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The language of headlines

Intermediate to Advanced

British and American English

English news headlines can be very difficult to understand. One reason for this is that headlines are often written in a special style, which is very different from ordinary English.

In this style there are some special rules of grammar, and words are often used in unusual ways. Look at the following example headlines:

BOY FOUND SAFE (=The missing boy has been found safe; he is safe.)

BOY FINDS SAFE (=A boy has found a safe)

300 BANK BRANCHES FACE CHOP (=300 bank branches face closure)

Download the PDF 'Headlines' at the top of the page for a useful list of common headline vocabulary and special grammar rules to help your understanding of headlines.

The list is taken from Practical English Usage 3rd Edition.

Michael Swan is a writer specializing in English language teaching and reference materials. His publications include Practical English Usage and Basic English Usage . In collaboration with Catherine Walter, he has written The Good Grammar Book , which was Highly Commended by the judges for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh English-Speaking Union Award in 2002, and How English Works , which won the Award in 1997. With Catherine Walter, he also co-authored the widely-used Cambridge English Course series.

Michael has had extensive teaching experience with adult learners and has worked with teachers in many countries. He is a Visiting Professor at St Mary's College, University of Surrey.

Source

Oxford Teacher's Club - http://www.oup.com/elt/teachersclub/adults/