how to use subheadings in essays

Should you Include Headings and Subheadings in an Essay?

If you have ever tried reading a large blob of text, then you know how hard it can be. However, it becomes easier to read when broken into headings and subheadings.

Academic writings like essays have a standard of writing that must be upheld. While not every essay requires headings and subheadings, they are important for organizing your writing.

Headings describe the succeeding section, while subheading gives supporting information for the heading.

With that said, here is everything you need to know about headings

What are Headings in Essays and Academic Papers?

According to Merriam-Webster, a heading forms or serves as a head.

In academic writing, headings represent what is to come in the assignment. Adding a heading will help structure a piece of writing and guide the reader throughout the content. Short pieces of writing don't always require headings. In long-form writing, each specific section should have its heading to communicate what the reader should expect clearly. Think of it as the title of that section.

Since some points are more important than others, the heading chosen should be based on whether the idea you are talking about is the main point. Each heading chosen should tell the reader what the following idea is about. This is because the main points are the building blocks of the content. Make sure it is short, descriptive, and precise.

You can include headings and subheadings/subtopics in an essay if it is long, but ensure that the subtopics or subheadings are relevant to the content and consistent throughout the text in a manner to contribute to your thesis statement. As a good practice, ensure that the essay headings and subheadings do not exceed 12 words.

Subheadings are not recommended for short essays . However, they improve the overall structure of a long essay, help you frame and explore your topic, and enable the readers to know what to expect (they act as signposts in an essay or research paper).

Heading vs. Title

Headings and titles may look similar at a first glance, but they are not. A title represents the entire paper and explains it in clear and short phrases. It is the first thing the reader will see and determine whether they read the rest of the document. For this reason, you need to think of striking, informative, and appropriate titles. You should also write the title based on why you are writing that document. For instance, if the aim of the documents is tutorial, then the title should be task-based.

On the other hand, a heading represents what each section of the paper discusses. They help guide the reader throughout the documents, which is why you should write effective headings, and they should be as descriptive as possible.

Headings are a requirement in most forms of writing, but some lecturers may be divided about using them in academic essays, which is why you should confirm with them first. 

Headings Vs. Subheadings

Headings are key parts of writing as they will capture the reader's attention and lure them into the document's purpose. They guide the reader to the main points of the paper. You have to set the headings apart from the body of the text by coming up with an enticing phrase.

Subheadings, on the other hand, do more than grab the reader's attention; they show the different subsections of the text. They keep the reader engaged by quickly guiding them to the information they want.

Headings and subheadings appear at the beginning of a section and organize the flow of the documents. In addition, they are both used to break down large blocks of text to make them more scannable. They also have a hierarchy that is Heading (H2) first, followed by subheadings (H3) and (H4) in that order. Subheadings should always come after the heading, as demonstrated.

The Best Length for Headings in Academic Writing

A heading can be as long as you want it to give the reader a snippet of the idea. A good rule of thumb should be no more than 70 characters.

For higher level headings, like H1, H2, and H3s, they could be as low as one word, for instance, the introduction, methodology, and such. For such sections, the one word is clear enough for the reader to know what it represents. Low levels like H5 and below can be much longer and direct the reader to exactly what they are looking for.

Levels of Heading in Academic Writing

Headings are an important part of academic writing as they act as a preview of the document. They guide the reader on what you are talking about, which is why you should assign different heading levels.

There are five levels of headings in APA style. Level 1, Level 2, level 3, level 4, levels 5. Level 1 is the main heading, followed by level 2, its subheading, and level 3 is the subsection of level 2 in that order.

Level 1 headings are your main headings and are usually typed in the center of the paper in title case and bolded. Their text beneath will always start in the next line, indented inward, just as you begin a new paragraph. These help the reader find their way through the document, read what they want and skip what they are not interested in.

The length and complexity of the paper will determine how many levels you will use. If it's just a short piece of writing, you can use Level 1. If you need two headings, use level 1 and level 2. If it's a 2000-word article, research paper, term paper, or essay, you will need between 3 and 5 headings.

Keep in mind that not every paragraph needs a heading. While headings can keep your work neat, too many can defeat the purpose. Also, make sure that each of the headings and subheadings has a connection to the main title.

All these levels are differentiated by different styles and formats depending on the publication manual provided, which can be either APA or MLA format.

Reasons to Use Headings in Academic Writing

Headings are helpful in academic writing for a myriad of reasons, including:

Making Your Content More Readable

Much information goes into academic writing to pass information to the reader. Putting all your information in a large block of text will be overwhelming and can scare away the readers. The white gaps at each heading section will offer a resting place hence a visual break. Therefore, separating the large chunks of text into manageable portions will keep your readers engaged.

Outlining Your Content

Headings serve as the structure of your writing. By dividing the large bulk of text with headings, you guide the reader through each section and what it is about. Otherwise, they won't know what it is about.

Capturing the Reader's Attention

The main aim of any heading is to hook the reader and create curiosity enough for them to continue reading through the rest of the article. Having a catchy and informative heading will entice them to read even further.

Remember that readers rarely read documents from start to finish. Major headings should stand out but so should headings and subheadings if you want the readers to continue reading your paper.

Finding Important Information

Readers will likely scan the essay to get a general idea of what it is about and decide if they want to read it. Well-structured headings will help them achieve that.

Improving Overall Quality

Headings and subheadings improve the quality of the essay. A high-quality essay is suitable for readers and also for search engine optimization (SEO) if you intend to publish it online. Ensure to use keywords in the headings and structure them to improve visibility.

Tips to Include Better Headings and Subheadings

Writing informative and precise headings and subheadings is vital if you want your writing to get the message home. You need to borrow the following tips to show that they should spend time reading your writing.

Use the Right Length

The length of your article or essay will determine how long your headings and subheadings should be. Put yourself in the reader's shoes and think of the heading you would like to read. Lengthy headings aren't attractive. Most readers want something short and precise, which is what you should do. It should only take them a few seconds to read, so be sure the length should be not more than 30 words.

Make It Relevant to the Content and Topic

Headings and subheadings are essential to catch the reader's attention but are not important enough to stand independently. They represent the critical concepts and all the supporting ideas. Therefore, you need to consider the topic's relevance when determining what phrases to use in your subheading. Carefully think about each key piece of information you'd like to include in each of your sections. Then ensure that each subheading is connected to the main title or the heading.

