should An Essay Title Be?

Excellent research paper titles include precise terms and phrases that appropriately reflect the article’s key topic. Come up with a title for essay that is brief yet contains enough keywords. This will allow others to locate it while searching related databases. A typical rule of thumb is 5 – 10 words.

Should An Essay Title Be Italicized?

If the source is independent, italicize the title. Write the titles of books, films, websites, and magazines in italics. If the paper belongs to a larger piece of work, add the quotation marks. Writers use them for articles, websites, essays, and songs .

Related posts:

  • Effective Ways to Improve Creativity

How to Write a Synthesis Essay

  • How to Use Sentence Starters for Essays
  • How to Write a Hook for your Essay or Paper [Examples Included]

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how to write a creative title for an essay

How to Title an Essay and Grab the Reader’s Attention Right From the Word Go

How to Title an Essay

Take a moment to think about an essay title like a billboard. Isn't it an advertisement, too?! A good title catches the reader's attention and makes them eager to read more and discover what your essay offers. That's why it's important to know how to title an essay and how to make it informative and creative.

Your heading is the first thing the reader sees. Your job is to make them think, 'This is going to be interesting' rather than, 'Oh, it seems very boring.' In this article, we will teach you how to get the reactions you want the readers to have – ‘Amazing!’, ‘What an interesting essay title!’, ‘I’ll definitely read this one till the end.’ If that is the kind of sentiment you want your audience to have, then let’s get down to reading!

Basic Elements of an Essay Title

A misleading essay headline can make or break your paper's quality. That's why your words can be vital for the success of the entire work. But who wants to spoil their essay quality by choosing the wrong title?! To avoid this from happening, let's learn the basic elements of essay headings:

Intriguing hook. A hook creatively introduces an essay to readers. Do you prefer reading content with boring headlines, or are you more inclined to opt for something more eye-catching? Best essay titles are crafted from a catchy hook that acts like bait to draw the reader's attention.

Topic keywords. The first step to creating a great essay title is to find a few words that describe your paper's topic. A thesis statement is the best place where you can find them. For example, if your topic is electro-mobiles, your keywords can be – engine, electric car, charging, eco-friendly, etc. Topic keywords are the core of your essay; they identify the concepts you'll be exploring and answer the question 'What?'

Focus keywords. Once you figure out the topic, the next step is to make a title as specific as possible. This component answers the questions 'where' and 'when' to tell the place and time. This way, you can make the heading more professional.

For now, you are a step closer to knowing the ins and outs of an essay title creation that truly grabs the reader's attention.

What Makes a Great Essay Title?

The essay title is a critical element in writing that college students should master to produce excellent academic papers. It would help if you considered its characteristics to construct a creative title that stokes the reader's curiosity. Some may think it's a simple task, but it takes more effort than anticipated. To make it easier for you, let's go through each character that makes good essay titles:

great essay title

Grabs Attention and Engages Readers

When chosen carefully, a catchy headline can draw in the readers. It should capture the attention of those who wouldn't typically read the topic. You can use different methods to develop an eye-catchy hook:

Metaphors. Coming up with a good analogy to make your essay's heading more memorable isn't difficult. The important thing is to explain that metaphor, which is a transfer of meaning, in your paper. Your essay title is a hook; if you deceive the reader's expectations, they won't go through the rest of your well-written essay.

Unexpected expressions. This type of heading can catch a reader's curiosity. Seeing something in the title that wasn't expected to be there typically pushes them forward to understand more about it.

Contradictions. With contradiction, you can create a title with the opposite meaning of your main idea. This hook can grab the reader's attention in an argumentative essay to determine how you will state your central idea.

If it's still confusing for you to grasp the essay title writing basics, making you wonder, 'Is there anyone who can write paper for me ?' You can always use our MBA essay writing service or economics paper writing service to do that job for you.

Clearly Stated and Concise

There is no need to tell the whole essay story in your title; you should just summarize your paper in a few creative words. The best practice is to divide the thesis statement into 4-5 words. Try to be as specific as possible; a good essay title should be short and simple.

Avoid using fancy words; start writing with a couple of keywords and put them together. No one likes complicated and tricky essay titles. So, try to stay away from strange phrases and complex structures.

Most students make mistakes by trying to make essay headings catchy and end up straying away from the truth. It's an inaccurate practice that can destroy your entire story. To construct good titles, they should mostly come from your essay's topic, thesis statement, and keywords.

Written in Active Voice

IIf your title contains a verb, always make sure it's in an active voice. Passive voice often confuses readers; giving them a clear idea of what they will read in your academic work would be better. For example, instead of writing, 'Is pollution of nature caused by cars' exhaust?' you can say, 'How does car exhaust contribute to the pollution of nature?'

Titles speak volumes about your academic essay. That's because it's worthwhile to make it perfect. If you want to bring your essay title prowess to the next level, you should be aware of every characteristic it has. This way, it gets easier for you to complete this part of the story, paper, blog article, or any type of assignment you're up to.

Promises Advantages to the Readers

Your aim in creating good essay title examples is to grab the reader's attention. But with that intention, it should also promise them some advantages. For Instance, when you are reading a title that catches your interest, sometimes it isn't enough to make you go through the whole writing. Maybe because you don't have time for it, but if that title also gives the feeling that it will be informative, you will save it to read for later. That's why the title needs to be creative and informative at the same time.

If you can't make good essay titles yet, don't feel bad about yourself. Sometimes, even professional writers experience writer's block while thinking of an ideal heading. What matters is to overcome it, use your writing skills and create a title for an essay that everyone should be willing to read.

Feel free to contact us for help, and we will satisfy your ‘ write my thesis for me ’ request or any other!

Still having problems with writing an essay title?

Let the experts at our professional essay writing service do it for you.

Avoids Acronyms and Jargons

For now, we already know that an essay focuses on attracting attention. But it should be done accurately. More often than not, the specific essay title ideas sound more creative for you while using some kind of jargon, but it's not common in academic writing. An inaccurate essay title can break the overall quality of your paper.

You should also avoid writing about any unethical or immoral subjects. It may be an interesting topic for you to discuss, but it can't be done in narrative and descriptive essays or any kind of academic writing.

Using acronyms in your creative titles isn't the best practice, either. Even if it's a known acronym for everyone, you shouldn't write it anyway. For example, if you want to use the word 'NASA' in your title, which is an acronym, the right way to do it is to write the full name – 'National Aeronautics and Space Administration.'

How to Come up with a Title for an Essay in 5 Easy Steps?

good essay titles

Different types of essays have the same pattern for writing titles. So, for example, if you are writing a descriptive essay now and tomorrow, you need to write a narrative essay. You don't have to use different rules to create their titles. But for the research paper, you need more other details.

I guess you already know the main characteristics of great essay titles. Now, we can guide you on how to create one yourself. Let's define the steps how to come up with a good title for an essay:

Think About Your Audience

Of course, while writing any essay or paper, you always think about who reads it. It's crucial because you should match their interests to impress them. The same works for the title, too. Think about who will read your writing while choosing a headline. What is most likely to appeal to them? Is this paper going to the professor who loves humor? Then use one. Analyze the writing style your readers like, match it and use it to create a title for an essay.

