can essay title be a question

Can Essay Titles Be Questions? A Guide to Writing Effective Essay Titles

Can essay titles be questions? Discover our guide to see when it makes sense to use a question as an essay title and when to avoid it.

The title is an important part of the piece when writing a research paper or essay for an academic writing situation. You may be wondering, “can essay titles be questions?” The answer is yes, but only if they are well-written and suitable for the topic of your essay.

A good title is relevant to the arguments within the essay and the thesis you create, and if a question fits that well, then it can be your essay title.

Argumentative Essay

Persuasive essay, narrative essay, college essay, analytical essays, using questions as high school of college essay titles, how to write a strong essay question, 1. look at your research question, 2. write the title last, 3. grab the attention of the reader , 4. add keywords, 5. make the title specific, 6. format the title properly, 7. avoid “yes” or “no” question titles, 8. set the tone, 9. test the title on other people, tips to create a good essay title, examples of question-based essay titles, using a question as an essay title.

The purpose of essay and research paper titles is to grab the reader’s attention and show a little bit about what the piece of writing will cover. Creative essay titles can make the reader want to read your piece, giving you a small place to showcase your writing skills. No matter what type of scientific or academic essay you write, you will need a title. Using a question as an essay title depends mainly on the type of essay you write. Some types lend themselves well to question titles, and others do not. Here are some common types you may need to write.

The essay title can be a question when writing an argumentative essay with two possible arguments. First, posing the question, you’ll be arguing in the title guides the reader to your opening paragraph and thesis statement. In addition, it can get the reader thinking about the question you’ll be arguing. On the other hand, if there are not two possible arguments, then the title should state your position, not ask a question. Thus, argumentative essays can have question titles sometimes, but sometimes they do not make the most sense.

If you are writing a persuasive essay, a question may not work as well as the title. Instead, you’ll want a statement to summarize the thesis statement. Remember, your goal is not to get the reader to think about two sides of an argument with this type of essay. Instead, your goal is to persuade the reader that your position on the topic is the right one.

A narrative essay is another place where you might be able to title an essay with a question. A question could make the entire essay more intriguing in this type of essay. It pauses the reader and invites them to read your narration to discover the answer.

A college essay is one place where you’ll often see a question as the title. In these essays, admissions teams want to see that you know how to answer a question thoughtfully, so using that question as the title makes sense.

In analytical essays, a question often makes the essay weaker. While it can work well in certain circumstances, most analytical essays need a statement of the problem or the solution the writer will analyze.

Many students are looking for creative essay titles, but it can be a bit of a challenge. A few reasons why  you might have a difficult time coming up with the best essay title include:

• You might have difficulty finding an adequate title that accurately reflects all the information you will cover in your essay.
• You might be concerned that the best title for your essay has already been taken, causing you to get worried about plagiarism.
• You might be trying to formulate your essay title before you write the rest of the essay. As a result, you might have to change the title when you realize what your essay is about.

If you are having trouble finding a solid title to summarize your piece of writing adequately, you may want to consider using a question. You can use an essay title that is a question as long as it is appropriately framed to suit the topic on which you are writing. You must make sure that the question you use to title your essay is still relevant to the arguments you make in the essay. It should also adequately reflect the thesis statement.

A question title might be appropriate if you feel like there are multiple perspectives on your topic that you need to cover. On the other hand, if you are writing an argumentative or persuasive essay, you might want to turn your essay title into a statement. Therefore, a question title can be a solid option for an academic essay, but it is not necessarily appropriate for every type of essay.

Whether you use a question or not, writing a good title is essential in essay writing. Both types of titles, whether phrases or questions, need to summarize the main ideas of your essay. They should be short but practical because the main focus is on the content, not the title. They also should be catchy and creative, which is why a question can work well if appropriate to the essay. 

Your research question should not be the essay title but can give you a starting point. If you are given a  research question, use it to start some initial research and form a preliminary thesis statement. This can help you write your title.

If you can, write the title of your essay last. This allows you to see where your arguments take you, so you can focus on a well-developed essay first, then tailor the title to it.

Ultimately, you need a catchy title that will grab the reader’s attention. This does not mean you need something pulled from social media, but the title should spark enough curiosity that the reader will want to read the essay.

Keywords should be pulled from the essay, and tell your reader what they will read in the piece. These are not keywords for online marketing purposes, but if your title uses keywords from your piece, you will more easily write a title relevant to the rest of the essay. Keywords can be helpful if you eventually have your essay published in an online database. In addition, research conducted at college and university levels often becomes a part of online databases; thus, learning how to use keywords in the title will help the essay find more readers in the future.

Next, you should ensure that your title is specific. Remember that your essay has to be an accurate reflection of what is covered. If it is too general, your readers will have difficulty figuring out what the essay is about. For example, the statement “Concussions in the NFL” is far too general. There are a lot of different opinions on concussions in the NFL , and research has changed significantly during the past few decades. Instead, you may want to choose a title such as “What Is the Impact of Repeated Concussions in the NFL on Player Safety?” This is a much more specific statement that will give the reader a better idea of what your essay covers. 

As you write your title, make sure you format it correctly. Use these rules:

• Capitalize the first and last words, as well as most other words. Do not capitalize articles and short prepositions.
• If you use questions for titles, end them with a question mark, but do not end statements with a period.
• Do not add additional punctuation, except if the title includes the title of a published work, in which case you punctuate the title of the published work according to the appropriate rules.

If you decide to use a question as the essay title, do not phrase it so that it has a yes or no answer. For example:

• Does Cell Phone Use Impact Social Communication?

The answer is probably yes, and you would not need much explanation. Instead, format the title so that it invites more discussion.

• How Has Cell Phone Use Impacted Social Communication?

Here you have room to develop several points as you explore the answer to the question.

Essays all have a tone. For example, academic essays tend to be severe and factual, while narrative essays can have a more humorous tone. You can set the tone of your essay in your title so the reader knows what to expect as they read the work.

Finally, getting an outside perspective on your title could be prudent. Just as you may want to have people read your essay to identify confusing statements, typos, or grammatical issues you may have overlooked, you should also ask people for their opinions on your title. See if they can figure out what the essay is about based on the title. Find out if they have more creative ideas you can incorporate into the title of your essay. Remember that you are not obligated to follow their advice, but it could be helpful to see what other people have to say. 

Regardless of the essay title you choose, it must be relevant to the essay’s contents. Here are a few tips to consider when writing your essay title.

• Summarize: Your essay title should summarize the essay’s main ideas. That is why it might be smart to wait until the essay is written before developing your essay title. Then, you can look at your thesis statement, analyze your topic sentences, and develop a title that adequately summarizes the essay’s main ideas.
• Concise: You should keep your title as short as possible. Even though you need to include enough words to adequately describe what is covered in your essay, you do not want the title to be too long. The shorter your title is, the easier it will be for people to be hooked by your essay title. 
• Specific: You should also ensure that your essay title is specific. If your title is too general, people may have difficulty figuring out what your essay is about. You do not want to leave them guessing. But, on the other hand, you want people to know what your essay is about right away.
• Creative: Finally, your essay title should be creative. Remember that your essay title is responsible for the first impression you will have on your reader. It would help if you hooked your reader’s attention right away. Otherwise, they will not read the rest of the essay. You need your title to do exactly that. You can convince someone to keep reading if you use a curious, profound question.

Remember that you may want to try multiple titles before you decide which one to use. You must find the one that best describes your essay’s contents while grabbing potential readers’ attention.

The best essay title is the one that fits the essay you are writing. Sometimes questions work, and sometimes they do not. Here are some examples of essay titles that work well in question format:

• Are Cameras in Public Places Good Security or a Violation of Privacy Rights? (Argumentative essay)
• Why Is Social Media a Threat to Modern Teenagers? (Argumentative essay)
• Does Paying Children for Their Grades Help? (High school essay)
• What Parenting Style Is the Most Effective? (High school essay)
• Is “Fake News” Real, and How Does It Affect People’s Political Views? (College essay)
• How Has Cell Phone Technology Changed the Way We Communicate? (College essay
• What Are the Top Benefits of Antioxidants: The Research (Research paper)
• Do Violent Video Games Cause More Violence in Society? (Research paper_
• What Role Did the Marshall Plan Play in Rebuilding Europe After World War II? (High school essay)

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

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Best Tips on How to Title an Essay

How to Make a Good Title for an Essay

The success of an essay heavily depends on its title. This may not come as a surprise given that the essay title is the first aspect to provide the reader with a sneak peek into the text. It piques our interest to read the paper in the first place and gives us a preview of what to expect from the author.

Our research paper writing help prepared a thorough guide on how to title an essay. Here you may find tips and tricks for developing an effective APA or MLA essay title. So, let's dive straight into the article for more exciting details!

Essay Title Format

During your essay writing process, ensure you know the stylistic requirements before beginning an essay. Knowing the format you need to employ is crucial because different style manuals may have varying requirements. Mostly, you could have used an APA or MLA essay title format. Our service, where you can buy essay online , explains these two in more detail below.

Essay Title MLA

If you're required to create an essay title MLA format, check whether your instructor wants you to make a separate cover page. If not, put a heading at the beginning of your work that includes your name, the name of your professor, the course ID, and, lastly, the date.

On the other hand, if you must present a cover page for your essay title MLA, then you need to include the following:

• The name of the college
• The title of your paper
• The subtitle of your paper, if applicable
• Your first and last name
• Your teacher or professor's name
• The class name or course number
• The date the paper is due

The formatting instructions are as follows:

• Double-spaced
• Times New Roman font
• Size 12 font
• Apart from very short terms, each word's initial letter should be capitalized. The initial word, however, must always be uppercase.
• The title page shouldn't include a header with the page numbers.

