Page 189 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

92 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,
e.g. 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 ;' attempt oust push out
blast " explosion plea request
fire pledge * promise
blaze :"
boost " incentive, encourage ploy clever activity
boss '" poll " election / public opinion survey
manager, director
head* probe * investigation
clash :' dispute quit leave, resign
curb " restraint, limit riddle mystery
reduction strife conflict
cut :"
drama tense situation talks discussions
campaign, effort threat danger '
drive :"
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.)

184 English Vocabulary in Use