Be Clear and Concise

Headings and subheadings tell the reader what the content is about. They are usually about five words long. Therefore, you should go directly to the point using clear language that is easy to understand. Most readers skim through the text before reading which is why you should use simple and straightforward words. Always remember that readers have questions and are looking for answers and shouldn't have to ponder what you are talking about. If your heading is clear and to the point, they won't leave to look for answers elsewhere.

Place It in the Right Place

Consider where your target audience is likely to look and where they are likely to appear. While doing this, also consider the kind of phrases they are likely to type for the specific information they want. This gives you a general idea of where to place headings and subheadings. Remember that the APA and MLA format requires that all headings be placed hierarchically. So as you choose your phrases, ensure that they align with the content's topic and flow.

Consider the Formatting Style

Heading styles format your headings to make them stand out from the rest of the text. They also give your essay structure and make it more accessible to the target audience. In addition to this, headings also help in:

• Generating a table of contents
• Use style sets to reformat the document
• Rearranging the documents
• Creating a structured pdf file using the heading tag

Remember that each heading is formatted with a different heading style located in the style section. Since you've already used H1 for the major heading, the first subheading will be H2, and the second subheading will be H3.

Related Reading: How to indent an essay well.

Number the Heading or Subheading if Needed

Putting numbers on your heading makes it easy to scan. Top-level headings like H1 are numbered 1,2,3,4 while second-level headings, like H2, are numbered 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

Remember that even though you are numbering the headings, you need to introduce your topic in the first paragraph after the headings. Headings don't speak for themselves, so writing a few sentences restating the main idea will tell the reader what will come.

Be Consistent Throughout the Paper

If you intend to use headings in your paper, ensure each section has a heading and subheading. Also, ensure they are consistent in font, size, color, indentation, etc. The style function in Microsoft Word will help create consistency in your headings. You must select the text you want to convert into a heading, then select the appropriate heading from the Style box.

Avoid Repetition

Avoid repeating any phrases in your headings. Using the same heading more than once can affect the reader's comprehension of your message, negatively impacting their reaction to your essay. Sometimes you may repeat the headings without even noticing. For this reason, you should use the Find Function in MS Word or Google Docs.

Another way you can check for repetition is by reading your essay out loud, and this will help you spot any headings or subheadings that have been repeated.

Capitalize, Format, and Punctuate Well

Effective headings are well capitalized, formatted, and punctuated. The APA style uses two styles for this, title case and sentence case. In the title case, major words are capitalized, while minor ones are lowercase. Sentence cases, on the other hand, only capitalize the proper nouns while the rest remain in lowercase.

Use Automatic Heading in Word Processor

Microsoft Word has a built-in feature that anticipates how you want to format your document. As you begin typing, your text starts in the typical style, but when you press enter and move to a new line, the style changes to H1 with different fonts, colors, etc.

If you are typing a paragraph with a small number of words and press enter and then fail to provide proper punctuation, the feature will assume you are moving to a new paragraph, and it will then automatically enter a new heading with a heading style.

Use Descriptive Headings

Use concrete and descriptive language to make your headings more effective so the reader can know what to expect in each section. Don't use function headings when writing your technical reports; these are not so predictable, and readers benefit from the headings being much more descriptive.

Function headings are only used when writing pieces that need consistent structures, for instance, lab reports. An example is:

• Introduction
• Methodology
• Conclusions

Include Technical Terms Needed

Technical terms should not be used in headings because they may be hard to understand except those who know the languages. Technical terms are primarily used in academic documents that professionals read but if not specified, avoid them.

Related Read: How to write an article title in academic papers.

Final Words

Headings and subheadings are vital features in academic writing that represent the main points of a topic. The difference in formatting helps reader's the main points from the rest of the texts. Ensure you follow all the tips about including headings and subheadings in your text. Talk to your lecturer, professor, teacher, or instructor if you are unsure whether to add them to your essay.

What are Headings in an Essay?

Headings are markers that guide the reader through an essay by showing them what the next section is about. Like a title, they are only a few words long and are essential in structuring your content so as not to overwhelm the reader.

Should I Put Headings in an Essay?

Yes. It will help if you put headings in your essays to make them more readable. Essays consist of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Most of them are written in a continuous, paragraphed text without the need for section headings, especially if it's a short essay. On the other hand, long-form essays need headings and subheadings to make them easy to write and read. Since most lecturers are divided about using them in academic essays, you should confirm with your tutor before you start writing.

How Do I Include Subheadings in an Essay?

Subheadings are mini headlines that come after the headings, and they help explain more about the headings and aid readers in skimming through the content. If you have used the first heading, H1, and need to provide more information about it, add a subheading, H2.

If you have trouble deciding how to use subheadings correctly, think of them as an outline. Therefore, break down your topic into simple ideas, then use them to organize your essay.

How Do You Make a Heading in an Essay or Academic Paper?

You must think carefully about the aim of writing a paper and the main idea. Each heading should be clear and to the point. You don't want to mince words and possibly confuse the reader. Also, remember that headings are meant to enhance, not replace, the main topic. Ensure you set it apart from the body of the text by using H1 formatting in either Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Borrow some of the following best practices to write an effective heading:

• Create a controversy
• Ensure it short
• Pose a question
• Suggest a number
• Provide an explanation

How Do You Use Headings and Subheadings?

Headings (section headings) are the title of your essay. They appear at the beginning of the page and guide the reader through your content. It is the first one your readers see before reading your essay or text. It doesn't matter whether the reader reads every word in your essay; they can still get the basic idea of your paper. Using different heading levels will help the reader navigate through the document. The headings and subheadings should be captivating enough to make an excellent first impression.

When writing a subheading, keep in mind that the H2s are the headers of each header for the main section of the essay. H3s are the subsections of the main points in H2s. H4s, on the other hand, are detailed subheadings breaking down the text into more specific options. The subheadings amplify the title or heading of the essay, and they also complement the headings. They make your writing flow and should be relevant to the topic. With such an organization, you have achieved a first-class essay level. A good subheading captures the essence of the title and consistently informs the reader that they are still on an idea related to the topic. It is also short, descriptive, clear, and concise.

Should Essays Have Section Headings?

Yes. Just like books are divided into chapters, essays and articles should be divided into sections. Essays should have section headings because they help make your work more organized and easy to read. And within those sections, the text can be divided into subsections.

Are There Specific Words to Use in Headings and Subheadings in Essays?

