1. HEADLINES
There are many ways you can make a headline awesome and attention-grabbing. We will be looking
at three:
1. Exclamations
2. Alliteration
3. Puns and plays on words
EXCLAMATIONS
You need to make a big statement. You make your headline, short, sharp and to the point. Use as
few words as possible to sum up your story and make it sound exciting.
For example, in an article about Cheryl Cole getting arrested, you could write:
“Cheryl Arrested!”
ALLITERATION
With alliteration, you make words next to each other start with the same sound.
For example, in an article about David Beckham not liking the new footballs the England team are
using, you could write:
“Beckham Goes Bonkers over British balls”
PUNS AND PLAYS ON WORDS
A pun is a play on words where a word or phrase in the headline has two means and can mean two
things at once, usually in a funny way.
For example, in an article about Lady Gaga having a mental breakdown, you could write:
“Gaga goes Gaga!” This is an example of alliteration, an exclamation and a pun, as her name is Gaga
(first meaning) and to go “gaga” means to go a bit mad (second meaning).

2. YOUR TURN!
Come up with headlines to match each of the following article outlines, using exclamations:
1. A man is caught robbing a local bank.
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2. A traffic jam causes trouble in Basildon.
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3. A celebrity reveals she is pregnant.
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Come up with headlines to match each of the following article outlines, using alliteration:
4. A woman is rescued from an accident by a policeman operating a robotic device.
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5. A baby survives a big accident, where it bounces onto the floor in a basement.
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6. A dog is put down for being dangerous after biting local delivery drivers.
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Come up with headlines to match each of the following article outlines, using puns:
7. A soft toy company accepts return of broken goods. (hint: stuffed is another word for
broken)
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8. A local girl is awarded a prize for being very bright and inventing a new energy-saving light
bulb. (hint: when someone is considered “bright”, people say they can be very “switched
on”)
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