You are crafting your writing for a specific audience; think from their perspective and write a title that can grab enough attention.

Go Through Your Essay Assignment Guidelines Again

While writing students often dive into creative thinking that can deviate from the main guidelines. To avoid that happening, always go through your essay instructions several times. Check if there are any special requirements for appropriate titles and follow them. In such a way, you can always be sure to stay in the right direction with your essay title.

Read through Your Essay Again

It's typically rare for a good title to come to your mind suddenly; it often needs to be worked on. Great titles are usually crafted from the keywords, thesis statement, and essay topic. Write them down and think of how you can connect them all creatively. These words reflect the central idea and main concept of your essay. Then, re-read your writing, join the main words into sentences and convert them into shorter phrases. Doing this way, you can create a title for an essay that will be both creative and informative.

Restate Your Title

While working on headlines, many essay title ideas can pop up in your mind. Some of them can be fully formed, but whichever you choose, write it down, expand and edit several times. Make the title as simple and informative as possible. Be direct and never mislead the readers, or you can lose their trust; plus, it can only harm your paper's quality. Edit your title until you find it catchy, too. Be enthusiastic and use all your writing skills to create the best headline for your work.

Write Your Title Last

The best advice on how to make a creative title for an essay is exactly like this. Then, when you finish the work, you already have the main concept and all the keywords from which you can craft a great essay headline. This way, you can be more precise, too, as you already know your whole paper.

Now, you have all the essay titling to make the whole writing process easier for you. But, of course, if it still doesn't help, you can always use a professional writer to help you.

You have nothing to worry about!

Use our paper writing service , and our experts will do that job for you.

how to write a creative title for an essay

Essay Title Formats

We already discussed the characteristics of an essay and guided you on how to create one, but did you know there are different headline formats? Do you know which one you were assigned with? The most commonly used formats are APA and MLA. So let's define both of them to clear all the confusion:

Essay Title Page in APA

You’ve already learned the how-to essay title essentials, so it’s time to proceed to the formatting rules. Now let's see in which format you prefer to write.

In APA format, your title should be in the title case. That means every word that isn't prepositions, articles, coordinating conjunctions, or the word 'to' paired with the infinitive must be capitalized.

A separate cover page in APA format is a must. The following should be listed: The title of your writing, your full name, the institution and department you are in, the course the paper is for, your instructor's name, and the due date. All must be double-spaced and centered. Your cover page in APA should look like this, for example:

The Effects of Car Pollution on Nature

Nadia. K Smith

Department of Nature Sciences, University of California

Nat135: Environmental Problems

Dr. Sarah Williams

September 17, 2021

This example can give you an overview of how to title a page in this format. Also, remember that the APA format is usually used for technical and scientific works.

Essay Title Page in MLA

Similar to the APA format, MLA requires essay titles to be in the title case, too. But it has different rules for the title page. In this format, no title page is required. Instead of it, you must add a 4-line header on the first page.

The header lists your full name, the instructor's name, the course number or title, and the submission date. The header is double-spaced and left-aligned, and the paper's title is centered under the header. For example:

Professor Garcia

Humanities 201

October 10, 2019

The Importance of Following an Essay Structure Guidelines

This is what your essay title in MLA format should look like. MLA is typically used in humanities subjects, such as literary studies, media studies, and languages. We also recommend that you read our article on MLA in-text citation – this information may be useful to you.

Good Essay Title Examples

Knowing theory isn’t sufficient without putting it to practical use, don’t you agree? Let’s check out ten APA and MLA essay title examples to bring your newly obtained knowledge into play.

APA Essay Title Examples

  • The Impact of Digital Technology on Academic Performance: A Comprehensive Analysis.
  • Exploring the Role of Gender Stereotypes in Workplace Dynamics.
  • The Relationship Between Social Media Usage and Mental Health Among Adolescents.
  • An Examination of Environmental Policies and Their Effectiveness in Addressing Climate Change.
  • The Influence of Parenting Styles on the Development of Emotional Intelligence in Children.

MLA Essay Title Examples

  • Rethinking Shakespearean Tragedy: A Comparative Analysis of Hamlet and Macbeth.
  • Narrative Identity in Modern Literature: Unraveling the Threads of Selfhood.
  • The Symbolism of Nature in the Poetry of Emily Dickinson: A Close Reading.
  • Globalization and Cultural Identity: Interconnected Narratives in Contemporary Fiction.
  • Reexamining Historical Perspectives: The Complex Legacy of the American Revolution.

Final Thought

If you went through the whole article, you now know the importance of a great title. Unfortunately, good essays are often ignored because of a weak headline. Don't let any of your papers be one of them. If you want your paper to be excellent, it should intrigue your readers and make them eager to go through the whole work.

A compelling subject can be the hardest part of your paper, and it takes a great effort to create a perfect name. But it's worthwhile when you see how many readers' attention it grabs. So be enthusiastic, turn your imaginative thinking on and come up with creative headings for your papers. Now, you have all the resources to know how to make a good title for a composition.

But if there are times when you don't feel like writing anything, you are just sitting in front of the desk and wondering: 'Can anyone write my term paper ?' You have the answer to that question, too. You can always use the help of professional writers to do any of your papers for you.

Article Review

Creative Title Generator with Tips & Examples

Please try again with some different keywords.

A title is the first thing the reader of your essay sees. That’s why a catchy title is essential to making a good first impression and having your paper noticed. A perfect headline can require a lot of inspiration and research. For this reason, we have designed a creative title generator to make writing essay names easier.

  • ⚙️ How to Use the Tool?
  • 🤔 Why Use the Title Generator?
  • 💡 Creativity in Academic Writing
  • ✍️ How to Write a Creative Title
  • 📝 Creative Title Examples

🔗 References

⚙️ how to use the creative title generator.

To utilize our creative title generator, follow these simple steps:

  • Paste the keywords . Write out the keywords reflecting your essay topic and paste them into the appropriate field of the online tool.
  • Press "Generate a title" . The tool is quick, and you won't waste time registering in the system. Your result will be ready in a moment.
  • Grab your result . Get your list of title options and select the one that suits you best.

🤔 Why Use Our Creative Title Generator for an Essay?

The creative title generator for essays has many benefits.

You can use the tool whenever you need it without spending a cent.
Our online tool generates titles for your essays within several seconds.
You can access the creative title generator from any device with an internet connection.
You do not need special skills to create a headline because the program does everything for you.
Our tool's versatility is fantastic. You can pick the perfect title for your essay out of several options.

💡 Creativity in Academic Essay Titles: Is It Appropriate?

Students who prefer creative self-expression may find it challenging to adhere to the formality of academic writing as it may seem incompatible with creativity. However, creativity is essential to academic essays since it helps you convey your thoughts in original ways.