You will probably be tempted to use more words to make your heading more concise, but this isn't a good idea. Make sure you carefully choose words that clearly describe your chosen topic. If possible, use numbers in your headings because they are like brain candy, making your work more interesting. Also, ensure you use odd numbers because they are more attractive to readers than even numbers, according to the Content Marketing institute . Avoid abbreviations, idioms, or colloquial expressions when writing headings and subheadings.

How Many Headings to Use in an Essay or Academic Assignment?

To be safe, only use a maximum of three headings. However, this will depend on the length of your academic assignments. Remember that headings are short phrases that introduce the topic you are writing about and make it easy for the readers to read through. So if you are writing a short essay of fewer than 1000 words, there is no need for headings. But for articles above 1000 words then, you must use them. Headings will help identify the different sections in an essay.

What Are Heading Levels?

Headings organize your essay in a hierarchical order. Since some points are more critical, assigning different levels will help distinguish them.

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How do I style headings and subheadings in a research paper?

Headings and subheadings can help organize and structure your writing. In general, longer and more complex works warrant more of them than shorter ones. Avoid overusing headings in short projects; they should never be used to compensate for poor structure or to explain an underdeveloped idea.

When headings are called for in your writing project, observe the basic guidelines below.

The paper or chapter title is the first level of heading, and it must be the most prominent.

Headings should be styled in descending order of prominence. After the first level, the other headings are subheadings—that is, they are subordinate. Font styling and size are used to signal prominence. In general, a boldface, larger font indicates prominence; a smaller font, italics, and lack of bold can be used to signal subordination. For readability, don’t go overboard: avoid using all capital letters for headings (in some cases, small capitals may be acceptable):

Heading Level 1

Heading Level 2

Heading Level 3

Note that word-processing software often has built-in heading styles.

Consistency

Consistency in the styling of headings and subheadings is key to signaling to readers the structure of a research project. That is, each level 1 heading should appear in the same style and size, as should each level 2 heading, and so on. Generally avoid numbers and letters to designate heads unless you are working in a discipline where doing so is conventional. Note that a heading labeled “1” requires a subsequent heading labeled “2,” and a heading labeled “a” requires a subsequent heading labeled “b.” 

In a project that is not professionally designed and published, headings should be flush with the left margin, to avoid confusion with block quotations. (The exception is the paper or chapter title, which is centered in MLA style.)

For readability, it is helpful to include a line space above and below a heading, as shown in this post.

No internal heading level should have only one instance. For example, if you have one level 1 heading, you need to have a second level 1 heading. (The exceptions are the paper or chapter title and the headings for notes and the list of works cited.) You should also generally have text under each heading.

Capitalization

Capitalize headings like the titles of works, as explained in section 1.5 of the MLA Handbook .

The shorter, the better.

• Comprehensive Guide to Headings and Subheadings in APA 7.0

Section 1: Introduction to Headings and Subheadings in APA 7.0-

In academic writing, the use of headings and subheadings is crucial for organizing and structuring a paper. APA (American Psychological Association) style, specifically in its 7th edition, provides clear guidelines on how to effectively use headings and subheadings to enhance readability and comprehensibility of research papers, essays, and other scholarly works. This section will provide a comprehensive introduction to the importance, purpose, and benefits of using headings and subheadings in APA 7.0 format.

Purpose of Headings and Subheadings

Headings and subheadings serve as visual cues to help readers navigate through the content of a paper. They create a hierarchical structure, indicating the relationships between different sections and subsections, and aid in organizing ideas and presenting information in a logical manner. By using headings and subheadings, writers can effectively divide their work into manageable and coherent sections, making it easier for readers to comprehend and follow the main arguments and supporting details.

Importance of Headings and Subheadings

Clear and well-structured headings and subheadings are essential in academic writing for several reasons. First and foremost, they enhance the overall readability of the paper by breaking down the text into smaller, digestible chunks. This organization allows readers to quickly identify and locate specific information, especially when they are scanning or skimming through the document.

Secondly, headings and subheadings contribute to the coherence and flow of the paper. By providing a clear roadmap, they guide the reader through the main ideas, supporting evidence, and key points presented in each section. This not only improves the overall structure of the paper but also helps maintain the logical progression of thoughts and arguments.

Additionally, headings and subheadings assist both readers and writers in comprehending complex topics. They enable writers to organize their thoughts, ensuring that each section focuses on a specific aspect or theme. This organization facilitates a deeper understanding of the subject matter for both the writer during the drafting process and the reader during the consumption of the paper.

Formatting Guidelines for Headings and Subheadings

APA 7.0 provides specific rules and formatting guidelines for using headings and subheadings. These guidelines include the use of different levels of headings, capitalization rules, and placement within the paper. Understanding and adhering to these guidelines is crucial for maintaining consistency and conformity with APA style.

The APA 7.0 formatting guidelines for headings and subheadings are based on a five-level hierarchy, with each level indicating the level of importance and hierarchy of information. Level 1 headings are the highest level, followed by Level 2, Level 3, and so on. Each level has a specific formatting style, such as font size, boldness, and indentation, to differentiate it from the other levels. Furthermore, APA 7.0 also provides guidance on the appropriate use of sentence case, title case, and capitalization in headings and subheadings. For instance, Level 1 headings are typically written in sentence case and are centered and bolded. Level 2 headings are aligned to the left margin, bolded, and written in title case. To maintain clarity and consistency, APA 7.0 also provides recommendations on the number of headings to use within a paper. It suggests that at least two headings should be used in any given section, as a single heading alone may not adequately represent the content covered.

Section 2: The Purpose and Importance of Headings and Subheadings in APA 7.0

Facilitating information retrieval.

One of the primary purposes of headings and subheadings in APA 7.0 is to facilitate information retrieval for readers. When faced with a lengthy document, readers often engage in scanning or skimming techniques to locate specific information or sections of interest. Well-structured headings and subheadings act as signposts, allowing readers to quickly identify the content they are seeking without having to read the entire text. By providing a clear and organized hierarchy, headings guide readers to the main sections of a paper, while subheadings further break down the content into more specific subsections. This hierarchical structure enables readers to navigate the document with ease, locating relevant information efficiently. Thus, headings and subheadings in APA 7.0 contribute significantly to the overall accessibility and user-friendliness of academic papers.

