10 tips to pick the right title for your paper

Category: Education

How many times have you heard the saying “First impression is the last impression?” I am sure the number of times it has proven to be true has outnumbered the times you have heard it. Titles are your article’s first impression. So, you better make it an excellent one! If you want your readers to invest time in your research article, then you have to dress it up with a well-fitted title. This is not the only reason you should spend more than a fleeing thought over the title of your manuscript. Search engines and journal access sites use words from the title of your research paper for the classification and retrieval of your paper online. A title basically is sneak peek into your paper. It is what sets your paper apart from the zillion other research papers in your field. Tips to choose a good research title: Your title should match the search queries people use to find the information regarding your field of study. Ideally, your title should contain a maximum of 10–12 words. Use the terms and phrases that stand for the core content of your paper Your title should not be a question or a complete sentence, but should make complete sense. Do not misguide your readers with a title that doesn’t match your text or sells your content short. Use at least one of the keywords most widely searched in your field. Use terms that are most commonly used, particularly for a gene, species, or technique. Place the important words at the beginning or the end of the title so that they stand out. Mention the method or technique that is the prime focus of your study in your title. A descriptive phrase that talks about the key points of your research should be your ideal choice. Steps to choose a good research paper title: This can be a simple process. Step 1: When you are writing your paper, note down a few phrases that convey the main ideas of your study. Step 2: After you have finished drafting the entire paper, jot down the research questions that your study answers. Step 3: Now, keep trying various permutations and combinations of the initially noted phrases to see which order of the words answer your research questions best. Step 4: After you get the perfect order of the words, check for the most searched words in your relevant field of study. Step 5: Once you have a list, try and replace the words in your original title with synonymous keywords. Try and introduce at least one keyword. Step 6: Trim the flabby words, if any, from your title. And voilà, you have a shiny, alluring yet balanced and well-rounded title ready!!