Essay Title APA

Having discussed the MLA format essay title, let's explore what the APA student title page includes:

• The paper title
• Author names
• Institutional affiliation where the author carried out the study
• Name and number of the course
• Professor name
• Page number

The title of an essay format instructions:

• double-spaced
• 1" margins
• 12-point Times New Roman
• According to APA, your title should be targeted and brief, without unnecessary words or abbreviations

How to Choose a Good Title for an Essay: Important Qualities

Nobody will read a dull headline. Your title should grab your audience's attention and encourage them to read the rest of the work. As it is one of the initial things readers see, having a strong attention grabber is essential when writing an essay from scratch. To fully understand how to come up with a title for essay that is strong and exciting, let's consider a few following factors:

Employ a Catchy Hook - Usually, the title of essay format follows a similar basic structure, especially if they are used for an academic article. The hook serves as a unique component that attracts the reader. It's a captivating statement informing others about the topic of the essay. You can also explore several types of sentences with examples that can help you develop the ideal hook structure.

Consider Topic Keywords - These are essential terms or expressions pertinent to your subject and help your reader understand the focus and body of your article. These focus keywords should serve as a brief, one- to two-word article summary. You can choose some terms from the research topic your instructor gave you, but after your thesis statement is formed, this is where you should hunt for ideas.

Use a Colon - A colon is frequently used in academic titles to separate concepts and sentences. The standard procedure is to place a clever remark or brief quotation before the colon. Although these beginning words offer flavor, they can be overdone. Because of this, some individuals find using the colon to be repugnant. Therefore be careful not to misuse this method.

Ask a Question - To write essay title that is strong, consider asking a question. But, use it with caution because posing a question will make your tone less formal. As long as the question is suitably phrased to meet the subject of your essay, feel free to employ it. Always check to see if the title question still applies to your points in the essay's body. The thesis statement should be appropriately reflected as well.

Find Inspirational Quotes - There is no formula for selecting essay titles from the textual content. You may get playful and choose any quotation, proverb, or catchphrase that applies to your particular publication and works as a title. You may also create a great essay title using well-known expressions or idioms. Doing so will help your readers relate to and feel more comfortable discussing your subject.

Here are other rules for how to create a good title:

• Title every section of writing: In the process of writing, create interesting subheadings to give your paragraphs an identity. Also, they make your text look ordered and clear. 
• The title must bear the theme of the text: choose a title that summarizes the essay. 
• Capitalize all words with certain exceptions: Capitalize the first letter of every word in the title, but do not capitalize pronouns, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.
• Avoid underlining the title: Since topics come in boldface, underlining it will amount to overemphasis. Some authorities say that if you must underline it, do not bolden it.
• Review the final version of the title: Do not forget to do a quick review of the final version of the title—check for grammar, structure, spelling and so on. Re-read it to determine if the title has given justice to the essay. Confirm if the topic is catchy enough to attract your reader’s attention. 
• When using a colon in your title, follow the rules: Since we are dealing with punctuation rules here, let us talk about the colon – when you have two eye-catching topics, separate them with a colon.

Student’s Guide on How to Come Up with a Title for an Essay

Titling an essay can be easy, but there are a few core principles to be taken into account. The following tips will help you stay on track and avoid any common pitfalls.

Essay Goes First

Never start with a title! If you write it before the rest of the text, it will be based on it, and it should be vice versa. Writing an essay before choosing a heading will give you a clear understanding of what should make sense to the reader. Re-read the finished paper several times to decide on the title. The last thing to create is a title - such strategy will give more time to spend on crafting an essay outline, conducting research, or writing the paper itself.

What are you writing about? What is the style of your paper, and is it an academic essay or a free-form essay like a narrative essay? If the topic of your essay is “Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?” your title should not be humorous; it should be strict and to the point.

If your topic is “Why do people like watching funny cat videos?”, feel free to craft a funny title. Determine the tone of your essay and base your title on it—in consideration with the essay’s topic.

The tone can be:

• Serious - “The implications of global warming”
• Funny - “How cats and dogs love their masters”
• Amiable - “Ways to fight depression”
• Persuasive - “Why positive thinking is a must have skill for every person”
• Informative - “Ten rules for creating a chemical at home”

The main goal of a title is to name its paper. There is no need to tell an entire story in the title, or provide any useless details. Sum up your paper in a few words! Another way to do this is to sum up your thesis statement, as it represents the main idea of your essay. Take your thesis and squeeze it into 3-4 words. Imagine that you are creating a title for your favourite newspaper or a slogan for Coca-Cola.

Don’t use fancy words! Take 2-3 main words (keywords), put them together, and stop wasting your time. Avoid jargon and abbreviations.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is something that can help any student and young writer reap benefits. While working on a title, detect the words related to the central idea of the paper. Type the words into the search field of Google and add the word “quote.” A search engine will show numerous web pages with in-text quotations that could be useful. Select the fragment you like. It is possible to learn how to make a creative title for an essay in this way.

Discover several more tips from experts:

• Never forget the “What,” “Who,” “When,” “How,” “Why,” and “Where” questions (if you start with one of these questions, your title has a chance of getting noticed);
• Come up with an unexpected image not related to the selected topic;
• Sometimes, starting with a lie increases the chances of a title being able to catch an eye;
• Review our catchy essay title examples.

Need Some Help With Your Essay's Title?

Feel free to contact EssayPro and we will provide you with a writing help at a moment’s notice. With the years of essay writing experience, titling becomes second nature, so you no longer need to worry about having a catchy headline on your paper.

Essay Title Examples: Bad vs Good

The strongest essay titles condense lengthy essays into concise statements. When wondering how to make an essay title, think carefully about your stylistic choices and essay format to produce an excellent one. Our dissertation help has provided essay title examples to let you understand the difference between good and bad ones more vividly.

Bad Essay Title Examples

As we discussed how to create an essay title and the specific elements that go into it, you should have a clear idea of how important it is to craft a strong title. In contrast, first, look at weak essay title ideas that can break your paper. This should serve as an example of why your heading should not be like this:

Ex 1: ' How Television Has Changed Our World ' - too vast and not informative

Ex 2: 'The Ara Pacis Augustae' - unclear for those who don't know Latin

Ex 3: 'The Most Poisonous Frog' - does not provide any insight

Ex 4: 'A Brief History of Subcultures and How They Manifest Themselves in a Constantly Changing Socio-Economic Environment' - too long and complicated

Ex 5: 'The Little Mermaid 29 Years Later: Selling a Harmful Sexist Message Through a Naughty Image' - inappropriate language

Good Essay Title Examples

Now that you know what a bad essay title looks like, let's explore good essay title examples as their substitutes. Examine the following essay title format styles that will give you a clear understanding.

Ex 1: ' The Electronic Babysitter: A Social History of Uses of the Television' - gives an exact description of what the essay will be about

Ex 2: ' The Modern Historical Significance of the Ara Pacis Augustae to the City of Rome' - here, the reader can understand what they will be reading about

Ex 3: ' A Deadly Beauty: The Evolution of Skin Coloration and Toxicity of the Poisonous Dart Frog' - clear, informative, and on-point.

Ex 4: 'Reconsidering Counterculture in Contemporary Society' - informative enough and brief

Ex 5: 'The Projection of Gender Stereotypes in The Little Mermaid' - employs appropriate language

Catchy Essay Title Ideas

You now understand that long, complicated headlines do not accurately convey the paper's main idea. Take ample time to consider the word choice before tilting your work. How do you create good essay titles? Think creatively and with common sense. But meanwhile, for your convenience, we compiled title ideas for essays you may use as inspiration.

Persuasive Essay Titles

• Why Receiving College Education is Important: Examining Long-term Benefits
• Face-to-Face Courses Cannot Be Replaced by Online Learning
• An MBA Does Not Ensure Corporate Success.
• Every Company Should Adopt a Green Strategy.
• Energy Drinks Represent a Lucrative Market Segment.
• Aircraft, Excess Weight Charges, Need to be Prohibited.
• Patients' Life Shouldn't be Put to Death by Nurses.
• Google Glasses May Increase the Number of Auto Accidents.
• All of the Conventional Malls Will Soon be Replaced By Online Shopping
• How Do Team-building Exercises Contribute to the Development of Inventions?
• Illegal immigrants are entitled to remain in the US.

Academic Essay Titles

• Several English Dialects: The Link Between Various Cultures
• Instagram: A social media innovation
• Is it possible to reverse drug-induced brain damage, and if so, how?
• What the Future Holds for Humans in the Light of Artificial Intelligence
• The Story of Two Nations after Decades of Conflict: North and South Korea
• Video Games and Their Learning Context in Schools
• Free Wi-Fi: Strategies for Enhancing the City's Economy

Strong Research Paper Titles

• Digital World Cybersecurity
• E-business to Provide New Paths for Booksellers
• Outsourcing for Large Businesses
• Preparing for College Costs for High School Students
• What News Reporters Should Do in the Digital Age and How to Do It: Examples
• The Transformative Power of Music: How Heavy Metal Impacted My Life

Best Essay Titles for College Students

• The Possible Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Humans
• The Potential for Time Travel in Virtual Reality
• What Role Has Mathematics Played in Human History?
• How to Succeed in the Real Estate Industry
• E-Commerce: An Empire of Virtual Businesses Worth Millions of Dollars
• How to Achieve Financial Independence in the Digital Age Without Opening a Real Business

More Creative Titles for Essays

• When getting rewarded for their grades, would kids do better left alone?
• How Does Fake News Impact the Mainstream press?
• Homelessness in Contemporary Society: A Dilemma
• What News Reporters' Best Job Is in the Digital Age and How to Uphold It
• Elon Musk: Brilliant Mind or Insane Person?
• Positives and Negatives of Employing a Smoker
• Do We Employ the Appropriate Student Success Metrics?

Professional Academic Help

Now that you know how to make a good title for an essay, you should also understand that you should approach the task as a process. While composing your essay title, you must condense your whole thesis and point of discussion into a single, concise, yet powerful sentence. If you have time before your deadline, give it some thought and don't hurry.

Don't forget that you can always rely on our professional academic assistance, whether you need a reflection paper , ideas for a strong essay title, or any other academic papers. Consider the following words - write my essay for me - magic keywords for delegating your most complex tasks to our skilled writers!