Enhancing Readability and Comprehensibility

Headings and subheadings play a vital role in enhancing the readability and comprehensibility of academic writing. They help break up large blocks of text into smaller, digestible sections, preventing the overwhelming feeling that dense paragraphs can create. By visually separating different sections and subsections, headings and subheadings allow readers to mentally prepare for the content they are about to encounter. Additionally, headings and subheadings improve the flow and coherence of a paper. They provide a roadmap for readers, helping them understand the organization and structure of the author's arguments and supporting evidence. Well-crafted headings and subheadings enable readers to follow the logical progression of ideas and maintain a clear understanding of the paper's main points. Finally, headings and subheadings aid in the comprehension of complex topics. By breaking down the content into smaller, focused sections, readers can grasp the material more easily. Headings act as cognitive cues, preparing readers for the information presented in each section. This approach not only facilitates understanding but also allows readers to engage with the content at a deeper level, promoting knowledge retention.

Organizing and Structuring Ideas

Headings and subheadings in APA 7.0 serve as valuable tools for organizing and structuring ideas within a paper. They help writers divide their work into meaningful sections, each addressing a specific aspect or theme related to the overall topic. This organization ensures that information is presented in a coherent and logical manner, making it easier for both the writer and the reader to navigate the paper.

By using headings and subheadings, writers can create a clear outline for their work, ensuring that each section has a distinct focus. This outline acts as a framework, guiding the writer in presenting their arguments and supporting evidence in a systematic and organized way. Writers can use headings to delineate major sections or main ideas, while subheadings allow for further subcategorization and exploration of subtopics.

Furthermore, headings and subheadings assist writers in structuring their thoughts during the writing process. By providing a visual representation of the paper's organization, headings help writers maintain a coherent flow of ideas and prevent the inclusion of irrelevant or tangential information. This structured approach not only improves the overall quality of the paper but also enhances the writer's ability to communicate their ideas effectively.

Conveying the Hierarchical Relationship of Information

Another important purpose of headings and subheadings in APA 7.0 is to convey the hierarchical relationship of information. By assigning different levels to headings, the writer can indicate the relative importance and order of ideas within the paper. Higher-level headings represent broader themes or major sections, while lower-level headings address more specific subtopics or subsections. This hierarchical structure helps readers understand the organization and logical flow of the paper at a glance. It allows them to grasp the overall structure and the relationships between different sections without having to read the entire document. Additionally, the use of indentation and formatting styles for each level of heading further reinforces the hierarchical relationship and aids in visual differentiation.

Section 3: Formatting Guidelines for Headings and Subheadings in APA 7.0

Proper formatting of headings and subheadings is crucial in APA 7.0 style to ensure consistency, clarity, and readability in academic writing. This section will delve into the specific formatting guidelines provided by APA 7.0 for headings and subheadings, including the use of different levels, capitalization rules, and placement within the paper.

Levels of Headings

APA 7.0 introduces a five-level hierarchy for headings, each denoting a different level of importance and significance within the paper. These levels provide a structured framework for organizing the content and help readers understand the organization and flow of ideas. Here are the five headings in APA 7.0:

Level 1: Centered, Bold and Title Case

            Text begins here.

Level 2: Left-Aligned, Bold and Title Case

Level 3: Left-Aligned, Bold, Italics, and Title Case

Level 4: Left-Aligned, Bold, Title Case, and Period. Text begins here.

Level 5: Left-Aligned, Bold, Title Case, Italics, and Period . Text begins here.

Section 4: Organizing and Structuring Your Paper

Using headings and subheadings in apa 7.0.

Organizing and structuring your paper effectively is crucial for presenting your ideas in a logical and coherent manner. Headings and subheadings in APA 7.0 play a vital role in achieving this goal by providing a clear framework for organizing your content. This section will delve into strategies and best practices for utilizing headings and subheadings to organize and structure your paper in accordance with APA 7.0 guidelines.

Preparing an Outline

Before you begin writing your paper, it is helpful to create an outline that outlines the main sections and subsections you intend to cover. An outline acts as a roadmap, allowing you to visualize the overall structure and flow of your paper. It serves as a foundation for developing meaningful headings and subheadings that accurately represent the content and facilitate logical organization. Start by identifying the major sections that your paper will include, such as introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. These major sections will serve as Level 1 headings in APA 7.0. Next, break down each major section into subsections that address specific subtopics or aspects related to the main theme. These subsections will be represented by Level 2 headings. Depending on the complexity and depth of your paper, you may further divide the subsections into sub-subsections using Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 headings. Creating a comprehensive outline not only helps you organize your thoughts but also ensures that you cover all the necessary components of your paper. It allows you to see the relationships between different sections and subsections, enabling you to present your arguments and evidence in a logical and coherent sequence.

Maintaining Consistency and Parallelism

Consistency is key when it comes to organizing and structuring your paper using headings and subheadings. It is important to establish a consistent framework that is followed throughout the entire document. Consistency ensures that readers can easily understand the hierarchy and relationships between different sections and subsections. When creating headings and subheadings, aim for parallelism in terms of grammatical structure and formatting. Parallelism means that headings at the same level should have a similar grammatical structure and formatting style. For instance, if you choose to use noun phrases for Level 2 headings, maintain this pattern consistently across all Level 2 headings in your paper. This helps readers navigate through the content smoothly and maintain a sense of coherence. Furthermore, parallelism extends to the use of punctuation and capitalization within headings and subheadings. Maintain consistent capitalization rules, such as sentence case for Level 1 headings and title case for Level 2 headings. This uniformity enhances the visual hierarchy and clarity of your paper.

Balancing Depth and Granularity

Effective organization and structuring involve finding the right balance between depth and granularity in your headings and subheadings. Level 1 headings represent major sections and should encapsulate broad themes or concepts, providing an overview of what will be discussed within each section. Level 2 headings, as subsections, delve into more specific topics or aspects related to the main theme of the major section.

Reviewing and Revising the Organization

Organizing and structuring your paper using headings and subheadings is not a one-time task. It is an iterative process that requires regular review and revision to ensure optimal clarity and coherence. Once you have completed the initial draft of your paper, review the organization of your headings and subheadings. Ask yourself if the structure effectively reflects the flow of your ideas and supports your main argument. Consider whether the headings accurately represent the content of each section and subsection. During the review process, pay attention to transitions between sections and subsections. Ensure that the headings and subheadings create a smooth transition from one topic to another, guiding readers through the logical progression of your paper. If you notice any gaps or inconsistencies, revise and refine the organization accordingly. Additionally, seek feedback from peers, mentors, or instructors. Their fresh perspective can provide valuable insights into the clarity and effectiveness of your headings and subheadings. Incorporate their feedback and make necessary adjustments to improve the overall organization and structure of your paper.

