Vocabulary Builder, Jennifer Carbert

Headline writing requires precise and careful wording. Space limiations and time limitations on ther reader require the headlines to be short and easy. Shorter words are generally easier for readers to understand as well. Here is a list of words that can be shortened.

1) allocate: give, allot, issue, award
2) answer: reply
3) arrange: set, plan, shape, slate
4) beginning: start, opening, initial
5) command: lead, rule, direct, reign, sway
6) confess: admit
7) decision: rule, order, writ, decreed
8) inform: tell
9) murder: kill, slay
10) schedule: slate, set, plan, arrange
11) confirm: verify, affirm, approve
12) essentually: actually, in essence, vitally, significantly

Note: image from Yvette's Inner Geek Blog

Vocabulary Builder Kris Hoyt

Promise: Assure, Swear

Criticize: Assess, appraise

Examine: Look, analyze

celebrate: Cheer, Party

Overcome: Defeat, pass

pursuit: follow, stalk

Silent: Quiet, peaceful

Ridicule: Joke, Laugh

Murder: Butcher, assassinate

question: interrogate, query

Vibrate: Shake, move

Post: Hang, present

Picture from:

http://theharperstudio.com/wp-content/themes/harperStudio/images/2009/07/Thesaurus-ad.jpg

Vocabulary Builder, Terra Poole

Shorter synonyms are really important for ensuring clear and precise headlines. Because headlines are the most important part of getting people to read the story, it is important to appeal to a broad audience. Some people's vocabularies aren't as defined as other people's therefore short and clear words ensure more people will understand what the headlines are referring to.

Chapter 9 Words:

Former: of yore, whilom

Wreck: crash, crate

Silent: hush, mousy

Steal: pirate, cozen

Thwart: balk, crimp

Pledge: toast, promise

Nullify: cancel, revoke

Inform: brief, clue

Convene: rally, unite

Climax: payoff, top

My words:

vigilante: bird dog, warden

plethora: glut, plenty

Note: Picture from: Modern Mechanix Blog

Vocabulary Builder, Jayme Hagen

Short language is needed to make small headlines and tidy up really lengthy headlines. An important thing to keep in mind though, just because a word is smaller does not necessarily make it a better choice, if it is a word that most people do not understand, it is better to go with a more common word. The goal is always to have the largest possible audience, not all people want to read with a thesaurus handy...

The Book's Ten:

• allocate: give out, hand out
• answer: retort, rejoin
• choose: want, select
• destroy: wreck, break
• quarrel: fight, battle
• examine: review, check out
• former: prior, old
• inform: notify, advise
• nullify: annul, cancel
• resign: leave, pack in
• thwart: block, beat
  

My Two:

• devestated: destroyed, wrecked
• engulf: flood, bury
  

Photo available from Innergeek.

Vocabulary Builder, Steven Wagers

The use of short words in headlines is very important as it helps to keep the headlines themselves shorter. By using synonyms of words one can make the headline longer or shorter in order to fit their unique needs. That is why it is so important to have a good grasp of the English language.

10 Words from page 181:

1. Allocate- give, allot, issue, award (assign, apportion)

2. Answer- reply (respond, retort)

3. Choose- name, elect, pick (select, prefer)

4. Destroy- raze (level, ravage)

5. Examine- scan, study (search, probe)

6. Former- ex (prior, previous)

7. Inform- tell (notify, advise)

8. Pledge- vow, agree, oath (guarantee, assure/surety)

9. Reveal- tell (unveil, impart, inform)

10. Thwart- foil, stop, limit (prevent, baffle)

My 2 words

1. Shatter- (split, crack, break)

2. Maniacal- (insane, crazy)

Image from http://liebchen11.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/vocabulary.jpg

Vocabulary Builder, Pamela Di Pinto

Short words are essential for headline writers when limited by space. Here are ten words from the vocabulary list from pg. 181 of the text, plus two extra short synonyms for each word. At the bottom are two of my own words to add to the list, along with their shorter synonyms:

*Note: My additions are in italics

1. Acquire: get, gain, earn
   
2. Answer: reply, retort, rejoin
   
3. Confess: admit, grant, allow
   
4. Decline, Decrease: dip, fall, drop, crash
   
5. Destroy: raze, beat, crush
6. Murder: kill, slay, snuff, whack
   
7. Resign: quit, leave, cede
   
8. Reveal: tell, show, blurt
   
9. Steal: rob, loot, take, rob, nab
   
10. Suspend: stop, end, delay, defer

My additions to the list:

1. Assault: hit, beat
   
2. Deliver: give, deal
   

Vocabulary Builder, Aden Cruz

Using short and concise words in headlines is imperative in order to convey the message quickly and accessibly.

Additional Synonyms:

acquire: gain, attain

argument: dispute, quarrel, spat

attempt: effort, challenge

climax: highlight, height, pinnacle

compete: contend, fight, race

confess: declare, profess, affirm

criticize: condemn, carp,

former: past, earlier

inform: notify, report

pursuit: search, tracking

Additional Words:

Tragic: sad, terrible, awful

Explode: burst, blast

Endeavor: try, effort, attempt

Note: Image Source - http://fysop.files.wordpress.com/