92 ae ae 184 Headline English Headline writers try to catch the reader’s eye by using as few words as possible. The language headlines use is, consequently, unusual in a number of ways. * Grammar words like articles or auxiliary verbs are often left out, e.g. EARLY CUT |; FORECAST IN INTEREST RATES © A simple form of the verb is used, e.g. QUEEN OPENS HOSPITAL TODAY © The infinitive is used to express the fact that something is going to happen in the future, eg. PRESIDENT TO VISIT MINE Newspaper headlines use a lot of distinctive vocabulary. They prefer words that are usually shorter and generally sound more dramatic than ordinary English words. The words marked * can be used either as nouns or verbs. newspaper meaning newspaper meaning word word aid * help key essential, vital axe * cut, remove link * connection back support move * step towards a desired end bar * exclude, forbid ordeal painful experience bid * atrempt oust push out blast * explosion plea request blaze * fire pledge* promise boost * incentive, encourage | ploy clever activity bos * manager, director poll * election / public opinion survey ead* i probe * investigation clash * dispute quit leave, resign curb * restraint, imit riddle mystery cut * reduction strife conflict drama tense situation talks discussions drive * campaign, effort threat danger gems jewels vow * promise go-ahead approval wed marry hit affect badly ‘Newspaper headlines often use abbreviations, e.g. PM for Prime Minister, MP for Member of Parliament. (See Unit 98 for more abbreviations.) Some newspapers also enjoy making jokes in their headlines. They do this by playing with words or punning, e.g. a wet open air concert in London by the opera singer Luciano Pavarotti was described as: TORRENTIAL RAIN IN MOST ARIAS ] ['most areas’] ‘An announcement that a woman working at the Mars chocolate company had got an interesting new job was: ‘WOMAN FROM MARS TO BE FIRST BRITON IN SPACE ! (Note that the word ‘Briton’ is almost exclusively found in newspapers.) English Vocabulary in Use92.1 92.2 92.3 92.4 92.5 Exercises (On the left there is alist of headlines. On the right there is a list of news topics. Match the headlines with the appropriate topic as in the example. 1 PM BACKS PEACE PLAN marriage of famous actress 2 MP SPY DRAMA royal jewels are stolen 3 SPACE PROBE FAILS person who saw crime in danger 4 QUEEN'S GEMS RIDDLE proposal to end war 5 STAR WEDS satellite is not launched 6 KEY WITNESS DEATH THREAT politician sells secrets to enemy Explain what the following headlines mean in ordinary English. Example: SHOP BLAZE S DEAD Five people died in a fire in a shop. 1 MOVE TO CREATE MORE JOBS 2 GO-AHEAD FOR WATER CURBS 3 WOMAN QUITS AFTER JOB ORDEAL 4 POLL PROBES SPENDING HABITS 5 BID TO OUST PM. 6 PRINCE VOWS TO BACK FAMILY The words marked * in the table opposite can be cither nouns or verbs. Note that the ‘meaning given is usually in the form of a noun, In the headlines below you have examples of words from the table used as verbs. Look at the underlined verbs and explain what they mean, You may need to use more than one word. Example: PM TO CURB SPENDING limit 1 BOOK LINKS MIS WITH KGB 2. CHANCELLOR CUTS INTEREST RATES 3 BOMB BLASTS CENTRAL LONDON, 4 PM PLEDGES BACKING FOR EUROPE 5. PRESIDENT HEADS PEACE MOVES Would you be interested in the stories under the following headlines? Why (not)? Mortgages cut as New tennis clash} Price curbs bank rates fall again } boost exports Women barred joan ean } from jobs_\ Royal family quits } Look through some English language newspapers and find some examples of headlines illustrating the points made on the opposite page. Beside each headline make a note of what the accompanying story is about. Try to find some examples of amusing headlines. English Vocabulary in Use 185Unit 92 1 proposal to end war 4 royal jewels are stolen 2 politician sells secrets to enemy __5-_ marriage of famous actress 3 satelite is not launched 6 person who saw crime in danger 92.2 Suggested answers: Steps are being taken with the aim of providing more work for people. [Approval has been given to a plan to place restrictions on people's use of water. ‘A. woman resigned from her job after undergoing some kind of unpleasant experience there. ‘A public opinion survey has looked into how people spend their money. ‘An attempt has been made to remove the Prime Minister from his/her position. ‘The Prince has promised to give support to his family. ausune 92.3 1 makesa connection between 4 promises reduces 5 leads / is a major figure in explodes in 92.5 Make sure that you note down not only the headline but also a brief indication of what the story was about so that the headline makes sense when you revise your work later.