Section 5: Common Mistakes to Avoid in Using Headings and Subheadings in APA 7.0

While using headings and subheadings in APA 7.0 can greatly improve the organization and readability of your paper, it's important to be aware of common mistakes that can compromise the effectiveness of your headings. By understanding and avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure that your headings enhance the clarity and coherence of your academic writing. This section will explore some common mistakes to avoid when using headings and subheadings in APA 7.0.

Inconsistent Formatting

One of the most common mistakes is inconsistent formatting of headings and subheadings. In APA 7.0, it is crucial to maintain consistency in capitalization, alignment, and formatting styles across headings at the same level. Inconsistencies can confuse readers and disrupt the visual hierarchy of your paper. Ensure that all Level 1 headings have the same formatting, all Level 2 headings have the same formatting, and so on. Consistency in formatting contributes to the overall professionalism and readability of your work.

Poor Alignment and Spacing

Another mistake to avoid is incorrect alignment and spacing of headings and subheadings. In APA 7.0, Level 1 headings are centered and typically start on a new page or a new line with an extra line space before and after the heading. Level 2 headings and lower-level headings, however, are left-aligned and generally require an extra line space before the heading but not after. Failure to align and space headings correctly can create confusion and disrupt the logical flow of your paper. Review APA 7.0 guidelines carefully to ensure proper alignment and spacing of your headings.

Lack of Parallelism

Parallelism, or consistent grammatical structure, is crucial when using headings and subheadings. Headings at the same level should follow a similar structure to maintain coherence and readability. For example, if you use noun phrases for Level 2 headings, ensure that all Level 2 headings follow this pattern. Lack of parallelism can make your headings appear disjointed and may confuse readers. Consistently apply parallel structure within each level of headings to create a smooth and organized flow of information.

Overcomplicating the Heading Structure

While it is important to provide a clear and hierarchical structure to your paper, overcomplicating the heading structure can lead to confusion and excessive fragmentation. Strive to find a balance between providing enough detail to cover your content effectively and avoiding an excessive number of headings and subheadings. Each heading should represent a meaningful subdivision and contribute to the overall organization and coherence of your paper. Aim for a clear and concise heading structure that guides readers without overwhelming them with excessive levels or overly specific subdivisions.

Lack of Descriptiveness

Headings and subheadings should be descriptive and informative to accurately represent the content covered within each section. Avoid using generic or ambiguous headings that do not provide a clear indication of what readers can expect to find. Vague headings can leave readers uncertain about the content or make it challenging to locate specific information within your paper. Ensure that your headings succinctly capture the main ideas or themes of each section, guiding readers through your content effectively.

Ignoring the Reader's Perspective

When creating headings and subheadings, it's important to consider the perspective of your readers. Put yourself in their shoes and think about how your headings will facilitate their understanding and navigation through your paper. Consider whether your headings effectively communicate the main points, guide readers through the logical flow of your arguments, and enable them to locate specific information easily. Ignoring the reader's perspective can result in headings that are unclear, unhelpful, or inconsistent, hindering the overall readability and comprehension of your work.

Neglecting to Revise and Edit Headings

Headings should not be an afterthought or treated as static elements in your paper. Neglecting to revise and edit your headings can lead to inaccuracies, lack of clarity, or poor alignment with the final content of your paper. As you progress through the writing process, continuously review and refine your headings to ensure they accurately represent the content and flow of your arguments. Make necessary adjustments, reword headings for better clarity, and ensure that they align with the finalized structure and organization of your paper.

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Table of Contents

Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, apa headings and subheadings.

• © 2023 by Jennifer Janechek - IBM Quantum
• headings when there are at least two subsections within a larger section.
• using subheadings only when the paper has at least two subsections within a larger section

APA headings and subheadings refers to the rules for formatting sections of documents in the 7th Edition of the American Psychological Association’s Publication Manual .

A research paper written in APA style should be organized into sections and subsections using the five levels of APA headings. 

Related Concepts:

Notice how sections contain at least two smaller subsections in the example below:

Design  

Participants. , demographics..

Characteristics.

Limitations

Starting with the first level of heading, the subsections of the paper should progressively use the next level(s) of heading without skipping any levels. Major sections of the paper’s main body, including the Method, Results, and Discussion sections, should always be formatted with the first level of heading. However, keep in mind that the Introduction section, which is preceded by the full title of the paper, should be presented in plain type. Any subsections that fall under the major sections are formatted with the next level of heading.

Note that all paragraphs of the main body, including those that fall under subsections of a larger section, still maintain the pattern of indentation, use Times New Roman font, 12 pt., and are double-spaced. There are no extra lines or spaces between paragraphs and headings.

How are the five levels of APA-style headings formatted?

Format each of the five levels of APA-style headings as demonstrated in the example below. Note that while the example features headings titled “First Level,” “Second Level,” and so on, each heading in your paper should be named according to the section it describes. 

First level

The first level of heading is bolded and centered, and the first letter of each word in the heading is capitalized. The paragraph text should be typed on the following line and indented five spaces from the left.

Second level

The second level of heading is bolded and situated flush left, and the first letter of each word in the heading is capitalized. The paragraph text should be typed on the following line and indented five spaces from the left.

Third level

The third level of heading is bolded, indented five spaces from the left, and followed by a period. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word in the heading and of proper nouns. The first paragraph following this heading should be typed on the same line as the heading.

Fourth level

The fourth level of heading is bolded, italicized, indented five spaces from the left, and followed by a period. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word in the heading and of proper nouns. The first paragraph following this heading should be typed on the same line as the heading.

Fifth level

The fifth level of heading is italicized, indented five spaces from the left, and followed by a period. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word in the heading and of proper nouns. The first paragraph following this heading should be typed on the same line as the heading.

Method  (1st level)

Design (2nd level)

        Participants (3rd level)

        Demographics. (4th level)

              Age Group. (5th level)

Limitations  (2nd level)

• For student papers, include only the page number in the top right margin of every page of the paper
• For professional papers, place the page number in the top right margin and the running head in the top left margin of every page of the paper. Running heads should be a shortened version of the paper title.

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7th Edition APA Style: How to Use APA Headings in Your Paper

APA headings and subheadings give your paper the structure it needs to differentiate and separate sections –  much like how we’ve structured this article.  Sounds simple, right? Not exactly. 

Like a reference list, in-text citations, footnotes, and abstract, APA headings require correct formatting. More so since the American Psychological Association (APA) released the 7th edition of their style guide. 

