Elements of Science: What are the elements of a great title?

You’ve done the research. You’ve written the manuscript. You’ve revised the introduction, the methods, the results, and the discussion several times. Have you paid attention to the title?

“The title is the first (and sometimes the only) thing the majority of people will read when it comes to your paper”, says Dr. Brendan Connors, Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CJFAS). “To stand out in the sea of papers that are produced today, a good title has become even more important than ever.”

But what makes for a great title? We asked Dr. Connors, Dr. Brian Beres (Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Plant Science), and Dr. Sally Pehrsson (co-Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences) to share their tips.

Don’t overgeneralize or overstate your findings

Almost every reader of research papers has come across misleading titles. “One of the biggest temptations when writing a title is to overgeneralize the focus of the paper and overstate its findings,” says Connors. While an overgeneralized or overstated title may draw readers to the paper, they will be irritated and disappointed to discover when they read the abstract that the title was misleading. Don’t waste a reader’s time with false promises. As Connors says, “this only serves to turn [readers] off reading the rest of the paper and citing it in the future.”

Pehrsson agrees. “So often a title and content are not connected enough. Authors should be upfront about what is ‘under the lid.’”

Highlight the key information your target audience needs to know

Readers of scientific reports are inundated by papers. A search on Google Scholar, Web of Science, and other similar platforms may yield hundreds of thousands of results. To find papers most relevant to their needs, readers often filter out papers based on the title alone. Titles that highlight the key elements of the paper ensure it ends up in front of its target audience and help people find the information they need. “It’s a ‘win-win’ for both author and reader,” says Beres.

Exactly what aspects should be highlighted depends on the nature of the paper and its intended audience. Titles might include key words noting the research subject, study methods, location, time frame, and results. Without a clear and informative title that describes exactly what information your paper provides, readers will gloss over the publication and not engage. Pehrsson suggests that authors ask themselves the types of questions the reader — their target audience — would ask while choosing which articles to devote their time to. Is this a novel new approach? Is it a study that focuses on a particular region? Do the results have broader relevance beyond this specific field?

As an example, Pehrsson highlights this paper from the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, noting that it offers a “straightforward explanation of what it presents and from where, and also the bigger picture”:

“Timing and provenance of Paleoproterozoic supracrustal rocks in the central Thelon tectonic zone, Canada: implications for the tectonic evolution of western Laurentia from ca. 2.1 to 1.9 Ga”

Beres highlights this paper from the Canadian Journal of Plant Science:

“Soybean is relatively nonresponsive to K fertilizer rate or placement in Manitoba soils.”

“First, [the title] is short and concise. Second, it provides a bold statement regarding soybean responses to the timing and placement of K fertilizer. Third, the authors exhibit appropriate self-restraint by adding geographic context or inference space around where this prediction would apply,” Beres explains.

Don’t write unnecessarily long titles

Depending on the journal, the scientific field of study, and the nature of the paper, some titles may need to be long. In most situations however, the ‘less is more’ adage is true. This is why many journals place word limits on titles.

The key to sticking to a word limit, Beres notes, is to be mindful that the words you use in the title “really capture a reader by introducing the science story that is about to unfold in the manuscript.” In short, eliminate any loose words that don’t capture the most critical aspects of the paper.

That being said, “Don’t be afraid to have fun,” says Beres. “Be bold, or even be provocative if the opportunity arises. Professional doesn’t have to mean dry, verbose, or mundane.”

How to plan your title

Sometimes a great title can come in a flash of inspiration, but most often it requires significant thought. Below, Connors offers some tips to develop a clear and concise title that effectively communicates the main findings of your paper.

Tips, techniques, and expert advice on crafting great scholarly communications can be found in our Elements of Science blog series. Read about the elements of a great map and creating a great briefing note.