Writing for the Web:
Guidelines for MIT LibrariesWhat makes a useful heading?
question May I request items from non-MIT libraries? verb phrase Requesting items from non-MIT libraries
(put action word first, easier to scan)imperative Borrow items from non-MIT libraries. sentence style You may borrow items from non-MIT libraries. noun style Interlibrary Borrowing Questions are good for:
- policies
- regulations
- user guides ("how do I ...?")
Sentence style is most useful for subheadings within a long article. (pithy statements, callouts)
Nouns by themselves are good headings only if they name something that users are looking for. Often they are less informative because they don't connect to users' goals. Sometimes they pose a problem for your international audience. (what does "interlibrary borrowing" mean?)
It's generally better to be more expansive & longer than noun style.
Example of useful headings: Specifications for thesis preparation