You are free to choose a creative title for your academic paper but ensure it reflects your essay's subject and central argument. To do so, entitle your work according to the following scheme:

  • Add the creative part to your main heading . The creative element can be a witty remark, a play on words , or a reference to a famous quotation.
  • Include a descriptive part in your subtitle . The descriptive element should clarify your essay's topic.

Here is an example of using this scheme:

Cracks in the Story: The Plausible Depiction of Post-Apocalyptic Nature in The Last of Us .

✍️ How to Write a Creative Title for an Essay

The title is the first thing that gets readers' attention when reading your essay. Follow these 4 steps to come up with a great headline.

Step 1: Write Out Key Terms

Keywords are words and phrases that reflect the essay's main idea. Scholars usually choose specific terms to make their articles easily identifiable in research databases. Although your essay might not appear in a scholarly database, you should use the same approach. After all, keywords in the title are like a brief summary: they help the reader understand what to expect from your paper.

Step 2: Search the Web for Creative Ideas

You can get ideas online if you need more inspiration to make a creative title. For example, you can look for the wordplay that can be used with your key terms. You may use a line from a song or a phrase from your favorite book as the basis of your catchy headline. Additionally, you can find a metaphor or use ambiguous words to make a witty essay title.

Step 3: Make up a List of Titles

It is hard to create a perfect title on the first try. That is why we recommend listing 4 to 10 possible headlines. Then you can experiment with them, change their structure or format. The more headlines you put in the list, the more likely you will find the perfect one. Also, you can combine several short titles if one can complement the other.

Step 4: Choose the Title That Suits You Best

Finally, look through your list of titles and pick the one that suits your essay best. Your headline must meet the following criteria:

  • Be catchy . Including a catchy statement in your paper's title will pique your readers' curiosity.
  • Reflect on the contents of your essay . Giving readers some information in your title can help them understand what you have prepared.
  • Be short . Be straightforward when selecting your phrasing. Use phrases that are easy to understand for ordinary people.
  • Avoid over-provocative wording . Controversial statements can sometimes be offensive. If you use provocative terms in your essay name, ensure you have a solid and apparent reason for doing so.
  • Suggest an inquiry or analysis . Avoid selecting a headline that does not allow in-depth research. In other words, do not choose general knowledge facts or unprovable claims as your title.

📝 Creative Essay Titles: Examples

We have prepared 3 practical examples of creative essay titles with detailed explanations to help you create your own.

: The Hidden Diversity of Dimorphic Fungal Pathogens" This example contains a reference to the movie , which makes it catchy and intriguing. At the same time, the article's topic is clear: we can understand that the scholars write about pathogenic fungal species.
Here, we can notice the reference to a quotation from the American TV series that originally sounds like "to boldly go where no man has gone before." Also, the authors used a wordplay: no — NO (nitric oxide).
"Is the EU an Economic Giant and a Political Dwarf?" This title uses a metaphor: the European Union is compared to a giant and a dwarf. But the meaning of the essay is clear: it elaborates on the role of the EU in economics and politics.

Here are some more examples of creative essay titles for your inspiration:

  • It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.
  • Evolution of the Disgraced Human Soul – From Swords to the Clubs of War.
  • Blonds Are Not Dumb: Demystifying the Stereotype.
  • Hip Hop and Rap: A Scapegoat for Aggression Among Listeners?
  • The Mind of Music: Psychology of Musicians.

❓ Creative Title Generator FAQ

❓ what is a creative title for an essay.

A creative title is a headline containing a wordplay, an unusual witty phrase, or a quote from a film or movie. At the same time, the title should reflect the essay topic. Here is an example of a creative essay title using wordplay: "Mercury – the God of Elements."

❓ How to Come up with a Creative Title for an Essay?

  • Read a few articles on the internet and analyze their titles.
  • Put yourself in the readers' position and determine what will compel them to read your essay.
  • Recollect or search for common idioms and expressions with your keywords.
  • Choose a metaphor that will convey your essay's central point.
  • Use a phrase from your writing if it captures the meaning of the whole article.

Or, you can use our creative title generator, which will generate a perfect headline for your essay in a few clicks!

❓ How to Make a Creative Title for an Essay?

You can make a creative academic essay title by including these 3 elements in your headline:

  • The hook is a catchy, concise phrase that reflects the paper's subject. It is a creative part that draws readers' attention.
  • Key terms are important words or phrases that represent the topic.
  • The source is the broader theme of your discussion. Depending on the discipline, it can be a literary work, a geographic location, or a debate.
  • Composing an Effective Title | Yale College Writing Center
  • Writing the Essay Title | Austin Community College
  • Crafting a Strong Title | University of Maine at Augusta
  • How to Title an Essay, With Tips and Examples | Grammarly

Shinyessays logo

Creative Titles For Essays: Examples & Advice

A title is indeed the “Why” of your essay. It is a phrase that determines whether a reader will pass by or get interested in the story. These words set a tone of your piece and establish borders for the narrative.

creative essay title

Our writing agency Shinyessays.com specializes in all types of texts for high schools and colleges. We have seen thousands of essays, reports, case studies, etc. They all had headlines: catchy or boring, bold or standard, awesome or so-so. Thus, our authors know firsthand what a good title for an academic article or any other paper is.

We are willing to share our experience on this blog post. And we would be even more glad to come up with a title for your text. Send it to our support agents and get the best name for your opus.

Creativity is what you need most when it deals with headlines. One needs to compose a unique expression reflecting the overriding message of the whole project. Our professionals have enough experience and talent to make it captivating and informative.

A title tells a lot about the author, revealing his/her imagination, analytical abilities, a level of intelligence, etc. We want you to show the best version of your skills to professors, so our services are at your disposal.

How to come up with a good title? Ultimate guide

A title for the essay is the first phrase that is noticed by a reader. Yet, it is not the first wording that an author comes up with.

Experienced authors of Shinyessays.com often create a headline after they have finished the whole paper. Why so? It is mainly because they need to tie this heading to the text of the essay. Meantime, one of the following goals must be achieved.

Types of titles according to purposes:

  • intriguing and promising,
  • eye-catching,
  • informative.

Your headline can contain one or even more aspects. However, the key thing is to make people read the text below the title. It is obviously worth your time and attention.

Things that work good for your titles:

  • relevance to the topic of the argumentative essay,
  • symbols: figures and abbreviations.

Do essays always have titles?

We suppose that every essay should have a unique headline. It is like a name for a book. People need this phrase to associate your piece with it.

Cool titles for essays are the first step to your successful essay.

Obviously, a headline must be composed correctly. You might have found numerous methods to do it, yet beware of the dubious ones.

Misconceptions concerning interesting titles for essays

  • It is enough to copy the title from a given assignment

In doing so, you simply show a lack of creativeness. If you want to demonstrate a writing talent, you’d better come up with your variant.

  • One is free to rewrite a title from another essay

Do not forget about the plagiarism check. In addition, your professors have already read hundreds of catchy title names for essays, and they definitely do not expect to stumble upon a duplicate.

  • Why not use a creative paper title generator ?

