How to Title an Essay: 6 Steps + 50 Examples for Every Type [2026]

The Role of Essay Titles in Academic Writing

Titles determine how your work is perceived before anyone reads it.

Think about browsing article headlines online. Which do you click? The specific, intriguing titles or the generic, vague ones?

Professors make the same snap judgments with student essays. Your title signals:

• Quality: Specific titles suggest careful thinking; vague titles suggest rushed work
• Focus: Clear titles show you understand your topic; unclear titles suggest confusion
• Professionalism: Properly formatted titles demonstrate attention to detail

A strong essay title accomplishes four critical objectives:

1. Captures attention: Makes readers want to read further
2. Conveys content: Clearly indicates your essay's topic and scope
3. Establishes tone: Sets appropriate expectations (academic vs. creative)
4. Distinguishes your work: Separates your essay from generic alternatives

The 6 Step Process for Creating Strong Titles

Step 1: Understand Your Essay's Main Argument

You can't title what you don't fully understand.

Before crafting your title, clearly identify your essay's central point. What are you actually arguing or explaining?

How to identify your main point

Step 2: Identify Key Topic Keywords

Include searchable terms readers might look for.

List the essential nouns and concepts central to your discussion. These keywords help readers (and search engines) understand your topic.

Example for a climate change essay

Step 3: Choose Your Title Format

Five proven structures work for most essays:

Step 4: Keep It Concise and Specific

Strong titles use 5 to 12 words.

Avoid unnecessary articles, prepositions, and filler words that dilute impact.

• Wordy (18 words): "An Examination of the Various Ways in Which Technology Has Changed Modern Education."
  
  
• Concise (8 words): "How Digital Tools Transform Modern Classroom Learning."
  
  
• Guidelines:  Remove "a," "an," "the" when possible, Cut phrases like "an analysis of" or "a study on", Use active verbs, Be specific, not general.

Step 5: Make It Engaging

Generic titles blend in. Specific titles stand out.

1. Generic: "The Internet and Society"
2. Engaging: "How TikTok's Algorithm Shapes Gen Z Political Beliefs"

Techniques for engagement

Step 6: Revise After Completing Your Essay

Write a working title for direction, but finalize it after drafting.

As you write, your argument evolves. Your final title should accurately reflect what you actually wrote, not what you planned to write.

Revision checklist

50 Title Examples by Essay Type

Argumentative Essays (10 examples)

1. "Why College Should Be Free for All U.S. Citizens".
2. "The Case for Mandatory Voting in Democratic Elections".
3. "Social Media Platforms Must Be Regulated as Publishers".
4. "Why the Death Penalty Fails Both Morally and Practically".
5. "Remote Work Increases Productivity More Than Office Based Employment".
6. "Why Animal Testing Should Be Banned Worldwide".
7. "College Athletes Deserve Payment for University Revenue Generation".
8. "The Four-Day Workweek Improves Productivity and Employee Wellbeing".
9. "Why Cryptocurrency Cannot Replace Traditional Currency".
10. "School Start Times Should Begin at 9 AM for Teenage Health".

Analytical Essays (10 examples)

1. "How Symbolism Drives the Plot in The Great Gatsby".
2. "The Role of Foreshadowing in Romeo and Juliet's Tragedy".
3. "How Orwell Uses Language to Demonstrate Power in 1984".
4. "Analyzing Gender Dynamics in Pride and Prejudice".
5. "The Function of the Chorus in Greek Tragedy".
6. "How Setting Shapes Character Development in Wuthering Heights".
7. "Metaphor and Meaning in Robert Frost's 'The Road Not Taken'".
8. "The Significance of the Green Light in The Great Gatsby".
9. "How Fitzgerald Critiques the American Dream Through Symbolism".
10. "Examining Narrative Perspective in To Kill a Mockingbird".

Expository Essays (10 examples)

1. "How Photosynthesis Converts Light Energy Into Chemical Energy"
2. "The Three Branches of U.S. Government Explained"
3. "How the Electoral College Determines Presidential Elections"
4. "The Process of Fossil Fuel Formation Over Millions of Years"
5. "How Vaccines Train the Immune System to Fight Disease"
6. "The Water Cycle: From Evaporation to Precipitation"
7. "How Supply and Demand Determine Market Prices"
8. "The Stages of Mitosis in Cell Division"
9. "How Credit Scores Are Calculated and Why They Matter"
10. "The Nitrogen Cycle's Role in Ecosystem Sustainability"

Narrative/Personal Essays (10 examples)

1. "The Summer I Failed My Driver's Test Three Times"
2. "How Losing the Championship Game Taught Me About Resilience"
3. "The Day I Realized My Grandmother's Stories Were History"
4. "Finding My Voice Through Failed Auditions"
5. "The Conversation That Changed My Career Path"
6. "How Moving to a New Country Redefined 'Home' for Me"
7. "The Moment I Understood What Courage Actually Means"
8. "Why Failing Chemistry Became My Best Learning Experience"
9. "The Day I Stopped Trying to Please Everyone"
10. "How Volunteering at a Homeless Shelter Changed My Perspective"

Compare and Contrast Essays (10 examples)

1. "Public vs. Private School: Which Provides Better Education?"
2. "Online Learning vs. Traditional Classrooms: Effectiveness Compared"
3. "Capitalism and Socialism: Economic Systems Contrasted"
4. "Living in Cities vs. Suburbs: Quality of Life Comparison"
5. "Renewable Energy vs. Fossil Fuels: Long-Term Cost Analysis"
6. "Democratic vs. Republican Economic Policies: Real-World Impacts"
7. "iOS vs. Android: Which Operating System Serves Users Better?"
8. "Traditional vs. Alternative Medicine: Efficacy and Safety Compared"
9. "Book vs. Movie Adaptations: Why Reading Usually Wins"
10. "Working from Home vs. Office: Productivity and Satisfaction Compared".

Title Formatting Rules by Citation Style

1. MLA Format Title Rules

Capitalization

• Capitalize first and last words
• Capitalize all major words (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)
• Don't capitalize articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or), or prepositions unless first/last word

Formatting

• Center title on first page
• Use standard capitalization (no bold, no underline)
• Italicize book/journal titles: The Great Gatsby
• Use quotation marks for articles/essays: "The Impact of Climate Change."

Example MLA title: "How Social Media Algorithms Influence Political Beliefs"

2. APA Format Title Rules

Capitalization

• Capitalize the first word of the title and subtitle
• Capitalize all proper nouns
• Don't capitalize other words

Formatting

• Place on separate title page
• Center and bold
• Italicize book titles: The Psychology of Influence
• No quotation marks for article titles

Example APA title: "The effects of remote work on employee productivity and satisfaction"

3. Chicago Style Title Rules

Capitalization

• Capitalize first and last words
• Capitalize all nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs
• Don't capitalize articles, conjunctions, or prepositions unless the first/last word

Formatting

• Italicize book titles: To Kill a Mockingbird
• Use quotation marks for article titles: "The Effects of Social Media".
• Center title

Example Chicago title: "The Role of Technology in Modern Healthcare Delivery"

Common Title Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Being Too Broad

Problem: Title could apply to hundreds of essays

Bad: "Technology and Society"
Good: "How Smartphone Addiction Affects Face-to-Face Communication Skills"

Fix: Add specific platforms, mechanisms, or outcomes.

Mistake #2: Using Vague Language

Problem: Unclear what essay actually discusses

Bad: "Some Thoughts on Education"
Good: "Why Project-Based Learning Produces Better Student Outcomes Than Lectures"

Fix: Replace vague words (things, stuff, some, many) with specific terms.

Mistake #3: Making Titles Too Long

Problem: Titles exceeding 15 words become unwieldy

Bad: "An In-Depth Analysis and Examination of the Various Ways in Which Social Media Platforms Have Changed How Teenagers Communicate"

Good: "How Social Media Changed Teenage Communication Patterns"

Fix: Cut unnecessary phrases. Be direct

Mistake #4: Titling Before Writing

Problem: Final essay doesn't match preliminary title

Fix: Use working titles during drafting, but create the final title after completing your essay. This ensures your title accurately reflects what you actually wrote.

Mistake #5: Unnecessary Question Marks

Problem: Questions that aren't actually questions

Bad: "The Impact of Climate Change?"
Good: "How Climate Change Threatens Coastal Communities"

Fix: Only use question marks for actual questions. Otherwise, use declarative statements.

Bottom Line

Strong essay titles grab attention while accurately representing your content. Follow the 6-step process: understand your main argument, identify keywords, choose a format, keep it concise, make it engaging, and revise after completing your draft.

The best titles are specific rather than generic. "How Instagram Algorithms Amplify Teenage Anxiety" beats "Social Media Essay" because it names the specific platform, mechanism, and outcome. Specific titles signal quality thinking.

Keep titles between 5 to 12 words. Remove unnecessary articles and filler phrases. Use active verbs and concrete nouns. Make every word earn its place.

Format titles correctly for your citation style. MLA capitalizes major words, APA uses sentence case, and Chicago follows title case rules. Improper formatting signals carelessness, even if your content is strong.

Write working titles for direction during drafting, but finalize titles after completing your essay. Your argument evolves as you write. Make sure your final title accurately reflects what you actually wrote, not what you planned to write.

Great titles make professors lean in with interest. Weak titles make them approach your work with lower expectations. Invest the time to create titles that showcase your essay's quality from the first word.