English Writing

Newspaper headlines vocabulary

Short words save space, and so they are very common in headlines. The following is a list of common headline vocabulary.

Act: take action; do something
POWER CRISIS: GOVERNMENT TO ACT

Aid: (noun) military or financial help
Aid (verb): to help
MORE AID FOR POOR COUNTRIES
UNIONS AID BANK STRIKERS

Alert: alarm, warning
TERROR ALERT IN THE CAPITAL

Allege: make an accusation
BLIND GIRL ALLEGES UNFAIR TREATMENT

Appear: appear in court accused of a crime
MP TO APPEAR ON DRUGS CHARGES

Axe (verb): abolish, close down
Axe (noun): abolition, closure
POSTAL SERVICES AXED
SMALL SCHOOLS FACE AXE

Back: support
OPPOSITION BACKS PM

Ban: forbid, refuse to allow something
GOVERNMENT BANS SMOKING IN PUBLIC

Bar: refuse
HOTEL BARS FOOTBALL FANS

Bid: attempt
WOMAN MAKES SUICIDE BID

Blast: explosion
Blast: criticize violently
BLAST AT AIRPORT
OPPOSITION BLASTS PM

Blaze: fire
SIX DIE IN TEMPLE BLAZE

Blow: bad news, unfortunate happening
SMITH ILL: BLOW TO WORLD CUP HOPES

Bond: political or business association
INDIA CUTS TRADE BONDS WITH CHINA

Boom: big increase; prosperous period
ECONOMIC BOOM: URBAN RICH TO BENEFIT

Boost: encourage
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BOOST EXPORTS

Brink: edge of disaster
GLOBAL WARMING: EARTH ON BRINK OF DISASTER

Call for: demand/ appeal for
TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR STRIKE

Campaign: organized effort to achieve social or political result
MP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR TAX REFORMS

Claim (verb): make a statement that something is true
US SCIENTISTS CLAIM CANCER BREAKTHROUGH

Clamp down on: deal firmly with
POLICE TO CLAMP DOWN ON EVE TEASING

Clash: quarrel, fight
STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE

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