Seriously, have you ever tried to do it? It is our understanding that such online tools can be used for inspiration only.

Professional help is the most reliable way to get a brilliant title for the text. Still, we have prepared guideline in case you want to try your hand at this stuff.

Practical tips

  • Learn the requirements of your educational institution. There might be rigorous standards on its length and content.
  • Study the titles of similar essays. You can look through academic papers on your subject. Thus, you will feel the style and the manner of composing headers. Trust your feelings. Try to evaluate what title is catchy and which one is boring. The best title is the one that grabs attention and “invites” to read the whole text.
  • Do not write a title until the whole text is ready. It could double your efforts. Yes, you could have particular thoughts before writing a report. It is not the reason to rush to invent a heading. The thing is that a written text can be different from your intentions and images.

Short cheatsheet

  • Finish your essay and revise it with fresh eyes.
  • Determine the core message of your opus.
  • Think about people who made you write this piece. It is not always a muse who inspires authors to create essays. Many literary works are born under the impression of some real personalities. You might devote the text to someone or address an important message to a particular audience.
  • Try to compose several titles. A good heading is a matter of degree.
  • Put yourself in the shoes of the readers. Would you read this text if you were a teacher?

Hints for those who are bold enough to go against rules

If your professors do not mind, use the following elements:

  • provocative questions,
  • brave suggestions, etc.

A secret of an intriguing title

Add a moment of surprise to your headline. Use words and phrases that highlight it:

  • “unexpected,”
  • “you didn’t know,”
  • “dispelled myths,” etc.

example of a title for essay

The title of your essay: what should it be?

A well-considered title is half the battle. It is not only about a beautiful phrase. The thing is your headline reveals the essence of the whole research paper. It can be called “an idea” of your project, while other parts of the text are “implementation”.

Honestly, we could barely find any lessons or articles on how to write good titles for gender inequality essays. They don’t teach this stuff in detail at colleges and universities. That is why our authors have gathered materials on the Internet and from personal notes. We hope this post will be informative and helpful for you.

There exist different views on titles for essays. We consider, above all, a title as a hook for attention.

How to title an essay? 4 ways from our experts

Here is a classification based on the experience and individual feelings of our writers. It is a helpful instrument to come up with a headline fast.

1) Direct (traditional) title

We would rather call it “boring.” However, such headlines can be justified in terms of educational or academic standards.

There is nothing special in this phrase. It is concise and informative enough. That’s it. If you have strict requirements concerning academic writing, do not overdo with creativeness. No questions, games of words, citations, etc. A clear, direct title is precisely what you need in this situation. This neutral approach highlights seriousness and allegiance to rules.

Good examples:

  • Documents (Charles D’Ambrosio)
  • Death of the Moth (Virginia Woolf)
  • Thoughts for the Times on War and Death (Sigmund Freud)
  • How To Do What You Love (Paul Graham)
  • Self-Reliance (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Do not be afraid to seem banal using such wordings. Brevity is evidence for good analytical skills.

2) Titles with exaggerations

An exaggeration makes your title bright. The only thing is to stay honest while using it. One can add words: “secrets,” “dire predictions,” “terrifying mystery,” “unbelievable,” etc. Such titles will definitely make your essay stand out among others.

3) Bold titles presenting fresh views

It is a good idea to show your original insight right in the title.

  • Is Pedantry the Mother of the Essay? (Ken Chen)
  • The Hottest Water in Chicago: On Family, Race, Time and American Culture (Gayle Pemberton)
  • Time Is the Thing a Body Moves Through (T. Fleischmann)

4) Manipulations with common phrases, a game of words and  paradoxes

Take a famous expression and change some words in it.

  • The Mother Of All Questions (Rebecca Solnit,2016)

You could use something like:

  • Knowledge and nothing else matters...
  • Intellectual progress must go on...
  • Keep calm and develop the mind...

Apparently, an academic sphere has strict rules and requirements on composing clever argumentative persuasive essay titles. Yet, if you are lucky to have some freedom, use creativeness. In case of a writer’s block, go to our live chat and order professional services from our authors .

So, a perfect title for an essay...

What is a secret formula for it? Actually, we cannot give you one right universal answer. The thing is that one should consider various factors.

  • sphere (essay for blogs, for education, for science magazine),
  • style of writing,
  • a discipline,
  • a level of seriousness,
  • a target audience (reader).

We cannot judge whether a title is good or bad until we know the text below and its purpose. The rules are relative. What is good for an academic essay may be dull for a college essay on a free topic. Thus, do not forget to attach detailed instructions when ordering our writing services https://shinyessays.com/blog/online-essay-writing-at-shinyessayscom .

Creative ideas for essay titles

It happens that you have enough knowledge on how to compose a headline. You have read our tips, learned the rules that a professor gave you, and still feel a writer’s block. Indeed, it is not easy to say everything you want in one phrase.

Here are some hints to develop your imagination.

Read headlines from blogs

Some of them can inspire you to create an essay for a college paper. Check out our captivating articles , for instance.

Take this one, for example.

essay title example

This title is intriguing since it tells about an outlook on students in the nearest future. Sounds curious, does it? In addition, it is rather compelling due to mentioning “experts.”

Social advertisement

As a rule, such projects are aimed to cause feelings. They are awesome sources of inspiration if  you need an emotional title. Striving to convey the main idea fully, its creators come up with “spot-on” slogans.

  • This one is from the anti-anorexia advertisement:

title from social ad

( Source is here )

  • For the homeless, every day is a struggle

(Source: https://www.treedom.net/en/blog/post/the-campaign-of-clemenger-bbdo-every-day-is-a-struggle-for-the-homeless-339 )

What do professional essayists write?

Famous authors are definitely good at titles for their literary works. Here are some popular essays:

  • Why I Write (George Orwell,1946)
  • A Modest Proposal (Jonathan Swift, 1729)
  • Courage (JM Barrie,1922)
  • Advice To Youth (Mark Twain, 1882)
  • Eichmann and the Private Conscience (Martha Gellhorn, 1962)

Modern writers also often choose an essay as a preferred manner of writing. Interestingly, you can read most of their pieces online. For instance, The New Yorker has a column for essays. It can spark a thought too.

Here are the latest titles for essays from this portal:

  • Love and Anger (Keith Gessen, December 23, 2019)
  • Darryl Pinckney’s Intimate Study of Black History (Zadie Smith, November 26, 2019)
  • Fred Moten’s Radical Critique of the Present (By David Wallace, April 30, 2018)
  • What Makes an Essay American (Vinson Cunningham, May 13, 2016)
  • Vivian Gornick Is Rereading Everyone, Including Herself (Alexandra Schwartz, February 3, 2020)

Helpful tip: You know, it is not even compulsory to read all these stories. You can simply review their titles and come up with a new idea.

Titles from celebrities

Do you have an idol or a hero among stars? Maybe, he/she is a good essayist too.

