puzzled by newspapers headlines

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alexka

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are the headlines in newspapers correct gramatically or just to get readers attention
 

5jj

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are the headlines in newspapers correct gramatically or just to get readers' attention
Their sole aim is to attract attention. Occasionally they will use incorrect forms deliberately. Thus, IT AIN'T ME. GUV' may be used to lead into an article about someone's protestations of innocence.
 

Munch

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Their sole aim is to attract attention. Occasionally they will use incorrect forms deliberately. Thus, IT AIN'T ME. GUV' may be used to lead into an article about someone's protestations of innocence.

Agreed, but more often they will omit words to make the headline shorter, but still understandable. Nobody talks or even writes sentences in the style of newspaper headlines - they are a special type of English.

The first three headlines I saw on Google news and a possible expansion for each:

England convinced Clarke out - The England cricket team are convinced that Clarke was out. (Sorry, cricket language)

Victorian student winched to safety - A Victorian student was winched to safety. (That one was not much shorter)

Russia Rebuffed on Missiles - Russia was rebuffed on the topic of missiles.
 

TheParser

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are the headlines in newspapers correct gramatically or just to get readers attention


:!::!::!: NOT A TEACHER :!::!::!:


Alexka,


(1) You have asked an excellent question.

(2) I do not think that the headlines are grammatically

incorrect but rather shortened to save space.

(3) I am now looking at my newspaper, one of the best in the

United States. Let's examine some headlines:

DRUG GANG UNDER PRESSURE AS NEW LEADER IS ARRESTED

Maybe the complete headline should have been:

A DRUG GANG IS UNDER PRESSURE AS ITS NEW LEADER IS ARRESTED

*****

DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH DELAYED AGAIN

Can you guess what word is missing?

Yes, you are correct: is [delayed].

*****

[THE] STATE'S HEALTH SECTOR [IS] AILING.

[A] PIRACY DRAMA MAKES WAVES IN [THE] U.S.

IRELAND [DECIDES] TO SEEK A BAILOUT

*****

You are quite correct. Headlines seek to get readers'

attention. Some newspapers, such as mine, are serious.

Other papers are not so serious. Their grammar is probably

"good," but their headlines may be funny, very short, or

very emotional.

Many years ago, country X had a war with country Y. One day

country X's navy sank a ship that belonged to country Y. Many sailors

on that ship died. One of the newspapers in country X had a headline

with just one word: GOTCHA! [We got you. That is, we were able to

sink the ship] Many people were shocked. They said that the headline

was cruel. That it was joking about people's deaths. So the newspaper

stopped using that one-word headline later in the day.

THANK YOU
 

Rover_KE

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Hello, alexka.

Try to use standard English - like this:

Are the headlines in newspapers correct grammatically or just to get readers' attention?

Sometimes this leads to amusing headlines, such as

SHELL FOUND ON BEACH - an actual headline referring to explosive artillery ammunition.

Rover
 
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