Headings and subheadings— brief phrases set off from the text in various ways — can provide visible cues to readers about the content and organization of a text. Headings can be distinguished from the text in numerous ways, including the selective use of capital letters, bold or italic type, or different sizes of type. To be most helpful to readers, headings should be phrased similarly and follow a predictable system.

Headings indicate sections and levels.

In this chapter, the headings in the section Paragraphing provide a good example of a system of headings that can readily be outlined:

Paragraphing

Paragraph indents signal related ideas.

Topic sentences announce the paragraph’s focus.

Announcing the Topic

Making a Transition

Positioning the Topic Sentence

Notice that in this example, the heading system has three levels. The first-level heading sits on its own line and is set in a large, red font; this heading stands out most visibly among the others. (It is one of five such headings in this chapter.) The second-level heading also sits on its own line but is set in a smaller font (and uses black type). The first of these second-level headings has no subheadings beneath it, while the second has three. These third-level headings, in black, do not sit on their own lines but run into the paragraph they introduce, as you can see if you go back to the Paragraphing section earlier in this chapter

All of these headings follow a parallel grammatical structure: “-ing” nouns at the first level; complete sentences at the second level; and “-ing” nouns at the third level.

Headings are not common in all genres.

Headings may not be necessary in short essays: thesis statements, forecasting statements, well-positioned topic sentences, and transition sentences may be all the cues the reader needs. Headings are rare in some genres, such as essays about remembered events (Chapter 2) and essays profiling people and places (Chapter 3). Headings appear more frequently in such genres as concept explanations (Chapter 4), reports and analyses (Chapter 5), position papers (Chapter 6), public policy proposals (Chapter 7), evaluations (Chapter 8), and causal analyses (Chapter 9). Headings are required in résumés and lab reports (Chapter 29).

At least two headings are needed at each level.

Before dividing their essays into sections with headings and subheadings, writers need to make sure their discussion is detailed enough to support at least two headings at each level. The frequency and placement of headings depend entirely on the content and how it is divided and organized. Keep in mind that headings do not reduce the need for other cues to keep readers on track.