  • The Meanings of the Selfie (James Franco)
  • Matt Damon’s Marathon (Matt Damon)
  • Confessions of a Juggler (Tina Fey)
  • The Death of My Father (Steve Martin)
  • My Medical Choice (Angelina Jolie)

​ Statuses from social media

Social media is often criticized for low-quality content and too much advertisement. This statement is quite dubious. We strongly believe that it is a matter of an individual choice. For example, their headlines and statuses can inspire you to formulate a title for a college essay.

  • #Not all classrooms have 4 walls
  • #Retain female talent in science

Essay title generator online or human talents?

This age of fantastic technological opportunities offers numerous online tools. A free creative scholarship essay titles generator is among them. What does it actually do? As a rule, its algorithm chooses words and phrases relevant to the topic. Probably, it has a database of catchy phrases and, thus, it combines them with your keyword.

We, on our part, believe that a manual way is still better than the automatic one. The thing is that artificial intelligence still cannot fully understand the sense of your essay, feel the mood, and reflect the tone in one phrase. Therefore, do not rely on such programs too much.

Read at your leisure:

  • Best Ideas for Research Paper Topics in 2019: 100+ variants
  • College Essay Writing Workshop
  • Professional Essay Writing

Striving to find the best headline

The most suitable title for an essay implies one main phrase. It must focus attention on the sense of your paper, as well as engage people to keep reading the further text. In fact, it will be found somewhere at the intersection of college standards and your imagination. Enthusiastic writers of Shinyessays.com are willing to pick the best words for your headline. We can provide several options so that you could choose the finest one. Send us your draft, and we will find a superb title, or order writing services and get a ready-made paper. Give it a go today.

You might also like:

  • Informative Speech Topics For High Schoolers
  • Powerful Research Topics In Education
  • Unbelievable Psychology Essay Topics

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How to Write a Strong Title for an Argumentative Essay

Last Updated: June 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Diane Stubbs . Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. 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 169,573 times.

In most cases, a title for an essay is only required for college papers. A title for an argumentative essay isn't much different than a title for any other essay. You need to present what your essay is about in phrase form, as well as provide a hook to encourage the reader to read your essay. One main difference is you also need to make sure you establish your stance on the subject, so the reader knows where your argument is headed from the beginning. In order to create a strong title, you should write your essay before coming up with a title for it.

Summarizing Your Ideas

Step 1 Start brainstorming.

  • Also, read through your paper. Start making notes on the main ideas. If you organized your paper well, you should have the paper divided into several main ideas.
  • Write down any ideas you have about what you think should go in your title.

Step 2 Summarize your content.

  • In most cases, your thesis, or a version of it, is the best summary for the essay. The thesis should be stated at the end of your introduction, and perhaps restated at the beginning of your conclusion as well.
  • Try to get it down to one sentence if possible, such as, "Soup is significantly more flavorful when made with stock than when made with water."

Step 3 Make a list of keywords and phrases.

  • For instance, if you wrote a paper on why soup is better when made with stock than water, think about what words are essential to that paper.
  • Your list of keywords might include "soup," "stock," and "flavor," as an example.

Creating a Title

Step 1 Think about your audience and tone.

  • Also, think about the tone of your essay. If it's lighthearted, a lighthearted title will fit. For instance, an essay on stock and chicken soup lends itself to lightheartedness.
  • However, if your essay is very serious, stick to a serious title. For instance, if you're trying to convince people that poverty needs to end, that's a pretty serious topic and needs a serious title.

Step 2 Pull a sentence out.

  • Read over your paper. You can use this opportunity to proofread while you look for a good sentence.
  • Write out any sentence that may work. For instance, one sentence that might work is "Soup is delicious, but it is even more delicious when made with stock."
  • Shorten it up to work as a title: "Soup Is More Flavorful With Stock."

Step 3 Try a question.

  • For instance, you could write, "Why Does Stock Make Soup So Flavorful?" That establishes your topic, as well as invites your reader into your paper.
  • Just be sure you are answering the question you propose.
  • Choose a different question than the one you used for your hook, if applicable.

Step 4 Make it playful.

  • Come up with something that is contrasting or surprising. A concrete image works well, meaning something that invokes the senses. For instance, you could write something like "The Flavor of Boiled Chicken Bones Is the Best for Soup."
  • People don't necessarily think bones are tasty, but they are used to create your flavorful broth. Therefore, it's a bit surprising, but it plays into your essay.
  • Try to create a title that is both short and sweet.

Step 5 Make a pun or use a famous saying.

  • As an example, a pun you could use would be "Use Your Backbone to Make Soup." "Backbone" is a play both on the fact that you're using stock (made from bones) and that you need to use your backbone to stand up for stock.
  • As for a saying, you could use something like "Chicken Soup: Only the Opiate of the Masses If Made With Stock." "Opiate of the masses" is a reference to Karl Marx and will attract attention.

Finessing Your Title

Step 1 Give it some time.

  • That is, move words around to see if you can make a better statement.
  • Try mixing and matching among titles that you like. Pick the parts you like best.

Step 2 Be specific.

  • For instance, if you are discussing a specific type of soup, add that in: "Chicken Stock Makes the Best Chicken Soup."
  • If you are specifically talking about homemade stock, add that in "Homemade Chicken Stock Makes the Best Chicken Soup."
  • If possible, try to give the reader just an idea of which side you plan to argue in favor of in the essay.

Step 3 Use a subtitle.

  • The most common method is putting the creative part first as the main title, followed by the informative part in the subtitle. However, you can do it either way.
  • For example, you could write: "Use Your Backbone: Why You Should Advocate for Stock in Soup."
  • If the titles are on the same line, separate them by a colon. If not, you don't need the colon.

Step 4 Check for keywords.

  • Compare your title to the list you made earlier.

Step 5 Ensure you've covered your topic.

  • In the case of an argumentative essay, that not only means that you've presented what your topic is but also what your stance on that topic is.
  • Try it out on a parent. Ask her what she thinks the paper is about from your title.

Step 6 Skip abbreviations.

  • The exception to this rule is very common abbreviations or abbreviations that are appropriate for your audience.
  • For instance, using "HIV" probably wouldn't confuse your readers.

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • It can be helpful to look up titles of articles and essays for reference. Check major websites or networks for examples of effective titles. Remember to avoid “clickbait,” though! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

how to write a creative title for an essay

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Find a Catchy Title for Your Paper/Essay

  • ↑ http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf
  • ↑ https://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/media/Writing_a_Great_Title_NEW.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.esu.edu/writing-studio/guides/hook.cfm
  • ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-write-a-great-title-.html
  • ↑ http://www.editage.com/insights/3-basic-tips-on-writing-a-good-research-paper-title

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15 Creative Tips for Crafting the Perfect Essay Title

Essay title.

An essay title is a key part of any paper, composition, or writing assignment. It provides a brief overview of the argument, thesis, research, analysis, and topic at hand. It is essential to have a high-quality essay title as it sets the tone for the rest of the essay and gives the reader a first impression. Having a good title can make the difference between an essay that is read and one that is not. It signals to the reader that the essay is worth their time and effort.

