1. Rules for Headline Writing
Obey the split rules
Put modifiers and words modified on the same line
Don’t split the verb parts
Don’t split prepositions from their objects
(tip: you can violate the rules between the second and third lines of a head)
Don’t end in prepositions

2. Watch for awkward breaks and keep a dirty mind

3. Don’t repeat words Even in deck
Related rule is don’t repeat words, especially colorful verbs, on same page headlines
Headline shouldn’t repeat lead sentences verbatim or even echo its wording

4. Use attribution and qualification appropriately
Attribution can be implied: “President called liar”
In a tight headline, “may” comes in handy
Can use colon to subsitute for said, etc. “President: We won’t give up!
Quotation marks not implied attribution

5. Verb tense – most headlines written in present tense, lends air of urgency. Also future tense, infinitive form.

6. Capitalization: Downstyle is most common, only first word is up
Modified Upstyle: Main words capitalized, still popular at some papers
Upstyle: All words up
Watch abbreviations, no periods in acronyms
Use AP style for state abbreviations,
Use figures in headlines sted of words

7. Punctuation problems:
No periods at end
Comma can be used to replace the word “and”
Semicolons rather than commas separate clauses
Single quotes replace double, take up less space
Dashes and colons can replace said: Dash at end, colon at start
Dashes also can be used for emphasis
Colons can sometimes replace verbs
“Nascar racing: most dangerous sport”

8. Remember the x factor (not the same at Simon Cowell’s TV show)