A heading is a group of words that breaks text into sections. Headings should be brief and informative.
Readers of documents look for cues about what is most important and about how various sections are related to one another. Headings can provide such cues. Clear headings guide your readers by showing a document’s organization. Headings can focus the attention of readers while providing a useful pathway through complex documents such as research papers, lab reports, business proposals, and web documents.
Headings help readers
Using consistent formatting for each level of heading makes your text easier to read and easier to use, whether your reader is scrutinizing every word or scanning only key points. Unless your instructor asks you to use a particular style, create your own formatting style so that your heading levels differ from each other and from the main text.
Headings for specific document types
A college paper typically has one or two levels of headings set on the left margin (flush left) or centered. You may not need headings in short essays, especially if you use clear topic sentences. Most web documents use left alignment, since the text will display more predictably on the web if everything is oriented toward the left side of the screen.
A memo may use one or two levels of headings to make it easier for professional readers to preview the document.
Scientific and engineering reports often use a decimal numbering system in headings. Section 1.3 will be followed by section 1.4. Section 1.4 might include subsections 1.4.1 and 1.4.2. These decimal systems are useful for orienting readers and alerting them to the organization of the document, but if they become too complex, they risk losing readers.
For longer documents such as reports, a table of contents is a useful aid for readers. The table of contents should include the same headings and subheadings as the document as well as page numbers for each heading. Readers thus can understand the organization of the document at a glance and can quickly find the information they want. (Your word processing program can create a table of contents automatically and can update it as you revise your document.)
Caution:Avoid using more headings or more levels of headings than you really need. Excessive use of headings can make a text choppy. Too many levels of headings may make it difficult for your reader to follow your organization.
Sample report with three levels of headings
Sample table of contents with headings and subheadings
Paper organized with one level of heading (APA)
Paper organized with two levels of headings (APA)
Sample memo with headings
Related topics:
Phrasing headings
Formatting headings