You Know the SVO Formula. Now Let's Talk About All the Ways to Use It.
Last chapter, you learned the SVO formula.
Subject. Verb. Object. Short. Clear. Present tense. Active voice. You've got the foundation.
But here's something experienced headline writers know that most beginners miss: The basic SVO formula is not the only formula.
Sometimes you need more than just who, what, and the result. Sometimes the most powerful headline is a single sentence quote — word for word — from the story itself. Sometimes a colon between a name and a statement says everything in six words or less. Sometimes two related facts both belong in the headline — connected by one small semicolon mark.
Different stories call for different formulas. Knowing which formula fits which story is what makes a headline writer worth having on your newsroom team.
Section 1: Types of News Headlines and Their Formulas
There are five distinct headline types used in school journalism and tested in NSPC competitions. Learn each formula to write accurate headings for any scenario:
The most basic and common type. States exactly what happened and nothing more.
✅ "Science Club wins regional award"
Adds one supporting detail (when, where, how, or result) to provide extra context in a single line.
✅ "Principal bans phones in classrooms starting Monday"
Uses the exact words of a person in the story. Must be inside single quotation marks and stand alone with no attribution.
✅ "'We trained for this moment our whole lives'"
Credits a statement directly to a source using a colon or dash. Never use "says" or "announced".
✅ "DepEd: Schools to open June 2"
Contains two separate but closely related facts connected by a semicolon. Semicolon replaces the word "and".
✅ "School wins Best Publication; adviser named Coach of the Year"
Section 2: Headline Writing Rules
Every headline — no matter the type — follows a shared set of specific newsroom rules. Mastering these separations separates drafts from polished journalism:
Use present tense even for past events. For future events, use the infinitive (e.g., "School to host regional contest").
Always ensure the subject performs the action directly.
Replace the word "and" with a comma to save physical page space. Extremely common NSPC test rule!
Never use the word "says" or "said" in attribution headlines.
Always use single quotes (' ') inside headlines — never double (" ").
Remove "a", "an", and "the" to keep headlines tight and short.
Always use numerals — even under 10. The only exception is if the number starts the headline; then, spell it out (e.g. "Five students win...").
Use a semicolon (;) to connect two distinct, complete news facts.
Capitalize the first word of the headline, plus all proper nouns and specific titles.
contest"
wins regional contest"
Never leave a single word alone on the second line of a headline. Keep at least two words together.
publication award"
best publication award"
Do not split a modifier (like 'best') from the word it describes across two lines.
Quick Recap
| Headline Type | Key Formula & Rules |
|---|---|
| Straight SVO | Subject + Present Verb + Object (clean, direct) |
| SVO + Details | Subject + Verb + Object + specific local detail (adds context) |
| Quote | 'Exact words in single quotes' (powerful, emotional, no attribution) |
| Attribution | Source: Statement (No "says", colon separates) |
| Two-Clause | Statement ; Statement (semicolon separates two related facts) |
Fill in the Blank: Formatting Rules
Complete each sentence using the correct word: Subject, Verb, Object, present tense, articles, weak verbs, or active voice. Type your answer and click show answer to verify.
✏️ Practice Time
Diagnose headline types, correct rule violations, and write headlines from stories.
Identify Type and Check RulesReview each draft headline, name the type, identify errors, and check the fix.
Grade 6 journalism team wins best
publication award
Apply the RulesIdentify errors and rewrite corrected versions for each flawed headline.
Write the Correct Headline TypeWrite headlines based on stories following instructions.
🔍 Self-Check Guide
| What to Check | Done ✅ | Try Again 🔄 |
|---|---|---|
| I can identify all 5 headline types and apply their formulas | ☐ | ☐ |
| I replace 'and' with commas and 'says' with colons in headlines | ☐ | ☐ |
| I use single quotation marks and lowercase seasons/school terms | ☐ | ☐ |
📊 Simple Rubric
🧠 Spot the Fake Headline
Read both headlines. One follows the correct rules, and one is a fake. Tap the FAKE headline!