The language of headlines

2.  The language of headlines is quite
specialized.
 Words are usually short as the writers
are always trying to save space.
 The same words tend to be used again
and again.

3.  Articles and auxiliary verbs are often left
out.
A man was run over by a bus
A MAN was RUN OVER BY a BUS

4.  The present simple replaces the present
perfect simple or the past simple tense
in the news story. The effect is to say
that the story is happening NOW rather
than in the very recent past.
Gore has pinned his hopes on the Florida
Court.
GORE PINS HOPES ON FLORIDA
COURT

5.  The future is expressed by an infinitive
BECKS TO GO

6.  Passives are expressed by a past
participle
MAN STABBED IN TUBE

7. Here are some titles for news articles – but the
sentences are too long to be headlines. Can
you shorten them?
 A victim of a car crash has learned to
walk again.
CAR CRASH VICTIM LEARNS TO WALK
AGAIN

8. Here are some titles for news articles – but the
sentences are too long to be headlines. Can
you shorten them?
 A new drug will cure ’flu this winter.
NEW DRUG TO CURE ’FLU THIS
WINTER

9. Here are some titles for news articles – but the
sentences are too long to be headlines. Can
you shorten them?
 The police questioned a suspect in a
robbery yesterday.
POLICE QUESTION ROBBERY
SUSPECT

10.  WORKBOOK p.53 #2b