The title also helps to guide the writer in the drafting and outlining of the essay. It should be able to succinctly summarize the main argument, point, or idea of the essay. Additionally, it should be able to capture the attention of the reader, while also conveying the essence of the essay. A title should be creative and unique, while also providing a hint of the content of the essay.

In conclusion, having a high-quality essay title is essential for any paper, composition, or writing assignment. It helps to set the tone for the essay and provides the reader with a first impression. It also guides the writer in the drafting and outlining of the essay. Finally, it should be creative, unique, and able to capture the attention of the reader.

How can I brainstorm creative essay titles?

When brainstorming creative essay titles, it’s important to first think about what the prompt is asking you to do. If the prompt is asking you to write a creative essay that is “about a topic of your choice,” it’s helpful to brainstorm a list of potential topics that are broad enough to allow you to write about something that is personally meaningful to you.

What kind of words should I use to create an interesting essay title?

While the question really boils down to what words are the most effective in creating an interesting essay title, a student should focus on creating a title that’s relevant and meaningful. While an essay about, say, Mother’s Day should probably have a word like ‘love’ in the title, an essay about the history of Mother’s Day should probably have the word ‘history’ in the title. Similarly, an essay about Mother’s Day in the 90s should probably have the word ‘nineties’ in the title.

The point is, the title should reflect the content of the essay. It should be relevant and meaningful.

are there any tips for making essay titles more eye-catching?

The first tip for making essay titles more eye-catching is to use an adjective. Adjectives can be used in many different ways and can have a huge impact on the overall tone and effectiveness of a piece of writing.

Using an adjective in an attention-grabbing way can help make an essay title eye-catching because it adds a layer of detail to the work that makes it more descriptive. Without adjectives, an essay title can sound plain and unadorned. Even just adding one adjective can take the writing to the next level.

How can I make sure my essay title is relevant to the topic?

Your essay title should always be clear about what your paper is about. Many times, essay titles are long and drawn out, making it hard for the reader to know what the paper is actually about. Short and sweet, is always best. With that said, you still need to be as descriptive as possible.

What is the best way to ensure my essay title is succinct?

While you should write an essay that’s engaging and educational, you need to be mindful of your word count. It’s easy to write a lot when you’re not worried about how much you’re writing, so make sure you’re being mindful of the length of your essay. While your essay may be well-written, it won’t get you a good grade if you’re over the word count. To ensure you’re keeping your essay succinct, aim for a 1:10–12 word count to page ratio. This will ensure that you’re not writing too long and your essay is still engaging and interesting to read.

How can I make sure my essay title is unique?

The beauty of writing is that you can create a masterpiece that has never been written before. Going into the writing process, you may not have any specific techniques in mind but that does not mean you should not be creative. Try to be creative and think outside the box. You may come up with a technique that has not been used before. It is also possible to be a master of some techniques and use them to create an essay that has a uniqueness that has never been seen before.

Are there any tricks to making essay titles memorable?

The best essay titles are ones that pique the curiosity of the audience immediately. To do this, use words and phrases that are highly charged and evoke strong emotions. For example, instead of writing an essay about online bullying, write an essay titled “The Impact of Cyberbullying on Children”. The latter evokes stronger emotions and paints a clear picture in the reader’s mind about the topic.

How can I make sure my essay title stands out from the rest?

The best titles include a short summary of the essay, followed by a brief hook. The hook can be the most unique part about the essay, but it should also be something that makes it stand out. For example, if your essay is about the use of social media and its impact on children, a good title would be “Snapchat: The Devil’s Playground.” The title is catchy and grabs attention due to the use of exclamation points. It also sums up the essay in a short, but descriptive way.

What tips can I use to make my essay title catchy?

The key to writing a catchy essay title is to capture the essence of the essay in a few words. It should be creative and original, but also representative of the content. When writing an essay title, think about what words best describe the topic and how you can use them creatively.

How can I make my essay title interesting and engaging?

If you have a question about your essay, try to answer it yourself first. You should have developed your thesis statement by this point in the writing process. write your own essay. If you find yourself struggling to come up with an interesting title, you should expand your search. Look at similar essays you’ve read or researched. See what titles they have. Maybe you’ll be able to imitate them. If you can, try to spin them in a way that makes them more specific to your essay.

How can I ensure my essay title is well-structured?

Essay titles are important because they introduce your readers to the content that you’ve written about and give them an idea of what the piece will be about. If your essay title is well-structured, it will be clear, concise, and interesting. A well-structured essay title will also be grammatically correct and free of spelling errors.

Are there any tips for creating an effective essay title?

Some people create their essay titles while they’re already writing the essay, while others create the title before they’ve even started writing. You should do whatever feels more natural to you. If you prefer to write the essay first and then come up with a title, that’s fine. If you prefer to come up with a title first, that’s also fine. The important thing is that your title accurately reflects the content of your essay.

What kind of language should I use to make my essay title stand out?

If you’re writing an essay, it’s important to consider using language that will help you stand out just as much as your title. Using words like “I” or “me” helps bring your essay to life by showing that you’re actively making your point and not just laying out facts. Using these words help to make your essay more personal and engaging for the reader.

Are there any tools or resources available to help me craft the perfect essay title?

The question about the perfect essay title should lead a student to think about the theme and subject of the essay. It also helps a student to think about the purpose of the essay and how it will be presented. As a result, a student can use tools like brainstorming and mind mapping to come up with a title that is creative and catchy.

What strategies can I use to make sure my essay title is the best it can be?

An effective title can be anything from funny and eye-catching to thought-provoking and philosophical. A title should be catchy enough that it can grab someone’s attention and make them want to read your paper. It can also help to make a statement or pose a question that will get your reader thinking about the topic at hand. In short, an effective title should be memorable, unique and relevant to the paper’s content.

In conclusion, coming up with an interesting and engaging essay title can be a daunting task. It is important to use words that will catch the reader's eye, and make sure the title is relevant to the essay topic. In addition, making sure the essay title is succinct and unique is essential for success. Finally, using catchy language and being creative can help to make the title memorable and stand out. With the right tools, resources, and strategies, you can craft the perfect essay title that will grab the reader's attention and make your essay shine.

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About paraphrase tool, getting your wording just right.

Paraphrasing is a natural part of the writing process as it helps you clarify your thinking and suit your words to your audience. Using a Paraphrase Tool helps structure and streamline this work, and our paraphrase tool offers 20 modes, many of them free, for accomplishing just this. The 20 modes we offer are diverse, including a summarize tool, a free grammar checker, a mode to simplify text, and a sentence shortener. There are sentence rephrasers and paraphrase rephrase tools, and we pride ourselves on having both, since our reword generator accounts for context at both the sentence and paragraph levels.

When you google paraphrase you will get a variety of results, from a free Paraphrase Tool , to an article spinner, to a general phrase tool, and it can be hard to determine which of these rephrase tools will best help you complete your work. If you simply need to get a word rephrase, that is, reword only small elements within the sentence, many tools will suffice, but there is the risk that you end up with a tool that does not consider context and produces very awkward and ungrammatical sentences. Rephrasing is very much an art, and we’ve built our paraphrase bot to produce the most correct results in 20 modes in over 100 languages, making it the best paraphrasing tool at an exceptionally low cost. So whether you need to paraphrase deutsch, paraphrase greek, or paraphrase bahasa melayu, the next time you think, I need something to paraphrase this for me, you’ll know where to turn.