In this article, we’ll go through the different APA heading levels and their formats. You will also have access to APA headings examples and insight on  APA capitalization rules  so you can nail APA heading formatting without breaking a sweat. 

Table of Contents

What Are APA Headers? 

As mentioned earlier, APA headers separate and differentiate your paper’s sections. They are crucial in scholarly works because: 

• They give structure to your report. 
• Readers and your adviser or restructure can quickly identify the sections of your paper. 
• When properly formatted and used, they can provide a visual aid to improve the flow of information in your paper. 

The APA headers are divided into five levels (more on this later!).

APA 6th Edition vs. 7th Edition: Is There A Difference In Headings?  

Before diving down to APA’s unique headings system, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – the style guide edition. And, we hate to break it to you. There are a lot of changes between the APA 6th edition vs. 7th edition, but since we’re only talking about headings, we’re not going to outline all the differences. 

Luckily for you, there are not a lot of changes in the APA style 7th edition headings. 

• For the capitalization and style, you should write the headings in title case and boldface. 
• Formatting of the first level (main level of heading) and second level headings are almost identical to the 6th edition, except for the new title case and boldface rules. 
• The third, fourth, and fifth-level headings of the 7th edition APA are distinguished by using periods, indentation, and italics. 

To better understand these changes, you can refer to the table below.  

In addition to these formatting changes, the 7th APA style guide also dictates that student papers do not need a running head.

What Are the Different APA Heading Levels? 

Now that you know what APA headings are and the difference between the headings of APA 6th and 7th editions, let’s talk about the levels. 

APA headings levels are divided into five – Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5. In a hurry? You can check the comparison table below.

Expert Insight:  Title case means capitalizing the first letter of words with at least four or more letters. These words are typically proper nouns, pronouns, adverbs, nouns, and adjectives. However, keep in mind that the first word in a header is always in upper case, even if the first word is an article like “ the”  or  “a.”

Level 1 

Level 1, or the first level of heading, represents the main section of your paper. For instance, if your paper topic discusses the effects of social media platforms on university students, the header “Method” should be in level 1. 

In a 7th APA style, the structure should be:

The text after Level 1 will be a new paragraph and not on the same line as the heading. 

Expert Insight:  Does the Level 1 format look familiar? That’s because it has the same structure as the Paper Title element (APA 7 title page) in the APA cover page format.

What if the next portion of your paper discusses the sampling method you’ve used? In that case, the first level of subsection should be the second level of headings or simply Level 2. Why? This is because the “sampling method” is a cluster of the main level “Method.”

The structure of a Level 2 header is, however, different. Instead of having the “Sampling Method” centered, you’ll flush it to the left. A Level 2 header will be in bold, and the paragraph will start in a new line. 

Here’s how a Level 2 APA is formatted:

Tip:  When in doubt, remember that APA sub-headings or subsections should be related to the subsequent header.

Level 3 

The third level of headings, or Level 3, further expounds the information you’ve shared in Level 2 or “Sampling Method.” In this case, your level 3 will be “Procedure.”The formatting of Level 2 and Level 3 are pretty similar.

As a matter of fact, there is one key difference a Level 3 header will be in bold italic. The alignment, boldface, and title case will remain the same. 

You should format a Level 3 APA header like this:

Level 4 

You will need to use the fourth level of headings or Level 4 if there are other details from the Level 3 “Sampling Method” that you need to discuss further. In our APA example, that Level 4 will be the “Participant Recruitment.”

The format of Level 4 is distinct from levels 1, 2, and 3 because: 

• It is indented. 
• The paragraph is in line with the heading. 
• You will add a period at the end of the heading. 

To better understand an APA Level 4 heading format, here is an example:

You’ve probably caught on that Level 5 is a subheading of Level 4, and you are correct! If “Participant Recruitment” warrants more information, you can use the fifth level of headings for either “Tools” or “Compensation.”

The formatting of Level 5 is a bit similar to Level 4; the only difference is that you’ll use a boldface italic. Other elements like indent and period will remain the same. 

APA Heading Examples 

If you combine the levels, your paper should look like this:

How to Choose the Right APA Heading to Use?

With five levels to choose from, selecting which one you should use for your paper can be daunting. Here are some tips: 

• Use the Level 1 APA header when it is an important part of the paper. For instance, method, conclusion, and results. 
• Use the Level 2 heading when the subsections are related to the first level. 
• You should apply a Level 3 header when the APA subheadings are related to Level 2. 
• Level 4 headers should be used in your paper if the sections are directly correlated with Level 3. 
• Lastly, you should use Level 5 headers when the information is related to Level 4. 

How Do You Organize Headings in APA 7? 

Now that you are familiar with all the five-level headings in APA 7. The question now is, how do you arrange them? The rule of thumb for organizing APA 7 headers is to always start with Level 1, followed by subsequent headings of equal importance. 

Does that mean that the levels should only be used once? Not technically. You can have all the number of levels in a section as long as you follow the progression, wherein Level 1 always comes first. 

Tip:  Don’t mistake section labels and APA headings or vice versa. Section labels or special headings are different from regular headings. Not only are they formatted differently, but they also appear at the top section of the paper, below the pagination or page number. You will always find them at the start of a new page. 

Additional APA 7 Header Guidelines 

On top of the format or structure of the level headers, you should also watch out for the following: 

• Text, including the headers, should be double-spaced.
• Font size and typeface should stay consistent throughout your article. For instance, if you’ve used Times New Roman 12pt in your headers, the text should also have the same typeface and size. 
• Depending on your teacher’s requirements, you may or may not need labels (letter or number) for the headers. When in doubt, ask for clarification. 
• There should be at least two APA subheadings in your paper. If you only have one, consider adding more sections in your paper or use no subheadings at all. 

APA Headings FAQ

How to create table of contents in apa format.

In APA 7th edition, it is not required to have a table of contents, but in case your adviser requires one, you can easily do so whether you are using Google docs or Microsoft Word. 

In Google Docs: 

• Set the headers in the correct header size. Click the “Normal Text” dropdown and choose Header 1 for Level 1 APA headings, Header 2 for Level 2, and so on. 
• Go to Insert>Table of Contents. 

Note:  Keep in mind that APA 7th style guide dictates that the headings and text should have the same font size and typeface. So, after printing the table of contents, make sure to revert the levels to the correct size. 

