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