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How To Title An Essay?

How to title an essay in mla format, what are some good titles for an essay, related articles.

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Writing an effective title

Writers often omit or underuse the helpful tool that is an essay title. Feeling stuck, writers may give up on generating a title, or merely label their essays by assignment sequence (“Paper #2”) or task (“Rogerian Argument”). An absent or non-specific title is a missed opportunity: titles help writers prepare readers to understand and believe the paper that is to follow.

Remember the functions of a title.

As composition and rhetoric scholars Maxine Hairston and Michael Keene explain,

a good title does several things: First, it predicts content. Second, it catches the reader’s interest. Third, it reflects the tone or slant of the piece of writing. Fourth, it contains keywords that will make it easy to access by a computer search. (73)

Keeping these functions in mind will help a writer choose a specific and meaningful title, not a mere label.

Think of title-writing as a process, and allow yourself to stretch your thinking during that process.

Like any piece of writing, an effective title does not appear in one magic moment; it takes brainstorming and revising. Richard Leahy's “Twenty Titles for the Writer” exercise helps writers slow down and engage in the process of title-writing.

Although it can feel painstaking and a little silly, actually doing all the steps of Leahy’s exercise takes your thinking in new directions, and almost always guarantees an interesting and effective title. (Of course, how you use the exercise is up to you.) “Twenty Titles for the Writer” is below.  

Twenty Titles for the Writer

1. Copy out of your draft a sentence that could serve as a title.

2. Write a sentence that's not in the draft to use as a title.

3. Write a title that is a question beginning with What, Who, When, or Where.

4. Write a title that is a question beginning with How or Why.

5. Write a title that is a question beginning with Is/Are, Do/Does, or Will.

6. Pick out of the essay some concrete image—something the reader can hear, see, taste, smell, or feel—to use as a title.

7. Pick another concrete image out of the essay. Look for an image that is a bit unusual or surprising.

8. Write a title beginning with an -ing verb (like “Creating a Good Title”).

9. Write a title beginning with On (like “On the Titles of Essays”).

10. Write a title that is a lie about the essay. (You probably won't use this one, but it might stimulate your thinking.)

11. Write a one-word title—the most obvious one possible.

12. Write a less obvious one-word title.

13. Write a two-word title.

14. Write a three-word title.

15. Write a four-word title.

16. Write a five-word title.

17. Think of a familiar saying, or the title of a book, song, or movie, that might fit your essay.

18. Take the title you just wrote and twist it by changing a word or creating a pun on it.

19. Do the same with another saying or title of a book, song, or movie.

20. Find two titles you've written so far that you might use together in a double title. Join them together with a colon [ : ].

Hairston, Maxine, and Michael Keene. Successful Writing . 5th ed. New York: Norton, 2003.

Title exercise adapted from Richard Leahy's “ Twenty Titles for the Writer .” College Composition and Communication 43.4 (1992): 516–519. JSTOR. University Libraries, U of Minnesota. 19 July 2007 <http://www.jstor.org>.

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Can a Title of an Essay Be a Question: Tips on How to Write Killer Essay Titles

Essay writing can sometimes be daunting for many students, especially those doing it for the first time. But it can be more challenging when it comes to writing the title. The title can mean the difference between people reading your essay and not.

It is the first thing readers see and resembles a shouting individual. If the shout is not loud enough, your essay is less likely to be read, and vice versa. And among everything else about titles, whether to frame it as a question gets a lot of questions. So, can a title be a question? Let’s find out together.

Can a Title of an Essay Be a Question?

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Maximize search-ability and engage your readers from the very beginning

Your title is the first thing anyone who reads your article is going to see, and for many it will be where they stop reading. Learn how to write a title that helps readers find your article, draws your audience in and sets the stage for your research!

How your title impacts the success of your article

Researchers are busy and there will always be more articles to read than time to read them.  Good titles help readers find your research, and decide whether to keep reading. Search engines use titles to retrieve relevant articles based on users’ keyword searches. Once readers find your article, they’ll use the title as the first filter to decide whether your research is what they’re looking for. A strong and specific title is the first step toward citations, inclusion in meta-analyses, and influencing your field. 

What to include in a title

Include the most important information that will signal to your target audience that they should keep reading.

Key information about the study design

Important keywords

What you discovered

Writing tips

Getting the title right can be more difficult than it seems, and researchers refine their writing skills throughout their career. Some journals even help editors to re-write their titles during the publication process! 

• Keep it concise and informative What’s appropriate for titles varies greatly across disciplines. Take a look at some articles published in your field, and check the journal guidelines for character limits. Aim for fewer than 12 words, and check for journal specific word limits.
• Write for your audience Consider who your primary audience is: are they specialists in your specific field, are they cross-disciplinary, are they non-specialists?
• Entice the reader Find a way to pique your readers’ interest, give them enough information to keep them reading.
• Incorporate important keywords Consider what about your article will be most interesting to your audience: Most readers come to an article from a search engine, so take some time and include the important ones in your title!
• Write in sentence case In scientific writing, titles are given in sentence case. Capitalize only the first word of the text, proper nouns, and genus names. See our examples below.

Don’t

• Write your title as a question In most cases, you shouldn’t need to frame your title as a question. You have the answers, you know what you found. Writing your title as a question might draw your readers in, but it’s more likely to put them off.
• Sensationalize your research Be honest with yourself about what you truly discovered. A sensationalized or dramatic title might make a few extra people read a bit further into your article, but you don’t want them disappointed when they get to the results.

Examples…

Format: Prevalence of [disease] in [population] in [location]

Example: Prevalence of tuberculosis in homeless women in San Francisco

Format: Risk factors for [condition] among [population] in [location]

Example: Risk factors for preterm births among low-income women in Mexico City

Format (systematic review/meta-analysis): Effectiveness of [treatment] for [disease] in [population] for [outcome] : A systematic review and meta-analysis

Example: Effectiveness of Hepatitis B treatment in HIV-infected adolescents in the prevention of liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Format (clinical trial): [Intervention] improved [symptoms] of [disease] in [population] : A randomized controlled clinical trial

Example: Using a sleep app lessened insomnia in post-menopausal women in southwest United States: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Format  (general molecular studies): Characterization/identification/evaluation of [molecule name] in/from [organism/tissue] (b y [specific biological methods] ) 

Example: Identification of putative Type-I sex pheromone biosynthesis-related genes expressed in the female pheromone gland of Streltzoviella insularis

Format  (general molecular studies): [specific methods/analysis] of organism/tissue reveal insights into [function/role] of [molecule name] in [biological process]  

Example: Transcriptome landscape of Rafflesia cantleyi floral buds reveals insights into the roles of transcription factors and phytohormones in flower development

Format  (software/method papers): [tool/method/software] for [what purpose] in [what research area]

Example: CRISPR-based tools for targeted transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in plants

Tip: How to edit your work

Editing is challenging, especially if you are acting as both a writer and an editor. Read our guidelines for advice on how to refine your work, including useful tips for setting your intentions, re-review, and consultation with colleagues.

• How to Write an Abstract
• How to Write Your Methods
• How to Report Statistics
• How to Write Discussions and Conclusions
• How to Edit Your Work

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The contents of the Writing Center are also available as a live, interactive training session, complete with slides, talking points, and activities. …

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Essay Title: Rules, Tips, Mistakes to Avoid

Table of contents

• 1 What Makes a Good Title?
• 2.1 Use your essay to develop your topic
• 2.2 Identify keywords and take advantage of them
• 2.3 Use Multiple Titles
• 3.1 MLA Format
• 3.2 APA Format
• 3.3 Chicago Format
• 4 What to Avoid When Writing a Title for an Essay?
• 5 Take into account Your Paper Style
• 6 Types Of Papers and the Best Titles For Them
• 7.1 Questions make Catchy
• 7.2 Describe the Paper in 5 Words
• 7.3 Use One Direct Word
• 7.4 Extract a Sentence from the Paper
• 7.5 Take advantage of Pop-Culture
• 7.6 Put “On” at the beginning
• 7.7 Start with a Verb in “-ing”
• 7.8 Give a Mental Visualization of Your Topic
• 7.9 Modify a Title that was Rejected
• 7.10 Choose 2 Variants That Were Considered and Declined; Then Join Them Together
• 8.1 Why is an essay title important?
• 8.2 Can a title be a question?
• 8.3 How long should the title be?

Good paper titles could be the difference between the audience viewing or ignoring your essays. When chosen carefully, essay titles could well capture the attention of someone who would not typically read the topic. Learning the proper method for titling an article can work wonders in creating an attention-grabbing heading. A well-titled article will also tell readers what to expect. Knowing how to create a topic for an essay that commands the reader’s attention is important. That is why this piece is designed to help you write just that.

What Makes a Good Title?

The importance of a great title cannot be overemphasized in the essay-writing process . And that is where you question yourself – what makes good essay headlines?

• A good title for an essay must be memorable. You want to think up something that stands out as much as possible to capture the audience’s eyes and minds. Remember – your title is the first thing your reader sees.
• Your essay name must possess a near-perfect degree of accuracy. Titling an essay like a clickbait heading could have the viewer on strings at the beginning, but they may not be disposed towards reading it to the end. Even so, it might not leave them with the desired impression.
• A good essay title has to be written in a language the target audience would understand easily. You might want to keep the language of your essay headline simple, but it should reflect as much expertise as the target audience would reasonably expect.
• A proper heading for an essay must be easy to read. The main idea is that your title gives a brief insight into what the audience should expect. Keep it concise and eye-catching, and ensure it is in active voice.

How to Title an Essay?

Having understood the importance of creative essay titles, you also know what features they are supposed to contain. The next item on the agenda is for you to know how to make a title for a write-up. This is not an arbitrary undertaking. It is a multi-step ritual that helps you ensure you are on the right track to connect with your audience using a catchy essay title.

