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📰 Headline English

💡 How to use this lesson

For Teachers

Guide students through the 4 headline rules in 3 minutes.

Check practice answers together using the simple rationale provided.

For Learners

Read the 4 rule cards carefully and notice the underlined words.

Complete all 12 exercises from top to bottom in 9 minutes.

Learn how news titles cut extra words and use short action words to tell big stories quickly.

Pattern Example

"Port slowdown grows as crews struggle to clear the quay."

Why this works: This title shows something happening right now by putting action words in the simple present tense and leaving out small connecting words.

📐 The 4 Headline Rules

Rule 1

Drop articles & 'be'

Headlines cut a, an, the and words like is, are, was, been to save space. Readers still understand the main event.

Headline: Freight consignment delayed at berth.

Full sentence: The freight consignment has been delayed at the berth.

Headline: Ferry service cut.

Full sentence: The ferry service has been cut.

Rule 2

Present for past, to + verb for future

Use the present simple for something that already happened. Use to + verb for something planned in the future.

Headline: Airport opens new gate.

Full sentence: The airport opened a new gate.

Headline: Airport to open new gate.

Full sentence: The airport will open a new gate.

Rule 3

Short news words

Headlines swap long ideas for short punchy words. Use bid (try), hit (affect badly), row (argument), probe (investigation), and set to (about to).

Headline: Dockers in pay row as stoppage spreads.

Full sentence: Dock workers are having an argument about pay as the work stoppage spreads.

Headline: Council in bid to save library.

Full sentence: The council is trying to save the library.

Rule 4

Noun strings and 'was' left out

Headlines pack several names together with the main idea coming last. A past action word alone without be shows that something was done to it.

Headline: School bus fare rise.

Full sentence: The price of tickets for the school bus has risen.

Headline: Consignment inspected after safety alarm.

Full sentence: The consignment was inspected after a safety alarm.

✏️ Practice Exercises (12 Questions)

Test your knowledge of headline rules from easy to hard.

Part 1 Choose the best news headline

1. Which is the correct headline for: "The port authority has cleared the blocked quay."? (past)

____ a. Port authority cleared blocked quay ____ b. Port authority clears blocked quay ____ c. The port authority clears a blocked quay ____ d. Port authority will clear blocked quay

2. Which is the correct headline for: "Engineers will try to repair the damaged wharf."? (short)

____ a. Engineers to probe damaged wharf ____ b. Engineers hit damaged wharf ____ c. Engineers in bid to repair damaged wharf ____ d. Engineers set to repair damaged wharf

3. Which is the correct headline for: "A dispute over freight costs has caused a total standstill."? (string)

____ a. Freight cost row causes total standstill ____ b. Freight cost row causing total standstill ____ c. Freight cost row was causing total standstill ____ d. A freight cost row will cause total standstill

Part 2 Headline Converter: Rewrite sentences as headlines

4. Full sentence: "The company will open a new berth in July." (future)

Instruction: Drop articles and replace future 'will' with 'to + infinitive'.

____ (Type the headline...)

5. Full sentence: "Crews moved the heavy pallet to the storage yard." (past)

Instruction: Change past action to present simple and drop unnecessary articles.

____ (Type the headline...)

6. Full sentence: "Inspectors will start an investigation into the port slowdown." (short)

Instruction: Use a short news word for 'investigation' and format for future event.

____ (Type the headline...)

Part 3 Fill in the missing headline word

7. Storm ____ (word...) freight movement at outer quay. (short)

8. Pallets ____ (word...) after fire at wharf. (damage)

9. Wharf workers ____ (phrase...) strike after pay talks fail. (likely)

Part 4 Fix errors in message headlines

💬 Chat Message from Colleague

"Did you see the story about the argument over the cost of repairing the berth? The headline says: 'Row cost repair berth'."

Fix the headline error: (order)

____ (Type correct headline...)

💬 Chat Message from Colleague

"Look at this article title: 'The port opens the new berth'."

Fix the headline error: (articles)

____ (Type correct headline...)

💬 Chat Message from Colleague

"Read this editor draft: 'Dredge machinery was damaged by sea water'."

Fix the headline error: (be)

____ (Type correct headline...)

Headline English

📰 Headline English

📐 The 4 Headline Rules

Drop articles & 'be'

Present for past, to + verb for future

Short news words

Noun strings and 'was' left out

✏️ Practice Exercises (12 Questions)

Part 1 Choose the best news headline

Part 2 Headline Converter: Rewrite sentences as headlines

Part 3 Fill in the missing headline word

Part 4 Fix errors in message headlines

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