Rural Health
Research Gateway

Titles

Regardless of the mode of dissemination, the title of the document will determine who sees and reads the product. A user will not read further if the title does not entice them. Additionally, indexing and abstracting services rely on accurate titles in extracting keywords for cross-referencing online. Researchers should spend considerable time and thought in developing an interesting and accurate title.

A Title Should

  • Clearly and precisely reflect the content. It should be simple, specific, and catchy.
  • Omit unnecessary words, and keep the title to 10 or fewer words.
    • Investigation of Vacancy Rates by Provider Type among Rural and Urban Hospice Agencies
    • Study of Vacancy Rates by Provider Type among Rural and Urban Hospice Agencies
    • Research on Vacancy Rates by Provider Type among Rural and Urban Hospice Agencies
  • If only a small number of variables were studied, include them in the title.
    • Good: Vacancy Rates by Provider Type among Rural and Urban Hospice Agencies
  • May include a subtitle separated by a colon.
  • Focus on what was studied, not the findings.
    • Avoid: Rural Hospice Agencies have Higher Vacancy Rates across all Provider Types when Compared to Urban Counterparts

A Title Should Not

  • Be a complete sentence.
  • Include jargon, acronyms, or abbreviations.
    • Avoid: FTEs of RNs, LPNs, NPs, CNAs, and MDs in Rural and Urban Hospice Agencies
    • Better: Health Provider Staffing Structures in Rural and Urban Hospice Agencies
  • Try to be too clever or humorous.
  • Name specific instruments, unless the instrument is the area of focus.
    • Avoid: Quality of Care in Rural and Urban Hospice Agencies: CAHPS Survey Scores
    • Better: Rural Relevance of the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (CAHPS)
  • Be a question: If writing a title as a question, avoid those that can be answered yes or no.
    • Avoid: Do Rural Hospice Agencies Struggle More than Urban to Fill Provider Vacancies?
    • Good: To What Extent do Rural Hospice Agencies Struggle to Fill Provider Vacancies?
    • Better: Rural Hospice Agencies' Barriers to Filling Provider Vacancies