Use your essay to develop your topic

This may seem rather confusing, but it is a very efficient step to follow while coming up with great naming ideas. You should start writing your essay once you have a subject matter identified. By the time you finish writing your essay, you can use the write-up details to construct the most suitable title. It would also give you much more clarity on the subject matter and what the audience wants from it since you would have conducted more research on the issue. As such, your title can be more precise and connected to the paper.

Identify keywords and take advantage of them

Your essay’s title must scream “This is what you want” to the reader. And no matter how fun and memorable it may be, it might not be as successful if it does not capture what the audience is exactly looking for. This is where keywords will work for you. They are terms that would let readers know that your essay is relevant to what is in question.

For instance, imagine trying to research articles on symptoms of pregnancy – but the name you see has nothing like “symptoms” or “pregnancy” in them. They might be catchy essay headers and even end up being related to the search, but they don’t exactly strike you like that is what you seek. You don’t need to stuff your title with key phrases. Just two or three core ones will do the trick.

Use Multiple Titles

Nobody said you have to use just one main topic. Segmenting your paper and sub-titling each makes your essay much more readable.

Essay Title Formats and Punctuations

It is perfectly fine if you would rather freestyle your essay heading. After all, a little creative license never hurts as long as you craft a good essay title. Though, you might want to play it safer by defining parameters, especially if your essay is formal. In that case, you should opt for an essay title format. These are internationally recognized sets of prescribed guidelines for titling your papers. There are three main essay title styles – the MLA, the APA, and the Chicago.

The rules of MLA style  emphasize that your essay topics should be centralized on the page. Perhaps the most important rule of this style is that the title must be written in “title case”. This means every word should begin using capital letters except prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, “to” when it is alongside a verb in its infinitive form, and articles. However, the first and last words must have capital letters, no matter what they are. This style also discourages italicizing, underlining, or placing the topics in quotation marks.

This formatting APA style is particular about the brevity of the title, stipulating a maximum of 12 words. It emphasizes a short and straight-to-the-point without abbreviations or redundancies. A title in this style aims to share as much information with the audience in as few words as possible. It does not encourage the use of figurative words because it is used in technical and professional writing. Thus, expect to see it deployed toward a research paper title and formal articles. It also supports centralizing the title toward the top of the page.

Chicago Format

Like the other two formats, this style is particular about having the title in the title case. However, it gives more leeway and license to the writer than the others. In fact, the Chicago style prescribes no further guidelines beyond title casing.

What to Avoid When Writing a Title for an Essay?

Developing interesting titles for essays can be a challenge for some. Tips include avoiding negativity and offensive or controversial terms and keeping it professional. Even the cover page could be done properly thanks to a writing service like the APA title page generator, which can also help you write a good title for an essay.

Making a good start means staying positive. Even when the essay topics are dreary, attempt to write less negatively. Good headlines for essays also use appropriate language to attract more possible readers to the paper. Lastly, its image should remain neutral – don’t overshare.

Take into account Your Paper Style

The style of your essay is essential to your topic. Identify and study what kind of essay it is, e.g., an argumentative essay or narrative essay, and ensure that the essay topic reflects it. Essays have tones depending on their kind, the audience, and the subject matter. For instance, academic writing would likely assume a formal tone. Having identified the tone of your essays, you should ensure your essay topics don’t go off-key. It should complement the tone of the essay itself in order to have the desired effect on the readers.

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Types Of Papers and the Best Titles For Them

There are several situations that could involve you writing an essay paper. And depending on the situation or the target of the piece, several kinds of papers exist as well. These may include a narrative paper, expository essay, business paper, and thesis statement in academic writing, among others. Some of the most creative examples of titles include:

Research Paper

The Role of COVID-19 in the Growth of Digital Services

Impacts of Climate Change on Developed Countries

Business Paper

Why Franchising Is the Way for New Small Business Owners

How Digital Services Can Influence the Global Supply Chain

College Essay

The Golden Rule of Wholesome Studentship

Finding Success in My Failures

Reflective Essay

The Time I Met My Mentor

My First Surgery

Personal Statement

My Nine Lives as an Immigrant Student

The Three Horsemen of Ambition

Literary Analysis

The Use of Symbolism in The Pulley

Thematic Preoccupations of Shakespeare’s Othello

Report Titles

Earlier Vaccinations Would Not Have Subsided the Coronavirus Pandemic

Students Want Mixed Dormitories in American Universities

Good Titles for Essays about Yourself

Why I Am the Way I Am

A Letter To the 7-Year-Old Me

Good Titles for Narrative Writing

The Day the World Stood Still

My Perfect Birthday Party

MLA Essay Title Format

The Old Man and the Sea: A Critical Analysis of Ernest Hemingway

Why You Can Do What You Do Without Knowing Who You Are

Argumentative Essay

Are Electric Cars the Solution To Carbon Emissions?

Should Reparations Be Paid To Marginalized Groups?

Compare and Contrast Essay

Left Wing Versus Right Wing: What Ideologies Do We Need?

Good Versus Bad: The Constant Clashes of Morality

Persuasive Essay

Why Dogs Make Better Pets Compared to Cats

Digital Banking: The Peak of Fintech

Scholarship Essay Titles Examples

What Can You Contribute to the Student Community?

Narrate a Defining Experience in Your Life

Nursing Essay

COVID-19 and the Growing Demand for Nursing Staff

Prioritizing Ethical Education in the Nursing Profession

Title The Government’s Role in Poverty Alleviation

Myths and Facts about Tuberculosis

10 Tips to Create an Exceptional Title

There are numerous ways in which a writer can craft a quality naming experience. Unless you use a title generator for an essay , titling an essay is as simple or as hard as the writer makes it. It is often necessary to edit the essay online multiple times. Finding their own style is dependent on the type of essay and the purpose of the writing. In the quest to title an essay, here are some tips for arriving at a really creative title.

Questions make Catchy

Titles Interesting headings for essays can be created by using a cause-and-effect approach. Start considering a common problem and think about what question does that paper answers. You can compose a title out of it.

Describe the Paper in 5 Words

If you were, to sum up the entire paper in 5 words, what words would be chosen? Not only does this unique creation bring some fun to the process, but it can also birth a catchy phrase – which translates to a highly effective title.

Use One Direct Word

Sometimes the best essay title ideas are simpler than we think. For some essay topics, one idiom could be all you need. Though it might not be easy how to come up with one, it may give your research paper an edge over others.

Extract a Sentence from the Paper

It’s usually a good solution to pick the heading after the text is drafted. At this point, there are many title options. Just pick one that sums up your concepts better than the others.

Take advantage of Pop-Culture

Don’t be shy to use something related to pop culture. Titles for papers may definitely contain references to songs, books, or movies as long as they fit the paper topic. This could be especially powerful for college essay titles and other essays for younger readers. You just need to ensure that the audience can recognize it easily.

Put “On” at the beginning

Depending on what you’re writing, this option might be a bit tricky. It works very well for books, songs, or movie reviews. Just name the object of your research paper or article. For example, “On The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Start with a Verb in “-ing”

Especially persuasive essay types can greatly benefit from titles for papers starting like this. Be sure to find a verb straightforward enough to grab the attention.

Give a Mental Visualization of Your Topic

This works wonders when the topic you write about is art-oriented. Even if the mental image brings something that is not seen by most people, it could go far for those that grab it.

Modify a Title that was Rejected

Using old, rejected essay topics to design new ones is usually possible. All it takes is a bit of creativity and a decent name.

Choose 2 Variants That Were Considered and Declined; Then Join Them Together

Although 2 separate entities did not work out, it does not mean that those phrases can’t work together for your new paper. So keep that list of paper titles!

Why is an essay title important?

Can a title be a question, how long should the title be, readers also enjoyed.

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Can an Essay Title be a Question? How to Write Good Titles

• by Joseph Kenas
• January 16, 2024
• Writing Tips

Coming up with a good essay title can be an issue for many students. This is because students are required to come up with a creative and catchy title that summarizes everything that is going to be discussed within the paper. 

Essay titles can take various forms depending on the contents of your essay and the perspective you want to create in regards to your readers. What do you want them to think about while reading the rest of your paper? 

Can an Essay Title be a Question?

Most students want to use creative essay titles but sometimes lack creativity. One of them is using questions. If you have an essay that you are sure it thesis is arguable in two ways, then using a question for your essay is a creative idea. But is it possible?

An essay title can be a question if it is well-framed to suit the topic that one is writing about. The question should be relevant to the arguments made in the essay and reflective of the thesis that the writer proposes to prove.

However, if the essay is more argumentative or persuasive, it is advisable to use a statement that summarizes the thesis.

While good essay titles usually take the form of a phrase, they can also be in the form of a question. However, when an essay title is in the form of a question, make sure that the question is relevant to the essay’s contents. 

As aforementioned, essay titles, be they phrases or questions, should summarize the main ideas of your study.

They should contain the fewest possible words that effectively and adequately describe the purpose and/or contents of your essay.

The title is read first by the reader and it is the text that is read the most. 

As such, it should be concise to avoid including too much unnecessary information.

On the other hand, if the title is too short, it will be too general. This is because it will not narrow down the scope of your study.

Therefore, if you follow the required parameters when coming up with an essay title, you are good to go even when the title is in the form of a question. That being said, it is important to understand how to write good essay titles. 

How to Write Good Essay Titles

1. use relevant keywords.

The first step in writing good essay titles is to find the correct or appropriate keywords that describe what your essay is all about.

At times, your instructor can provide research questions that you are required to adhere to. You can use some of the keywords here.

However, the best method of finding the appropriate keywords is through your thesis statement.

How come this is the case?

Well, it is advisable to title your essay after you have written the essay.

As such, you will come up with a better topic based on the content.

You will also have the main claim of your paper or the thesis statement of your paper. 

If you have already written your thesis statement in the last sentence of your research paper, you can select the keywords and include them in your title. You can even format the title as a question as long as it communicates the keywords. 

