Andrés Pagán, Senior Associate Editor
October 2025A paper’s title is more than a formality—it is the first element readers, editors, and reviewers encounter. A strong title communicates the main results of your study clearly and efficiently, while also ensuring your article is visible in databases and search engines. One of the most common pitfalls in title writing is relying on vague or ornamental phrasing that tell the reader little about the actual findings. Instead, titles should be declarative statements that highlight results. A reader should be able to understand the main outcome of your research from the title alone. Below we offer a few insights on how to write a strong title for your next article.
Dos
State the main result clearly
• Use the title to communicate what your study actually found, not just what it set out to do.
Make titles declarative rather than descriptive
o Weak: Exploring the Effects of Drought on Arabidopsis.
o Strong: Drought Stress Reduces Photosynthesis and Root Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.
o Strong: Drought Stress Reduces Photosynthesis and Root Growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Whenever possible, phrase the title as a statement of fact supported by your data.
Use precise keywords
o Weak: A Study of Coral Response to Microplastic Exposure.
o Strong: Microplastic Exposure Inhibits Coral Growth and Calcification.
o Strong: Microplastic Exposure Inhibits Coral Growth and Calcification.
• Choose terms that other researchers will use in searches, and be specific about species, methods, conditions, or outcomes.
Keep it concise
o Example: CRISPR-Cas9 Editing of the OsNAC Gene Improves Drought Tolerance in Rice.
• Most effective titles fall under 15–20 words.
• Avoid extra phrases like “a study of” or “an investigation into” that add no informational value.
• Avoid extra phrases like “a study of” or “an investigation into” that add no informational value.
Don’ts
Don’t rely on vague phrasing
• Titles like “Unveiling,” “Exploring,” “Toward Understanding,” or “Insights into” are uninformative.
• They describe an activity rather than a result, leaving readers uncertain about what was achieved.
Don’t overuse jargon or abbreviations• They describe an activity rather than a result, leaving readers uncertain about what was achieved.
• For example: NGS-Based GWAS for SNP-Linked QTLs in Oryza sativa
• Instead, a title should be readable to specialists and broadly accessible.
• Replace acronyms with full terms unless they are universally recognized (e.g., DNA, RNA).
Don’t exaggerate• Instead, a title should be readable to specialists and broadly accessible.
• Replace acronyms with full terms unless they are universally recognized (e.g., DNA, RNA).
• Avoid overstating the significance of your results. A modest, accurate title will be more credible and trustworthy than a sensational one.
Don’t use humor, wordplay, or colloquialisms
o Misleading: A Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease
o Accurate: Identification of a Potential Drug Target for Alzheimer’s Disease in Mouse Models
o Accurate: Identification of a Potential Drug Target for Alzheimer’s Disease in Mouse Models
• While catchy in popular science outlets, these approaches risk confusing readers and obscuring your research in databases.
Don’t ignore journal rules
• Journals vary in their tolerance for colons, declarative phrasing, and length. Always check the “Instructions for Authors” before submission.
An effective title is a declarative statement of your results, not an open-ended promise or vague description. By avoiding uninformative phrases and instead emphasizing what your study found, you ensure that your research is visible, credible, and impactful.
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