From keywords to paragraphs

Generating paragraphs with unique ideas can be challenging, and too often writers get stuck at this stage of the writing process. With our paragraph tool, you can enter keywords and let our AI generate paragraphs for you, so that you can have something to work with, refine the output, and become more engaged in your writing.

A paragraph generator creates links between your ideas, such that the output is sensible, unique, and stimulating, very close to what you would expect a thoughtful human paragraph writer to produce.

Paragraph makers are nice, but what about a short story generator? Because our AI is generalized, it serves a story generator, an essay generator, a poem generator, and much more. To generate compelling stories, you should provide the story generator with useful keywords from which it can develop plot elements, including characters, setting details, and any situational information. To generate reasonably good essays, you should likewise provide the essay maker with details around argumentative positions and any other pertinent ideas. If you more specifically want an introduction paragraph generator or conclusion paragraph generator, you can provide starter text and keywords that will best enable our essay creator to produce them.

You may well ask, “is this essay generator free?” Everything on this site is free within a 3-day trial, so you can test and develop confidence in our products. You may also be wondering where this is an essay automatic writer or if it will take a while to get results. All results appear within a matter of seconds, so you can move through your work as quickly as possible.

You may have professional needs for creating paragraphs as well, such as those needed for cover letter. Most of the time a cover letter template includes information that is not relevant to you; by using your own keywords, we can produce cover letter examples that are relevant to your use case and often require very little editing. By using this service, you can also learn how to write a cover letter and achieve the cover letter format you need.

Plagiarism checker free

Like everything else on our site, you can check plagiarism free within a trial, which is a great opportunity for those who want to check a paper for plagiarism without committing to paying before they see results. This free plagiarism checker is great for students and clearly indicates how to check for plagiarism by highlighting areas of similarity between the two texts. Just to be sure you are not accidentally plagiarizing, be sure to check all of your paraphrases as well.

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How to write a creative essay

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A creative essay is a type of writing where students express their imagination and artistic style. It involves creative storytelling techniques, not just stating mere facts. The aim is to engage the reader, often exploring emotions, personal experiences, or fictional narratives. Creative writing can be found in various types of papers, including narrative essays or descriptive essays. 

Continue readng our guide to learn how to write a creative essay like a professional writer. 

What Is a Creative Essay

As we said before, the creative essay should deal with forcing students to think creatively and broader. Creative nonfiction essays are about creating a story and telling it most interestingly and entertainingly. The ending should be unexpected. The plot should be interesting and engaging. And if you want to do creative writing essays, you love the fact that there are no restrictions on the topic. All you need to do is to be creative in your own way and style to stand out.

General Tips on How to Write a Creative Essay

How to write a creative essay if you used to those tight restrictions and borders of standard prompts? It is easier than it seems. You should keep in mind that this task is the most liberated from all you can be ever assigned with in college. Here are some steps you should consider if there is a desire to learn how to write creative writing essays.

  • Start with the topic Before any other step in your writing process, you need to come up with the main idea. You are free to write about anything you want.
  • Research If you have decided to write about something that is close to your heart, you need to get as many details as you can. You can be totally into the topic, but there always is something more to find out.
  • Make a plan Think of the questions which your topic can answer on. Try to set your story to make it engaging and informative from the start.
  • Note all ideas Start taking notes about your story and even creative essay titles from the very beginning. Not even a half of those ideas will take place in your essay, but it is better if you have a selection to choose from.
  • Create a raw draft This part will give you an opportunity to try out different styles and methods of writing . The more diversity of both you have in your essay, the better it is. Work with your raw draft, make it logical, and after that, begin creating the final version.

Your final step is to make revision . It is the last and crucial part of every essay writing.

Creative College Essay Topics and Ideas

Let’s talk more directly about the creative college essay topics. You can’t start working before you choose your topic. It should be interesting both to you and your audience. It is the only way to succeed in all directions. Here are few suggestions to your creative nonfiction essays you can use a starting mark:

  • Describe an exciting event that turned your world upside-down.
  • Think of tendencies that can cause the end of the world.
  • Get a love story covered with some absolutely unrelated event.
  • Tell a story of a man who has succeeded fighting for human rights.
  • Describe a society controlled by Artificial Intelligence .
  • Tell about your favorite things and those aspects you can’t imagine your life without.
  • What would you do if you became absolutely invisible for some period of time?
  • What would you do if you could live in somebody else’s body?

As you see, the diversity of creative nonfiction essays topics can be absolutely huge. There are no limits, and you should get a positive effect out of it. should you experience any difficulties with topic selection or writing process, contact our  essay writers for expert assistance. StudyCrumb is always there for you to provide magnificent results. 

How to Write Creative Essay Titles

Creating a title for your creative nonfiction essays is not the next stage after coming out with the topic idea. You can get a title at any stage of your writing creative essay titles and preparing process. Here are some tips for your creative essay title generator to improve:

  • It should be catchy – it may seem obvious, but it is a big deal. Not all students are aware how to create catchy titles and even how important it is. But you need to use every aspect of your article to catch reader’s attention.
  • Try to summarize the entire story you have in just three words. Include those three striking and descriptive words and expand with a short phrase.
  • You may use a quote that describes or relates to the topic of your essay. It is not important who said those words, but its power and catchiness.
  • The main idea can become your title as well. But note that it should be still interesting to your readers.

Creative Writing Essays Tips to Polish Your Paper

You need to understand that breaks are very important in your working process. It is necessary to get a perfect balance between resting and writing. Your mental effectiveness is limited to some mark, and you should not cross that line too often. It is dangerous enough to do that as you are risking getting exhausted and bored. Then after finishing your essay do these three things to make it complete and polished.

  • Read your essay aloud for few times This trick works great to check the tempo and structure of an essay . It should sound and read with the same tempo and flow through the entire article with no too obvious picks and delays. You just need to realize how it sounds to other people and how the entire flow goes.
  • Check the grammar and other problematic moments Grammar is essential to your paper’s success. No one needs a great story that is written with lots of mistakes that completely break the whole flow. Use a free grammar checker by StudyCrumb, thesaurus or default checker on your computer. Try to bring more descriptive moments to the game to make your essay shine and be diverse. Ask anyone who is into grammar great to check your paper too.

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Creative Nonfiction Essays Tip from Our Experts

Most students love writing creative essays. But some of us got so used to all those restrictions and limits that come to creativity, we just can’t think outside of the box. Our writing experts recommend trying a special technique called “jam write.” It works perfectly to get rid of writer's block and expand your imagination. Just sit down and describe your topic with non-stop writing for at least five minutes. You may also ask our experts to help you out. Just place your order to get a professional help anytime you need.