2. Focus your Title to the topic

The second step in coming up with a good title for your essay is to focus on it. This should come after you have decided on the keywords to be included. This can be found in the introduction part. Read how to start an essay well and know the way to get off to a good start.

You should include further detail that instantly communicates to the reader what the essay will be about. The title should be in line with the rest of the essay.

For example, the title “Decriminalizing Marijuana” is not focused. However, if you rewrite it into “The Social Impact of Decriminalizing Marijuana”, the title will be more focused. 

3. Format the Title well

When formatting the title, make sure that you capitalize the keywords. However, some words do not need to be capitalized unless they begin the title or appear after a colon within the title.

Those words include articles ( a, an, the ), prepositions ( with, of, in, besides ), coordinating conjunctions ( and, for, but, nor, so, or, yet ), and the word  to  in infinitives ( to be, to love ).  

You can transform a phrase title into a question if you feel experimental.

For example, if the title is “The Social Impact of Decriminalizing Marijuana”, it can be rewritten in question form like: “Decriminalizing Marijuana:

Does it have a Social Impact?” or “Does Decriminalizing Marijuana have a Social Impact?”

Also, it is good to remember that some titles may be written in italics if they meet certain criteria. Read such criteria in our guide on how some essay titles can be italicized to learn more about how it is done.

In summary, when writing essay titles, write the title after you have written the essay, base the title on your thesis, create short and precise titles that are focused, avoid abbreviations and jargon, and avoid negative themes if possible. 

Unique Examples of College Essay Titles

• Does Decriminalizing Marijuana have a Social Impact?
• An evaluation of how antioxidants work in our bodies?
• Is there an association between viewing violence on television and the display of violent acts?
• What motivational climate should a coach employ to achieve optimal performance in athletes?
• How does the X hormone affect human behavior?
• What role did economics play in the unification of Germany from 1834 to 1871?
• How does the sugar concentration affect the refractive index of water?
• What factors influence the location of industries in country/city X?

Argumentative Essay Title Examples

• Marriage is becoming old-fashioned
• Money is the key to happiness
• Consumerism is negative
• Social media is changing how we communicate
• Education is the key to reduce crime
• Parents should choose the careers for their children
• Brexit is a mistake.
• There is no other life in the universe

Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.

Can Essay Titles Be Questions? A Comprehensive Guide

Essay writing is essential to academic life, and students often seek essay writing help when tasked with producing various essays on different subjects. One of the most critical aspects of essay writing is creating an engaging and thought-provoking title. Many students wonder if essay titles can be in the form of questions. While the traditional format of essay titles is a statement, questions can be a powerful way to grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the essay. Still on a hunt to figure out ‘can essay titles be questions?’ Just keep on reading!

Table of Contents

Can I Use a Question as the Title for My Essay?

Yes, you can do that. In fact, it depends on the type of essay you are writing. Let’s learn how to use question titles in different types of essays.

College Essay 

Having a question as your title for a college essay is a smart move because it allows you to showcase your problem-solving skills in greater detail to the admission officers. 

For example, if you’re writing about why you picked a major or job path, you can title your essay “Why I Chose [Major/Career Path]”. It tells readers what your essay is about and makes them curious about why you made that decision. 

Similarly, if your essay is about a life-changing experience, you can title it “How [Experience/Event] Changed My Life”. This shows the event’s emotional importance and makes the reader interested in hearing your story.

Persuasive Essay

You can use a question as the title of your  persuasive essay . It’s a great way to catch readers’ attention. For instance, if you believe primary education must be free for all, your title might be “Should Primary Education Be Free for Everyone? This title will make the reader want to know more about your position.

Ensure the question you have used is relevant to your essay. Plus, it’s important to answer the question in your essay and provide convincing arguments to support your point of view.

Argumentative Essay 

If you’re  writing an argumentative essay  with two sides, you can use a question as the title. This helps guide readers to your introduction and makes them think about your argument. However, if you only have one side, your title should show what you believe instead of asking a question. Using a question is okay, but it doesn’t always work well.

For example:

Should College Education Be Free? The Pros and Cons of Tuition-Free Education

Is Animal Testing Necessary? The Ethical Debate Over Animal Experimentation

Should Junk Food Be Banned in Schools? The Harmful Effects of Fast Food on Student Health

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Are Video Games Harmful to Children? The Impact of Violent Games on Young Minds

Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? The Argument for Expanding Youth Voting Rights

Is Technology Making Us More Isolated? The Negative Effects of Social Media on Real-Life Connections

Marijuana Be Legalized? The Debate Over Cannabis Legalization and Regulation

Are Renewable Energy Sources the Future? The Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Energy Solutions

Should Parents Be Held Responsible for Their Children’s Actions? The Legal and Moral Responsibility of Parenting

Is Capital Punishment Justifiable? The Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty as a Form of Punishment.

Analytical Essay 

When writing an analytical essay, avoiding using a question as the title is best. This is because a question can limit the analysis’s focus and weaken the essay. Instead, it’s usually better to use a statement of the problem or the solution that the essay will analyze. While there may be some cases where using a question as the title works well, most analytical essays generally need a clear and specific statement to guide the analysis. 

Top Tips for Crafting Effective Question-Based Essay Titles

The title must not limit the essay’s scope, even if it is a question. It should be comprehensive enough to give the reader a good understanding of the topic. 

Ensure the title is attractive; it is the first thing your readers will check out. Hence, you need to make it count. 

Leave writing the title of your essay till the end. The arguments in your paper will allow you to develop a good title. 

Five Types of Questions that Can be Used as Essay Titles: 

Depending on the topic and purpose of the essay, many potential essay titles can be posed as questions. Here are some examples:

Philosophical Questions

Check out these big questions about life and morality. What is the point of existing, and is there a right or wrong regarding how we act?

Problem Solvers 

How can we cut down on carbon emissions to help fight global warming? What can we do to make healthcare more accessible in rural areas?

 These are queries about things that happened in the past and what effect they had. For example, “What led to World War II?” Or “What was the result of the Civil Rights Movement on American culture?”

Personal 

These queries get you to think about your life, perspectives, and principles. Like, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far? Or how has your upbringing impacted how you see the world?

Focused Questions

Questions that are specific and zero in on one aspect of a subject. Like “What are the economic advantages of investing in renewable energy?” or “How do social media algorithms affect political polarization?” – are great for getting to the heart of the matter.

Advantages of Using Questions as Essay Titles

It can work as a powerful way of engaging the reader. 

It can help the writer to focus their ideas. 

Questions are thought-provoking and can stimulate the readers’ curiosity. 

Disadvantages of using Questions as Essay Titles

The question may be too vague or open-ended, leaving the reader unsure what to expect from the essay.

Another concern is that the question may be too limiting, constraining the writer’s ability to explore the topic fully.

10 Examples of Essay Titles to Help You Score Good

Now that you have the answer to ‘can essay titles be questions.’ Here are some examples of the same: 

Why Should We Ban the Use of Plastic?

Why should education be Free for all?

Is Skill Acquisition better than higher education?

Should we allow the wildlife trade?

Is war the ultimate price for lasting peace?

Why should transgender people be given more rights?

What have I learned from my miserable times?

How has social media changed the way we communicate?

Is Artificial Intelligence a threat to human employment?

What are the pros and cons of tuition-free education?

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Conclusion 

Using a question as the title of an essay can make readers interested and help the writer stay focused on the main topic. However, the question needs to be specific enough to give the essay a clear direction while also leaving room for further exploration and analysis. By exploring professional essay writers online, you can order now to write a question essay title that is both engaging and informative. Hopefully this article was helpful in clearing out your confusion so you won’t have to search ‘can essay titles be questions?’ again.

How can I ensure that my essay title question is effective?

To ensure that your essay title question is effective, make sure it is specific, engaging, and relevant to the topic of your essay. Avoid using broad or vague questions, and focus on crafting a question that will spark the reader's curiosity and make them want to read more.

What Makes a Good Essay Title?

A good essay title should be clear, catchy, and relevant to the topic. It should give the reader an idea of what to expect from the essay and entice them to keep reading. The title should be short and to the point, avoiding overused phrases. It's also important that it reflects the tone of the essay. Whether it is formal or creative, the title should be a good fit for the style of the essay.

Can My Essay Title Have a Comma?

Yes, an essay title can have a comma. However, it's important to use it appropriately and only when it adds to the clarity and readability of the title. The comma should not be used simply for the sake of adding punctuation. It's recommended to follow standard rules of grammar and punctuation while also considering the overall tone and style of the essay title.

Can all types of essays have question titles?

Yes, essay titles in the form of a question can work for most types of essays, including persuasive, argumentative, expository, and analytical essays. However, you should always make sure the title is relevant to the topic and purpose of the essay.

Are there any tips for creating effective question titles for essays?

An effective question title for essay should be:

Clear and Concise

Thought Provoking

Relevant to the Essay Topic

Engaging the Reader’s Attention

Not be difficult to understand

Not Make Use of Technical Language

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Can an Essay Title Be a Question: How Do You Write an Interesting Essay Title

Most essay titles are indeed statements or declarative sentences. However, it is also true that sometimes writers want to catch their readers’ attention by asking questions. And there is nothing wrong because, in writing, everything is possible, and going against the norm sometimes pays handsomely.

But what is the generally accepted view on if an essay title can be a question? If you are unsure of the answer, this article explores deeply to satisfactorily answer the question and help you gain more insights into aspects relating to essay titles.

Let’s jump in and know can an essay title be a question.

Can an Essay Title Be a Question

It is perfectly okay for an essay title to be a question. In fact, many opine that such essays get more readers because they will want to know the answer and therefore become interested in reading your piece. However, it must be perfectly framed, thought-provoking, and engaging.

Also, it is crucial to ensure that whatever you ask is something you can answer in your paper. Having a question as a title has two main advantages;

First, it makes your essay more interesting and captivating for readers. If readers see the title as a question, they will be curious about what your answer is going to be. This is especially true if the question is captivating and outside the norm. And when they come across the answer, they will look for more articles you’ve written because they see you have answers to most of their questions.