In Microsoft Word: 

• Highlight the level heading 
• Select Update the Heading
• Match the heading size with the level heading. For instance, if you have a Level 1 Header, select Header 1. 
• Go to References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents.  
• Input how many headings you will need. 

Tip:  Ensure you set the levels in the correct format before creating the table of contents. All levels no longer have a lower case heading. The only thing you should watch out for is the alignment, boldface, italics, and period.

Do You Have to Use All the APA Headers?

No, you don’t have to use all five APA headers in your paper. The headers and the number of subsections will highly depend on your writing style and subject matter. 

Is There an Introduction Heading? 

No, there isn’t an “introduction heading.” This is because the first paragraphs of a paper are already understood as the introduction section. 

Heading in the Right Direction 

The format of APA headings and subheadings can be confusing at first. But remember, APA capitalization rules for the 7th APA edition mean using title case for all heading levels; no more uppercase and lowercase headings. And you can distinguish the third, fourth, and fifth-level headings through italicization, period, and indentation. As for the text after the heading, only levels 4 and 5 will have the paragraph in line with the headings. 

Don’t forget that running headers are no longer required in student papers! But just to be on the safe side, make sure to always ask your instructor.

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Headings are standard for some written forms (e.g. report writing, case studies). However, lecturers can be divided about whether they allow/prefer you to use headings in your academic essays. Some lecturers prefer headings while others don’t want you to use headings. You will need to check your lecturer’s preference. If you do use headings, then use them wisely and correctly.

About using headings

Most students who have just completed secondary studies come to university with the firm belief that you should not use headings in essay writing. The use of headings in formal writing was once restricted to business style writing, such as report writing. However, in more recent times, headings are often used in formal academic writing such as books and journals. Also, texts on the Internet are easier to read on screen if they have headings.

Headings are signposts that focus the reader on the most important content in a piece of writing, and are usually connected to the set question. Provided that they are well structured, a few headings make longer pieces of writing easier to write and easier to read (for the marker). Look at headings systems in your unit reading material, and you will get a ‘feeling’ for their structure and suitability.

It’s easy to see why you need a few rules to help you develop a good system of headings. Compare the following sets of headings then answer the questions that follow:

Read this description of a well-structured set of headings:

• The heading system is clear and logical
• The sub-headings are all at the same level and in the same font style
• The wording of the headings and sub-headings is alike
• If you used this heading system, the reader would not be confused

This description applies to:

Correct! When you see headings set out like this, it becomes obvious that you need to create a plan for your headings before you start. Heading set 1 follows the rules and is logical, whereas Heading set 2 breaks the rules and would send the reader on a ‘chase’ to work out what the writer means. So, take a couple of minutes to work out a consistent plan for using headings and apply it to all of your essays.

In general, you are expected to use headings correctly so that your writing is clear, and it is obvious that you have answered the set question. There are rules to help you to do this.

Click on the links to see more details and examples.

Graded heading system

BEFORE YOU START YOUR ESSAY, HAVE A CLEAR AND LOGICAL HEADING HIERARCHY.

Work out a system of headings that you can use with all of your essays. Headings should be graded at levels to show a clear order of importance (e.g. level 1 – most important; level 2 – next important and so on). You will mainly use one to three levels of headings in your essay, depending on the length of your assignment. For example, most 2000 word essays may only require 3-5 level 1 headings (i.e. a level 1 heading every 2-3 pages). Remember that the aim of using headings is to keep your reader on track. Too many headings and too many levels creates confusion.

When you design a heading system, show the relative importance of headings with the type size, position (e.g. centred or left justified), using boldface, underlining or capital letters. You can follow a recommended pattern or make up your own system—so long as it is clear and consistent. Example: Level 1: CAPITALS , bold, 14pt, centred, space below Level 2: Lowercase , bold, 12pt, left justified, space below Level 3: Lowercase , italics, 12pt, left justified, no space below

Information in logical sections

USE HEADINGS FOR SECTIONS IN YOUR DOCUMENT (NOT FOR EACH PARAGRAPH).

The key to working out your essay sections is to work from your question analysis. Consider the following question:

Many lecturers now approve of the use of headings in academic essays. Consider whether the benefits outweigh the problems for the writers and markers. Identify and discuss the key rules for using headings appropriately in academic essays. (2000 words)

Example of a heading plan for this question:

Level 1 headings INTRODUCTION BENEFITS OF USING HEADINGS PROBLEMS WITH USING HEADINGS RULES TO GUIDE HEADING USAGE CONCLUSION

Level 2 headings (example from one section) The heading RULES TO GUIDE HEADING USAGE could have the following level 2 headings:

Heading hierarchies (3 paragraphs)

Effective wording of headings (2 paragraphs)

Effective wording of headings

WHEN YOU DESIGN YOUR HEADINGS SYSTEM, MAKE SURE THAT THE WORDING IS CONSISTENT.

Use three basic principles to word your headings:

• Keep headings brief (avoid two and three liners)
• Make them specific to the written work that follows
• Follow a PARALLEL structure

For example:

• If you use a question as a heading, then follow that pattern for that heading level and for that section (e.g. if your level 1 heading is What are the rules for heading levels?, then the next level 1 heading would need to be a question also: How do you word headings effectively?).
• If you use a phrase starting with an ‘ing’ word, then follow that pattern for that heading level and for that section (e.g. Designing heading levels; Wording headings effectively).
• If you use a noun phrase, then continue to use noun phrases for that level and for that section (e.g. Design of heading levels; Effective wording of headings).
• You can change your heading style between levels, but you must be consistent at level 1 then in each section (i.e. all level 1 headings should follow the same pattern; each level 2 heading in a section should follow the same pattern.)

Correct punctuation for headings

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW AND APPLY PUNCTUATION RULES TO YOUR HEADINGS.

Headings can be single words or short phrases and DO NOT require a full stop unless you have used a question as a heading—a question mark is then required. The use of capital letters may follow either of the following approaches provided that you are consistent:

• Minimal capitalisation—only the first word of a title and any proper nouns and names are capitalised (e.g. Punctuation rules for Australian texts)
• Maximal capitalisation—all words are capitalised EXCEPT for articles (e.g. a, an, the), prepositions and conjunctions (e.g. Punctuation Rules for Australian Texts)

INTRODUCE THE TOPIC OF YOUR HEADING IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH FOLLOWING YOUR HEADING.

