13 replies to this topic

[Mosquito]

Just out of curiousity: Atlas uses capitals in its headlines as in "Schumacher Set to Start Race to World Cup"

Now, there's websites who do this (e.g. Reuters, NYT), and those who don't. (e.g. CNN, BBC). Doesn't seem to be something demographic, rather just a style preference tho it seems to me a bit of a Germanism. And there's websites who do something 'in between' and websites who capitalize even words as 'On', 'The', etc.

Is there a guideline to this of some sort and a reason why Atlas choses the current format?

I'd rather have the 'normal' form without the capitalization, but that's just a personal preferrence, not a request for a change.

I'd bet there's loads of people who prefer the current headline format.

[bira]

It is considered the proper style in the English language to capitalize most words in a headline. To quote from article 7.127 of The Chicago Manual of Style:

In regular title capitalization, also known as headline style, the first and last words and all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions are capitalized. Articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor), and prepositions, regardless of length, are lowercased unless they are the first or last word of the title or subtitle. The to in infinitives is also lowercased.

We aspire to maintain proper style. It's none of my business what standards other websites or publications adhere to.

[AlesiUK]

i have a daft question along the same lines,Pedro de la Rosa. The correct way to write his name is with lower case "d" and "l". Is it then correct that when used in a headline these letters are capitalized?

[bira]

Originally posted by AlesiUK
i have a daft question along the same lines,Pedro de la Rosa. The correct way to write his name is with lower case "d" and "l". Is it then correct that when used in a headline these letters are capitalized?

Only if in the beginning of the headline, eg "De la Rosa Shatters Jerez Record - Day Four". ANY word, regardless of what it is, is capitalized if it's the first in a headline (or sentence, for that matter).

[Mosquito]

Ah, thanks, should have guessed as much. CMS sounds familiar, it's only those damn liberals at CNN who use this 'modern' form. The entire commonwealth obviously sticks to 'their own'.

I had this Dutch teacher who found any excessive capital on nouns the worst thing you could possibly do (among many others) as it was the most evil kind of Germanism, and he hated Germanisms.

That, and of course the fact that literally NO newspaper or respected media in my country (and perhaps most of Europe?) uses the CMS capitalization style for titles.

Anyway, any style is a good style, as long as it's applied in a consistent manner.

[bira]

Originally posted by Mosquito
CMS sounds familiar

"The Chicago Manual of Style" is the definitive guide - if not the bible - for writing and editing, be it in literary publication, journalism or academic work. That, along with Strunk's "The Elements of Style", is a must-have book for anyone in the words business.

[blip]

Originally posted by bira
is a must-have book for anyone in the words business.

I hear Ron keeps one under his pillow.

[CeCe]

Originally posted by bira
"The Chicago Manual of Style" is the definitive guide - if not the bible - for writing and editing, be it in literary publication, journalism or academic work. That, along with Strunk's "The Elements of Style", is a must-have book for anyone in the words business.

I use "The Chicago Manual of Style" for reference even if I'm not an editor—I frequently have to give my editors advice or justify a decision. Webster's 10th is the dictionary of choice as well.

[Zmeej]

Mosquito

Because English has served as the lingua franca for some decades now, its style rules are beginning to exert an influence on the habits of folks writing in other languages.

German, of course, capitalizes nouns whether they're used in a headline/title or not, and I'm fairly certain that most other languages did as well prior to the 20th century.

I've found that quite a number of continental Europeans consider capitalizing every word in a headline/heading/title to be LOUD style, and unnecessary grandstanding.

However, I'm not sure whether or not this style rule was adopted in reaction to English or German practices.

[Rich]

I doubt it's because of English English, Zmeej. I don't know of any English English news outlet that capitalises headlines. And most of the colonial offshoots, like SA's The Star or Australia's Sydney Morning Herald, use the same convention.

I don't really see much difference and don't think either is inherently superior/inferior or appealling/unappealling. I tend to capitalise headlines. Although if you asked me why I do it, or where/when I learnt to do it, I'd draw a blank and probably change the subject.

[Mosquito]

Originally posted by Rich
I don't really see much difference and don't think either is inherently superior/inferior or appealling/unappealling.

An argument could be legibillity. From the WebStyle guide:

We recommend downstyle typing (capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns) for your headlines, subheads, and text. Downstyle is more legible because as we read we primarily scan the tops of words.

If you use initial capital letters in your headlines, you disrupt the reader's scanning of the word forms

[Rich]

Received any txt msgs lately, or chatted to any l33t L4m3R n00bs? Legibility has ceased to be an issue for today's generation. In many instances, the less legible the message is, the better.

[Zmeej]

Legibility has ceased to be an issue for today's generation.

Can literacy be far behind?

I don't know of any English English news outlet that capitalises headlines.

Interesting. So I guess it's a North American thang. As far as I can tell, Capitalizing Headlines has been done in Canada for some time too.

I don't really see much difference and don't think either is inherently superior/inferior or appealling/unappealling. I tend to capitalise headlines.

When All Is Said and Done, Me Too.

Although if you asked me why I do it, or where/when I learnt to do it, I'd draw a blank and probably change the subject.

First became conscious of attitudes to differences in style at Yiddish, Ukrainian, Polish and other archives in NYC.

Otherwise, just thought it was a matter that varied from publisher to publisher.

[rhpearson]

In a creative writing seminar I attend, there was discussion of the way English is changing for Internet use. The leader of the group--a soon to be retired English teacher, who teaches English at an all French High School--thinks it is a valid growth of the language. Languages afterall do change to suit the times.

As for headlines, indeed I would go right to my CMoS for that I am so lucky that I got my copy from work... well... borrowed it many years back only to be laid off before I took it back.

What does matter most, IMHO, is consistency. Pick a style guide (or write one based on others, and intended use) and follow it.

From what I can see, in the two and a half years I have been away from AtlasF1, the consistency has improved a great deal.