Also see:  Can You Use a Rhetorical Question as a Title for an Essay

Secondly, when you ask questions in your essay title, you show that you are open-minded and willing to provide a perspective on an issue. This makes readers want to see and read this perspective and see if it adds to their knowledge gap. Therefore, it is normal to have a question as a title.

Can You Start an Essay With a Question

You can indeed use a question as the first sentence of your essay. In fact, it’s a great way to grab the reader’s attention and keep them engaged. But if you decide to go this route, there are some specific guidelines you need to follow to ensure your opening question is effective.

Additionally, when you ask a question, you invite your readers to participate in the conversation. A conversational essay is when you’re writing an essay and want your readers to participate in the discussion about your topic. Therefore, starting your essay with a question is advisable because it gets people to think about what they’re reading rather than just skimming over it without paying attention.

While there are no hard-and-fast rules about what questions work best for starting an essay, there are tips to ensure your question isn’t too broad or vague. Here are a   few techniques to follow;

• Ask a question that interests you and your readers and not just one that interests you alone
• Make sure it’s relevant to the rest of your essay and not just something casual or irrelevant
• Make sure your answer will be equally enjoyable. That way, everyone stays engaged until the end

What Is a Good Title for an Essay?

Many factors define a good essay title.  

Good titles are captivating, drawing you in with curiosity and setting the stage for what’s to come. A good title is often a question that provokes thought and makes readers want to know more. It’s also essential to ensure your title accurately reflects the content of your essay.

Further, a good title for an essay needs to be a topic that is engaging and interesting. A good title should not be vague, but it should also be broad enough to cover all aspects of the subject.  

A good title should be clear, concise, and descriptive. For example, “Is the Death Penalty Justified?” tells readers what they’re getting into before they even start reading. It also gives them an idea of your stance on the issue.  

In contrast, “My Opinion on the Death Penalty” doesn’t give much away about what you think about it until you get past the first paragraph or two of your opening sentence. This makes it harder for readers to decide whether or not they want to read further because they don’t know where you stand on the topic or why you think so strongly about it one way or another.

However, such a topic may be ideal for established individuals everyone looks up to on societal matters. Therefore, sometimes, titles may work differently for various writers, but the bottom line is that they should be enticing and at least give a hint about your essay.

Additionally, an essay title should be unique and memorable. This means the title should not just be another title talking about already known stuff. Even though you might write bout something known, the title should provide unique insights on the topic. Also, it should be memorable and ring a bell in a reader’s mind even after closing the article.

How Do You Write an Interesting Essay Title

The following are some of the best tips for writing an interesting title.

Be creative and original

To make your essay title stand out, use a different word order. An excellent example is “How to Write an Interesting Essay Title,” which tells you what to do. On the contrary, a title like “How to Write an Interesting Essay Title: 5 Tips.” is more creative.

Another option for creating a unique essay title is using a different point of view. For example, instead of “5 Tips for Writing an Interesting Essay Title,” write something like “Five Tips for Making Your Essay Titles More Captivating.” This will help readers see that you’re giving them helpful advice on how they can improve their writing skills.

Use adjectives

Adjectives are often used in titles because they help to paint a picture for your reader without giving away too much information about the content of your paper. For example, you can have a title on the role of women in society during the 18th century by using a title like; “Empowering Women During the 18th Century.”

This phrase tells readers that they’ll learn about how women were treated during this period and their role in society at large.

Go the unconventional way

One way to make your title enjoyable and for readers to want to open it is to break some rules. Rather than use conventional titling methods, you can become creative and create a unique one.

For example, don’t use common words in your title. A title like “The Evolution of the Internet” is boring and unoriginal. Instead, try “The Internet – A Blessing or a Curse?” This way, your audience will be curious about your opinion and want to read your paper.

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Can Essay Titles be Questions? (Tips to Write a Good Essay Title)

by William Christie · January 4, 2023

For writing an essay a student is required to come up with a title that makes the reader clear the summary of the essay content and what the essay is about. Creating a title that makes the reader clear about the essay content is much more important. But a lot of students have an issue thinking of a good title for the essay. Many of you get confused about whether the titles can be questioned or not.

Quick Takeaways There is no doubt that you can not add questions to the title of the essay. However, it depends upon what type of essay are you writing. Following are the ways by which you can write a good essay title- 1. Keywords should be relevant 2.The title should focus on the topic 3.  Formatting of the title

However, you must read till the end so that you get a better understanding of if the essay titles be questioned and also how to write a good essay title.

Table of Contents

Can essay titles be questions?

The easy way to write an essay title is by questioning . But the question that is used as tile should be relevant and must be reflective of the content written in the essay and support them. If the essay that is going to explain by the student is argumentative then the student should not write it as a question. Also if you are making a video essay then also you have to think about what type of video essay it is. They need to write the title that defines the whole essay in that one title. The student before writing the essay title should make sure of a few things such as:

• The title of the essay should be relevant to the essay content and should define or summarize the whole article.
• Ensure the title contains the minimum number of possible words to describe the content of the essay.
• Thinking of writing a title containing a few words doesn’t mean that the title is too short and the reader is not able to understand what the essay is about. Thus you must make sure that the r eaders do not lose interest in the essay to read the essay.

How to write a good essay title?

Following are the ways by which you can write a good essay title-

1. Keywords should be relevant:

Writing an essay title will be when the student writes the title at the end after writing the whole essay content which will help to write the relevant essay title. The essay contest will suggest you the keywords that you can use while writing the essay title.

2. The title should focus on the topic:

After deciding on the relevant keyword for the essay the next step is to write the title of the essay that is focused on the topic.

3. Formatting of the title:

After writing the title the next step is to format the title of the essay and it is done in the following ways:

• the keywords used must be written in capital letters. Also, you should not try to capitalize the thesis .
• After writing the colon write the first word in capital.
• The words don’t need to write in capital such as a, an, the, with, of, in, besides, and, for, but, nor, so, etc
• Also when the student has written a title that includes the book of an author, that book should be written in italic form.

Features include in the title of the essay:

The following feature should be included in the title of the essay making the essay title look effective and relevant to the reader:

1. Attractive:

The reader is always attracted to a title that does not look boring. so make sure of writing the title.

2. Believable:

The title should be relevant in order to write a title that looks attractive doesn’t mean writing a title that is irrelevant to the topic. Therefore you must add a relevant topic.

3. Easy to read:

The title written by the student must be easy to understand and read making the reader clear from the start only what the essay content contains.

4. Active voice:

A title in which the verbs are used should not be written in the passive voice . It should be written in active voice only.

Try to make the title of the essay, short, which explains the essay a long title may create confusion or make the reader get bored while reading it.

6. Accurate:

The student should conclude the tile at the end of writing the essay. The use of the common keyword used in the essay will make the essay title look accurate. An inaccurate title of the essay will not be able to attract the reader to read the essay.

If a student is not able to write the title of the essay a short title then it s suggested to write the title as asking a question. But not in the case of an argumentative essay . for writing a good title of the essay the student should find the keywords that are involved in the essay content making the reader to summarize the essay content by reading the title of the essay. the title of the essay should not contain unnecessary terms that will make the reader get confused and boring.

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How to Write a Strong Title for an Argumentative Essay

Last Updated: June 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Diane Stubbs . Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 167,058 times.

In most cases, a title for an essay is only required for college papers. A title for an argumentative essay isn't much different than a title for any other essay. You need to present what your essay is about in phrase form, as well as provide a hook to encourage the reader to read your essay. One main difference is you also need to make sure you establish your stance on the subject, so the reader knows where your argument is headed from the beginning. In order to create a strong title, you should write your essay before coming up with a title for it.

Summarizing Your Ideas

• Also, read through your paper. Start making notes on the main ideas. If you organized your paper well, you should have the paper divided into several main ideas.
• Write down any ideas you have about what you think should go in your title.

• In most cases, your thesis, or a version of it, is the best summary for the essay. The thesis should be stated at the end of your introduction, and perhaps restated at the beginning of your conclusion as well.
• Try to get it down to one sentence if possible, such as, "Soup is significantly more flavorful when made with stock than when made with water."

• For instance, if you wrote a paper on why soup is better when made with stock than water, think about what words are essential to that paper.
• Your list of keywords might include "soup," "stock," and "flavor," as an example.

Creating a Title

• Also, think about the tone of your essay. If it's lighthearted, a lighthearted title will fit. For instance, an essay on stock and chicken soup lends itself to lightheartedness.
• However, if your essay is very serious, stick to a serious title. For instance, if you're trying to convince people that poverty needs to end, that's a pretty serious topic and needs a serious title.

• Read over your paper. You can use this opportunity to proofread while you look for a good sentence.
• Write out any sentence that may work. For instance, one sentence that might work is "Soup is delicious, but it is even more delicious when made with stock."
• Shorten it up to work as a title: "Soup Is More Flavorful With Stock."

• For instance, you could write, "Why Does Stock Make Soup So Flavorful?" That establishes your topic, as well as invites your reader into your paper.
• Just be sure you are answering the question you propose.
• Choose a different question than the one you used for your hook, if applicable.

• Come up with something that is contrasting or surprising. A concrete image works well, meaning something that invokes the senses. For instance, you could write something like "The Flavor of Boiled Chicken Bones Is the Best for Soup."
• People don't necessarily think bones are tasty, but they are used to create your flavorful broth. Therefore, it's a bit surprising, but it plays into your essay.
• Try to create a title that is both short and sweet.

• As an example, a pun you could use would be "Use Your Backbone to Make Soup." "Backbone" is a play both on the fact that you're using stock (made from bones) and that you need to use your backbone to stand up for stock.
• As for a saying, you could use something like "Chicken Soup: Only the Opiate of the Masses If Made With Stock." "Opiate of the masses" is a reference to Karl Marx and will attract attention.

Finessing Your Title

• That is, move words around to see if you can make a better statement.
• Try mixing and matching among titles that you like. Pick the parts you like best.

• For instance, if you are discussing a specific type of soup, add that in: "Chicken Stock Makes the Best Chicken Soup."
• If you are specifically talking about homemade stock, add that in "Homemade Chicken Stock Makes the Best Chicken Soup."
• If possible, try to give the reader just an idea of which side you plan to argue in favor of in the essay.

• The most common method is putting the creative part first as the main title, followed by the informative part in the subtitle. However, you can do it either way.
• For example, you could write: "Use Your Backbone: Why You Should Advocate for Stock in Soup."
• If the titles are on the same line, separate them by a colon. If not, you don't need the colon.

• Compare your title to the list you made earlier.

• In the case of an argumentative essay, that not only means that you've presented what your topic is but also what your stance on that topic is.
• Try it out on a parent. Ask her what she thinks the paper is about from your title.

• The exception to this rule is very common abbreviations or abbreviations that are appropriate for your audience.
• For instance, using "HIV" probably wouldn't confuse your readers.

Community Q&A

• It can be helpful to look up titles of articles and essays for reference. Check major websites or networks for examples of effective titles. Remember to avoid “clickbait,” though! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf
• ↑ https://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/media/Writing_a_Great_Title_NEW.pdf
• ↑ https://www.esu.edu/writing-studio/guides/hook.cfm
• ↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-write-a-great-title-.html
• ↑ http://www.editage.com/insights/3-basic-tips-on-writing-a-good-research-paper-title

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How to Title an Argumentative Essay

November 17, 2023

Identifying the Purpose of the Essay

Before you can create a compelling title for your argumentative essay, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of its purpose. Is your goal to persuade readers to adopt a certain viewpoint, criticize an existing argument, or propose a solution to a problem? Determining the purpose will help you in crafting a title that aligns with your intentions.

The purpose of your essay will guide the tone, language, and overall approach you take. Are you aiming to be informative, provocative, or authoritative? Identifying the purpose will also help you in selecting the most suitable words and phrases to convey your message effectively. By defining the purpose upfront, you can develop a concise and powerful title that grabs readers’ attention and gives them a glimpse of your argumentative stance.

Analyzing the Target Audience

To create an impactful title for your argumentative essay, it is essential to have a deep understanding of your target audience. Consider their interests, knowledge level, beliefs, and values. By analyzing the target audience, you can tailor the title in a way that resonates with them and captures their attention. Here are some factors to consider:

• Knowledge level: Are your readers familiar with the topic, or is it relatively new to them? This will determine whether you need to use technical terms or simplify the language in the title.
• Demographics: Consider the age, education level, and cultural background of your audience. This information can help you choose the right tone and style for the title.
• Values and beliefs: What are the prevailing beliefs or opinions of your target audience regarding the subject? Craft a title that connects with their existing viewpoint or challenges it in a thought-provoking manner.
• Emotional appeal: Identify the emotions you want to evoke in your readers — curiosity, surprise, concern, or a desire for change. Incorporating emotional triggers in the title can generate interest and engagement.
• Priorities and interests: Determine the key concerns or priorities of your audience related to the topic. Highlighting these aspects in the title will grab their attention and make your essay more relevant to their interests.

Analyzing your target audience allows you to tailor your title to their specific needs, making it more compelling and effective in capturing their attention and sparking their interest in your argumentative essay.

Strategies for Creating an Effective Title

Crafting an effective title for your argumentative essay is crucial to grab readers’ attention and convey the essence of your argument. Here are some strategies to consider when creating your title:

• Be concise and clear: Keep your title brief and to the point, avoiding any unnecessary words or phrases. Aim for clarity so that readers can quickly understand the main focus of your essay.
• Be specific: Instead of using generic terms, be specific in your title to give readers a clear idea of what your essay is about. Specific titles tend to be more attention-grabbing and engaging.
• Use compelling language: Capture readers’ interest by using powerful and persuasive language in your title. Strong verbs, impactful adjectives, or intriguing phrases can help make your title more enticing.
• Consider a question or a statement: Pose a thought-provoking question or make a bold statement in your title to pique readers’ curiosity and encourage them to delve into your argumentative essay.
• Use a unique angle: Stand out from the crowd by approaching your title from a unique angle. Find a fresh perspective or highlight an unusual aspect of your argument to intrigue your audience.

By implementing these strategies, you can create an effective title that not only accurately represents your argumentative essay but also captures readers’ attention and compels them to explore your ideas further.

Using Keywords and Key Phrases

Including relevant keywords and key phrases in your title can help increase your argumentative essay’s visibility and attract readers who are interested in its topic. Begin by considering the words or phrases that are central to your argument. These could be technical terms, concepts, or keywords that you expect readers to search for.

Once you have identified these keywords and phrases, you can then experiment with different combinations until you find a title that accurately represents your argument while also utilizing these terms. Keep in mind that the goal is not to stuff as many keywords as possible into your title, but to use them in a way that is natural and helps communicate the essence of your essay’s argument.

Using keywords and key phrases can also help readers quickly recognize what your essay is about, making it more likely for them to click on and read further. Incorporating them into your title can help boost your essay’s online visibility and attract the right audience to your argumentative essay.

Focusing on Clarity and Conciseness

When creating a title for your argumentative essay, it is vital to prioritize clarity and conciseness. Your title should immediately convey the main idea of your essay without causing confusion or leaving room for misinterpretation. Here are some tips to ensure clarity and conciseness in your title:

• Avoid ambiguity: Make sure your title is specific and unambiguous, leaving no room for multiple interpretations. Ambiguous titles can confuse readers and diminish their interest.
• Cut out unnecessary words: Keep your title concise by eliminating any unnecessary words. Each word should serve a purpose in conveying your argument, and brevity helps to maintain reader engagement.
• Use straightforward language: Use clear and accessible language in your title, ensuring that it is easily understood by a wide range of readers. Avoid jargon or technical terms that might alienate or confuse your audience.
• Organize the title effectively: Structure your title in a way that clearly presents the main focus or argument of your essay. Use keywords or key phrases strategically to capture the essence of your argument.
• Proofread and revise: After crafting a draft title, review and revise it to ensure clarity and conciseness. Proofreading helps to identify any potential confusion, ambiguity, or redundancy that could be eliminated.

By focusing on clarity and conciseness, your title will effectively communicate the main idea of your argumentative essay, intrigue readers, and encourage them to explore your content further.

Highlighting the Argumentative Nature of the Essay

When titling your argumentative essay, it is essential to emphasize its argumentative nature in order to set clear expectations for readers. By incorporating the keyword “title an argumentative essay” into your title, you can effectively convey the purpose and nature of your essay. Here are some strategies to highlight the argumentative aspect:

• Include words like “debate,” “persuasion,” or “controversy” to signal that your essay presents differing viewpoints and aims to persuade readers.
• Use strong and assertive language that showcases the clash of ideas inherent in an argumentative essay. Words like “challenging,” “contradictory,” or “disputable” can help emphasize the opposing viewpoints central to your argument.
• Reflect the topic and stance: Incorporate words that clearly represent the topic of your essay. For instance, if your essay argues for stricter gun control laws, consider using phrases like “advocating for change” or “evaluating gun policy.”
• Consider using a question format: Pose an intriguing question that highlights the contentious nature of your argument. This can spark curiosity and engage readers from the outset.

By selecting a title that highlights the argumentative nature of your essay, while incorporating the keyword “title an argumentative essay,” you can capture readers’ attention and convey the persuasive and contentious essence of your writing.

Averting Misleading Titles

When crafting a title for your argumentative essay, it is crucial to avoid misleading titles that may give readers a false impression of your essay’s content. Misleading titles can lead to confusion, disappointment, and a lack of trust from your audience. Here are some tips to avoid misleading titles:

• Stay true to your argument: Ensure that your title accurately reflects the main argument of your essay. Don’t exaggerate or make claims that are not supported by your content.
• Avoid clickbait tactics: While it may be tempting to use sensational or exaggerated phrases to attract attention, it is essential to maintain integrity in your title. Misleading readers for the sake of gaining clicks will harm your credibility.
• Be specific and precise: Clearly convey the core argument and scope of your essay in the title. This will help readers understand what they can expect from your essay and avoid any misconceptions.
• Consider the tone: The tone of your title should align with the tone of your essay. If your essay takes a serious and analytical approach, a title with a lighthearted or sensational tone may mislead readers.

By being honest, specific, and precise in your title, you can ensure that it accurately represents your argumentative essay’s content and avoids misleading your audience. This will not only cultivate trust but also attract the right readers who are genuinely interested in engaging with your argument.

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Answered By: Linda Kern Last Updated: Dec 12, 2016     Views: 18358

The APA Manual doesn't specifically address punctuating the title of an article. It calls for the title to be a "concise statement" (p. 23) of the ideas under investigation. The title should stand alone in conveying a summary of the article and not be dependent on the abstract. The recommended length of an APA style title is no more than 12 words. Abbreviations should not be used.

However, the APA Style Blog anticipates that authors will use question marks in titles and instructs us that the question mark will take the place of the period following the title in a reference entry. "Correct: Raftopoulos, A. (2009). Cognition and perception: How do psychology and neural science inform philosophy? Cambridge, MA: MIT Press." ( http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2013/04/punctuation-junction-periods-exclamation-points-and-question-marks.html )

Given the evidence, I'd say it is OK to use a question mark as long as the title meets the requirements above.

Thanks for asking a librarian.

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Related Questions

A strong analytical question

• speaks to a genuine dilemma presented by your sources . In other words, the question focuses on a real confusion, problem, ambiguity, or gray area, about which readers will conceivably have different reactions, opinions, or ideas.  
• yields an answer that is not obvious . If you ask, "What did this author say about this topic?” there’s nothing to explore because any reader of that text would answer that question in the same way. But if you ask, “how can we reconcile point A and point B in this text,” readers will want to see how you solve that inconsistency in your essay.  
• suggests an answer complex enough to require a whole essay's worth of discussion. If the question is too vague, it won't suggest a line of argument. The question should elicit reflection and argument rather than summary or description.  
• can be explored using the sources you have available for the assignment , rather than by generalizations or by research beyond the scope of your assignment.  

How to come up with an analytical question  

One useful starting point when you’re trying to identify an analytical question is to look for points of tension in your sources, either within one source or among sources. It can be helpful to think of those points of tension as the moments where you need to stop and think before you can move forward. Here are some examples of where you may find points of tension:

• You may read a published view that doesn’t seem convincing to you, and you may want to ask a question about what’s missing or about how the evidence might be reconsidered.  
• You may notice an inconsistency, gap, or ambiguity in the evidence, and you may want to explore how that changes your understanding of something.  
• You may identify an unexpected wrinkle that you think deserves more attention, and you may want to ask a question about it.  
• You may notice an unexpected conclusion that you think doesn’t quite add up, and you may want to ask how the authors of a source reached that conclusion.  
• You may identify a controversy that you think needs to be addressed, and you may want to ask a question about how it might be resolved.  
• You may notice a problem that you think has been ignored, and you may want to try to solve it or consider why it has been ignored.  
• You may encounter a piece of evidence that you think warrants a closer look, and you may raise questions about it.  

Once you’ve identified a point of tension and raised a question about it, you will try to answer that question in your essay. Your main idea or claim in answer to that question will be your thesis.

• "How" and "why" questions generally require more analysis than "who/ what/when/where” questions.  
• Good analytical questions can highlight patterns/connections, or contradictions/dilemmas/problems.  
• Good analytical questions establish the scope of an argument, allowing you to focus on a manageable part of a broad topic or a collection of sources.  
• Good analytical questions can also address implications or consequences of your analysis.
• picture_as_pdf Asking Analytical Questions

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Can A Title Of An Essay Be A Question?

• Post on Feburary 16, 2023
• By Oliver Jack

Yes, the title of an essay can be a question if it is well-structured or placed in a title in the correct order. It is preferred to use a question-based essay title if the essay can have an interrogative or narrative thesis statement. So the students who worry about can a title of an essay be a question or not should relax now. Use a question-based essay title without any doubt.

It is one of the best practices in essay writing. To know more about using interrogative thesis or essay titles read the article to the end. You can also ask for write my thesis for me and get professional help from us.

The Correct Way To Use An Interrogative Title

Question-based essay titles are best performing among all kinds. It is somehow a bit difficult to handle an interrogative title. Let's follow the correct way to use a question as a title:

• Know the correct placement
• Don’t keep it so obvious
• Use captivating vocabulary
• Use the punctuation correctly
• Use Active Voice
• The title should be well formatted

How To Make A Good Question Title?

When you are clear about can a title of an essay be a question, you need to know how would you make a good question title for your essay. Make sure that your interrogative essay title fulfills the following characteristics:

A good essay title is the first part that readers encounter. This is why it is kept engaging, interesting, and exactly according to readers’ interest. It is called the attention grabber of the essay. This can be done using power words, anecdotal elements, or other attention-seeking phrases. You can play with the words to make them more appealing to read.

A good question essay title interrogates a fact. It is based on truth and reality. An inaccurate essay title delivering false information is never acceptable to professors. It is always believable and relatable to the reader.

Short & Accurate

Always try to keep the essay title short, accurate, and to the point. Keeping it short should not mean generalizing it and neglecting the main focus or theme of the essay. Be specific and address the thesis in your statement.

Opinionated

A perfect essay title is not restricted and bound to a single idea of the writer. It should be an open-ended statement that is flexible and open to multiple opinions. It can easily absorb a number of ideas from different readers.

Suitable Tone

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Mortgage Fraudster Who Served 13 Years in $55M Scheme Now Helps Fight Scammers

In the late ’90s, Matthew Cox was 29 and starting a new job as a mortgage broker in Tampa, FL, when he committed his first act of mortgage fraud by erasing a borrower’s late payment history from a loan application.

His schemes multiplied quickly. From doctoring loan application information for clients, he went on to mastermind an elaborate series of schemes involving stolen and fabricated identities, phony appraisals, home title theft , and mortgage frauds totaling some $55 million in illicit gains.

After a stint on the Secret Service’s Most Wanted List and the national notoriety of a “Dateline” episode about his crimes, it all came crashing down on Cox with an arrest, guilty plea, and prison sentence in 2007.

While serving time in federal prison, Cox agreed to help the government train mortgage brokers and loan officers to spot potential fraud. Following his release in 2019, he hosts a true-crime podcast, “ Inside True Crime .” He also works as a paid spokesman for Home Title Lock, a company that monitors for deed fraud and helps homeowners respond.

In a recent phone interview with Realtor.com®, Cox said he regrets the disruption and expense his crimes generated in the lives of the everyday homeowners who fell victim to his identity theft and forgery schemes.

“That’s something that bothers me,” says Cox, now 54.

In one case, while he was on the run from the FBI, Cox stole the identity of his landlord in the Atlanta suburbs and filed forged documents claiming that the mortgage on the home had been satisfied. Using the landlord’s stolen identity, Cox then took out three new loans against the property totaling $329,000, maxed out credit cards he’d also opened under the stolen identity, and skipped town.

“Let’s face it, if Countrywide Bank lost $2 million … I don’t lose an ounce of sleep,” he says. “But [the Georgia landlord] didn’t do anything to deserve what happened to him. The biggest mistake he made was crossing my path.”

Ultimately, the landlord wasn’t on the hook for the fraudulent loans in his name, Cox says, but straightening out the mess probably caused him “two months of sleepless nights” and significant legal fees.

“I’m sure that the anxiety that he felt was overwhelming, and he’s just one of several people that that happened to,” says Cox of the fallout from his crimes.

From art student to con artist

Cox grew up in Florida and studied sculpture at the University of South Florida, where he graduated with a degree in fine arts.

After bouncing around several entry-level jobs without much success, he landed at a Tampa mortgage brokerage that catered to prospective homebuyers with subprime credit scores.

There, Cox was tasked with preparing loan applications for customers and matching them with a loan for which they qualified. In exchange, he charged a broker’s fee—and sometimes took points on the loan for charging borrowers a higher interest rate than the lowest for which they qualified.

That practice, known as a “yield spread premium,” has since been banned by federal regulation.

Raking in thousands in fees on every successful mortgage deal, Cox turned to fraud almost immediately. To ensure his clients’ loan applications were accepted, he began forging documents such as employment records and bank statements.

Eventually, Cox was creating entirely fictional identities, along with fake companies to employ them and phony banks to generate account statements.

“The fine arts degree helped me create the illusions that I used to further my scams, whether it was the illusion that this person was a real individual, or he had a bank where he had accounts,” recalls Cox. “It helped me create documents, anything to support what I needed in order to get a loan from a bank.”

Cox was first convicted of low-level mortgage fraud in 2002 and sentenced to probation. But after being caught once, his schemes only grew larger and more elaborate.

“Instead of doing the right thing and going and getting a job selling used cars, I committed a much larger fraud,” he says. “It was a combination of identity theft, title theft, and bank fraud.”

A scammer repents

In 2004, Cox went on the run after again coming under investigation for mortgage fraud in Tampa. After a fraud spree spanning Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, he was arrested in late 2006 in Nashville, TN.

Facing more than 400 years in prison, he negotiated a plea deal. His original sentence of 26 years in prison was eventually cut in half, due to his cooperation in a separate case and his agreement to help create fraud training materials for the federal government. Cox was released from prison in 2019 after serving nearly 13 years.

Since his guilty plea, Cox says he’s reformed and has turned his unusual talents to fighting fraud. Through Home Title Lock, he promotes a vital defense against the type of deed scams he used to perpetrate.

“This is going to sound like a shameless pitch, but have your title monitored,” he says when asked what homeowners can do to protect themselves from deed fraud. “They will help you contact the authorities so that you can specifically explain what happened, and they’ll hire a real estate attorney in your area to correct the problem.”

Home Title Lock, which costs $20 per month, is a service that monitors property titles for any transfers, and handles the legal fees involved in resolving any fraudulent transfer.

However, a growing number of U.S. counties and cities allow homeowners to sign up for free title monitoring. And the right kind of title insurance, which requires only a one-time fee, will handle the legal side of responding to title fraud.

Home Title Lock, which is marketed heavily to seniors, has come under scrutiny in several jurisdictions, including in Texas, where in January 2023 the attorney general’s office opened a civil investigation into the company for potentially misleading consumers.

“If Home Title Lock is misrepresenting its services or the need for its services, I will put a stop to its unlawful behavior,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a statement at the time. It’s unclear whether that investigation is ongoing. Paxton’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

On the other hand, David Fleck , a real estate fraud attorney, tells Realtor.com that Home Title Lock deserves credit for raising public awareness about home title theft “better than any government-issued public service announcement ever could.”

“Every property owner in the United States needs to be aware of how easy it is to file fraudulent deeds,” says Fleck in an email. “As a former prosecutor who has battled this crime since 2003, I can tell you that every homeowner owes the founder of Home Title Lock, Harish Chopra , a debt of gratitude.”

Fleck, the founder of another deed fraud prevention service called Veritable Data Solutions, says that title monitoring of some kind should be “mandatory” for elderly relatives with in-home caregivers.

“The vast overwhelming majority of caregivers are good people, but as in any population, there are some unscrupulous characters, and they are often the people you least suspect,” says Fleck. “A title monitoring service, whether provided by the county or by Home Title Lock, will give you some peace of mind about your elderly relative’s property (i.e., your inheritance).”

Cox himself admits that title monitoring alone cannot prevent scammers from filing a fraudulent deed in the first place.

“With your credit, you can lock your credit so that nobody can pull it. You can’t do that with a title. … They can’t lock it down,” he says. “As long as the [forged] document looks correct, and it’s notarized and all the signatures are in the right spot, they have to record it. There’s nothing they can do.”

Keith Griffith is a journalist at Realtor.com. He covers the housing market and real estate trends.

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