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Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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

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  3. How to Title an Essay? The Complete Guide to Essay Title

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  4. How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples

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  5. How to write the best Essay Titles?

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  6. ⚡ How to make a catchy title for an essay. How To Make Catchy Titles

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COMMENTS

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

    Here's what your essay title should include. One or more relevant keywords to your subject. Any other necessary words or phrases that tell the reader what to expect from your essay. When applicable, a catchy phrase or figurative language. Let's take another look at the example essay titles from the section above.

  2. How to Title an Essay: Guide with Creative Examples [2024]

    The title of any paper should reveal: What the paper is about. Cover the general idea of your work in the title. Why the reader might be interested in it. Prove the relevance of your paper to the audience. The context of the issue. A good title previews the full picture of the topic regarding its "when" and "where.".

  3. Essay Title: Rules, Tips, Mistakes to Avoid

    7 10 Tips to Create an Exceptional Title. 7.1 Questions make Catchy. 7.2 Describe the Paper in 5 Words. 7.3 Use One Direct Word. 7.4 Extract a Sentence from the Paper. 7.5 Take advantage of Pop-Culture. 7.6 Put "On" at the beginning. 7.7 Start with a Verb in "-ing". 7.8 Give a Mental Visualization of Your Topic.

  4. 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 ...

  5. How To Come Up With A Creative Essay Title In 5 Steps

    Sum up your essay in three words, highlighting the core message or theme of your writing in a concise and impactful manner. The title should be in line with the overall tone of your writing, whether it is serious, humorous, informative, or persuasive. - Matching your title's tone to your essay's tone creates a cohesive and engaging ...

  6. Get Creative: Learn How to Title an Essay That Stands Out

    The most common and basic technique is to get a title from the summary of your essay. A writer can summarize the entire essay or the central idea and thesis statement in three words and write a title. This can be a title by putting it in a headline, inserting a colon, and stating the purpose of your essay. 7.

  7. How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples

    Crafting a good title requires a blend of creativity, precision, and strategic thinking. To create an effective title, consider the following tips: Brainstorm Ideas: Begin by brainstorming keywords, phrases, and concepts related to your essay topic. Explore different angles and perspectives that encapsulate the essence of your argument or analysis.

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

    Reflect on the main focus and scope of your essay. Consider the specific angle, perspective, or aspect you are exploring in your writing. Use language that captivates and intrigues readers. Employ strong verbs, vivid adjectives, or thought-provoking phrases to make your title stand out.

  9. Forging good titles in academic writing

    Writing effective headings. Although similar, headings are not the same as titles. Headings head paragraphs and help structure a document. Effective headings make your paper easily scannable. Common high level headings in dissertations and research papers are "Methods", "Research results", and "Discussion". Lower level headings are ...

  10. How to Title an Essay

    English Essay Titles Examples. Writing a title for an English essay doesn't have to be boring. In fact, if you're studying literature, you should take the opportunity to flex your creative writing skills. Don't overdo it though! Titles still need to be predictive, comprehensible, and engaging. Examples down below. Akala: A Modern Day ...

  11. How to Title Your Essays with Ease

    Focusing on and drawing from it helps ensure that the title contains all the right keywords. 3. Take note of tone. Titles set up the essay and elicit certain expectations in the reader. Tone is important for any piece of writing, and striking the right (conventionally, formal) one in academic writing is even more so.

  12. How to Create a Good Title for an Essay (Steps +Tips)

    A great title is direct and straightforward. Format the title correctly. When writing the title, ensure that the titles or names of books, articles, plays, and songs that are part of it are either italicized or in quotes. Use the correct punctuation. Ensure that your essay title is well punctuated.

  13. How to Title an Essay: Quick and Effective Tips

    Steps to Create Essay Titles. Now that we have touched the basics, read about how to create a title for essay. View the steps to know how to write a creative and effective title. 1. Write your essay as the first step but the title as the last: The first step is to write it in the first place and for this, you may consider using an . You should ...

  14. How to Find a Catchy Title for Your Paper/Essay: 10 Steps

    Understanding the Structure of a Title. Download Article. 1. Craft a hook. Most titles have the same basic structure, especially if the title is for an academic essay. The hook is the creative element that draws the reader in. It's a catchy phrase that lets the reader know what the essay is going to focus on. [1]

  15. How to Title an Essay? The Complete Guide to Essay Title

    If the source is independent, italicize the title. Write the titles of books, films, websites, and magazines in italics. If the paper belongs to a larger piece of work, add the quotation marks. Writers use them for articles, websites, essays, and songs.

  16. How to Title an Essay: Effective Tips for Catchy Headings

    Clearly Stated and Concise. There is no need to tell the whole essay story in your title; you should just summarize your paper in a few creative words. The best practice is to divide the thesis statement into 4-5 words. Try to be as specific as possible; a good essay title should be short and simple.

  17. How Do I Write a Great Title?

    Remember also to center your title at the top of your first page of your text. Use the same font and size as the rest of your paper. Analyzing an Example of an Academic Paper Title. Consider this title from above: "The Machine-Language of the Muscles": Reading, Sport and the Self in Infinite Jest.

  18. PDF How Do I Write a Great Title

    Asking questions such as these will help you determine the appropriate tone for your title. Approach #1: Titles for Academic Papers. Good academic titles reveal not only the topic of the paper but some idea of your specific approach, argument, and area of discussion.

  19. Creative Title Generator for Essays: Topic Maker, Tips, and Examples

    ️ How to Write a Creative Title for an Essay. The title is the first thing that gets readers' attention when reading your essay. Follow these 4 steps to come up with a great headline. Step 1: Write Out Key Terms. Keywords are words and phrases that reflect the essay's main idea. Scholars usually choose specific terms to make their articles ...

  20. Creative Titles For Essays: Examples & Advice

    2) Titles with exaggerations. An exaggeration makes your title bright. The only thing is to stay honest while using it. One can add words: "secrets," "dire predictions," "terrifying mystery," "unbelievable," etc. Such titles will definitely make your essay stand out among others. 3) Bold titles presenting fresh views.

  21. How to Write a Strong Title for an Argumentative Essay: 14 Steps

    If the titles are on the same line, separate them by a colon. If not, you don't need the colon. 4. Check for keywords. Make sure you've included as many of your keywords as possible. If your keywords are essential to your paper, they're essential to your title, too. [10] Compare your title to the list you made earlier.

  22. 15 Creative Tips for Crafting the Perfect Essay Title

    The first tip for making essay titles more eye-catching is to use an adjective. Adjectives can be used in many different ways and can have a huge impact on the overall tone and effectiveness of a piece of writing. Using an adjective in an attention-grabbing way can help make an essay title eye-catching because it adds a layer of detail to the ...

  23. Creative Essay: Ultimate Guide on How to Write and Format

    How to Write Creative Essay Titles. Creating a title for your creative nonfiction essays is not the next stage after coming out with the topic idea. You can get a title at any stage of your writing creative essay titles and preparing process. Here are some tips for your creative essay title generator to improve: