Page 228 - English for Writing Research Papers

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12.15 When is a two-part title a good idea?

In some cases the first part poses a question, expressed in an informal manner to
attract the attention of readers. The second part gives a more technical description
of the content of the paper. For example (see 12.14 ):
What do bosses do? The origins and functions of hierarchy in capitalist production

Who would have thought it? An operation proves to be the most effective therapy for adult-
onset diabetes mellitus

In other cases the second part acts as an explanation for the fi rst part:

Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity: problems of using long
words needlessly

The role of medicine: dream, mirage or nemesis

Telling more than we can know: Verbal reports on mental processes

Given that two-part titles are much less common than other titles they generally
attract more attention, and like questions work well for abstracts submitted to
conferences.

12.16 How should I write a title for a conference?
Try to ensure that your abstract will not just be enticing for the editorial board, but
also that it will be suitable for publishing in the conference handbook / proceedings.
Your title should be interesting but not too obscure or too colloquial / witty. It can
be less 'technical' than a title for a journal, and may contain a question ( 12.14 ) or

two parts ( 12.15 ) – the fi rst part is technical, and the second part contains a more

informal interpretation of the first part. Or vice versa – the first part is more fun, and
the second more serious.