When you place a heading in the text, it is a signpost for a section of writing. You need to begin the following paragraph with a sentence that introduces the reader to the heading topic and then announce what will be coming in that section in the essay—just as you do in the essay introduction. A heading is not part of the text of your paragraph, so you should not refer to it with a pronoun reference (e.g. this, these, that).

This means that the wording of the heading matches the information of the following section. Do not make the heading part of the first sentence.

What NOT to do

There is much to learn from what is NOT wanted. Following are some of the common mistakes made in the use of headings in formal written work:

Click on the links to see more details.

• DO NOT use headings in smaller documents (i.e. less than a 1000 words)
• DO NOT use too many headings
• DO NOT change the style of heading levels midway through your writing (work out your system and stick to it)
• DO NOT number headings in an essay unless you are asked to
• DO NOT put headings on individual paragraphs (normally a heading applies to a number of paragraphs in a section)
• DO NOT leave a heading at the bottom of a page by itself (‘widowed’ heading)
• DO NOT ‘stack’ headings (e.g. a level 1 heading followed by a level 2 heading without any text in between)
• AVOID using ‘isolated/lone’ headings (e.g. using only one sub-heading with no other sub-headings of that type following)
• AVOID writing headings more than one line long
• AVOID using definite articles (e.g. a, an, the) to begin headings (e.g. ‘ An example problem’ should be ‘Example problem’)

Headings for essay planning

Designing a good headings system is also very helpful for setting up a plan for writing as you can quickly see whether you have included and balanced all of the parts of a question. Make sure your headings match the information you signal in the outline statement of your introduction paragraph.

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Incorporating Headings in Academic Essays and Papers

A consistent structure is a big thing when writing an academic essay or paper. The framework for writing an academic paper encompasses using headings and subheadings to divide the content into manageable chunks or sections.

When writing longer essays and research papers (10 pages and above), breaking the test into different but related sections might be helpful to avoid unnecessary strained transition sentences. 

The headings are the first thing the readers look at when reading the essay. They are akin to the headlines in a magazine or webpage. Subheadings are the additional subtopics or headings immediately after the main title or header. Headings are meant to grab the readers' attention, but the subheadings make them draw the readers deeper into the topic.

A subheading is a mini-headline given to a section or paragraph within the main text. They are often smaller than the main heading but larger than the paragraph text.

While headings can be used in most academic papers of different lengths (even those less than ten pages), subheadings are reserved for shorter sections within a larger section. If you have a paper with just three main points and the first point has three subpoints, you can use subheadings to organize the subpoints under the main point.

When used in an essay, research paper, or other longer papers, the headings and subheadings should be formatted such that they are distinguishable from the contents of your text.

Let's dig deeper and see how to make headings and subheadings in an essay.

Why Use Headings and Subheadings in Essays and Research Papers

Headings and subheadings capture the readers' attention, making it easier to sell your ideas to those who skim through written pieces first to determine whether it is worth their time.

Using headings and subheadings helps organize your thoughts. They enable readers to focus on the critical aspects of the essay or research paper. In an essay or research paper, each subheading is considered a mini-essay with thoughts limited to a specific element or perspective of the topic.

Using headings and subheadings informs your readers about where they are in the paper. Also, these subheadings act as signposts or directions that orient the readers to your thoughts in the paper.

The subheadings ensure that your thoughts are structured and that you remain focused on the topic within a limited area. For instance, if you are writing a mental health essay or research paper, you can have a subheading dealing with risk factors and another dealing with the impacts of stigma on mental health.

Subheadings also make the research process easier because you can organize your research around them. This way, you can approach your research systematically and limit its scope. You can then scrutinize and organize the scholarly resources rather than focus on the entire research pile.

Having subheadings in essays or research papers makes writing the paper easier. You can plan, draft, and polish each essay section independently. Doing so helps you to write the paper with ease. Consequently, you can fight off writer's block by putting points of argument under each subheading and organizing it later when you are psyched up to write.

Features of a Good Subheading for an Essay or Research Paper

In research writing, it is imperative to have a refined heading and subheading. We discussed how to do this when we wrote about titling an essay and other academic papers. However, certain features make a subheading or a heading stand out. A good subheading can be many things, but let's sample some of the outstanding features it must have. Here are some aspects that make an excellent subheading and heading:

• A good subheading is brief, concise, and focused. Shorter headings and subheadings give meaning and enhance the readability of a research paper or essay.
• It must have a line space between it and the content.
• It contains the keywords that relate to the thesis and topic, telling the reader precisely the main idea of the section's content.
• Its wording matches the rest of the subheadings and headings
• Can create a flow that summarizes the work independently at a glance
• Is ten words or less and refined to have meaning on its own
• It stands out from the rest of the text in terms of styling and formatting
• It engages the readers such that it gives clues about what to expect
• Uses signposting words to realign the interests of the readers
• Are they relevant to the text
• It uses parallel structures for consistency

How to Make Subheadings in An Essay or Paper

If you are like many students who wonder about how to integrate subheadings into an essay, this section clarifies everything. First, however, there are some crucial tips that you need to consider.

Remember, a subheading expands your heading and comes after the latter. While both hook the audience by grabbing their attention, the subheading enables your readers to delve deeper into the topic. Subheadings are used to divide an otherwise large chunk of paper into sections or chapters.

Subheadings are primarily written in sentence cases and should never be in capital letters. Therefore, you should capitalize the first letter of the subheading of your essay. This is unlike the heading in the title case, meaning that all the major words (nouns, adverbs, pronouns, and adjectives) and words with four or more letters have their first words capitalized. Subheadings subordinate the higher levels. To make a good subheading, here are the tips.

1. Choose the correct length

A good essay subheading should be easy to read. Precisely, it should take a few seconds to read. Our experts recommend keeping the subheading between 4 to 10 words, the standard length of subheadings in academic writing. Ensure as well that it fits a single line. If your subheading runs over, it will be ambiguous and might alter the structure of your essay or paper.

2. Limit the information

You only have a few words to impress your readers. Therefore, only bring in the most crucial information you want to use to bait your readers. Avoid examining every aspect and focus on one aspect of the topic. As long as you have aroused the reader's curiosity to explore your essay, that's it!

3. Maintain Consistency

When you use headings and subheadings in an essay or academic paper, ensure that each maintains the same level. You should not skip subheading levels. And if the first subheading is the only subheading, you are better off eliminating it and maintaining the heading. An excellent strategy to maintain this consistency is planning your essay, which you can do by creating an outline .

4. Number appropriately. It is a must

APA or MLA format does not allow you to label headings and subheadings with numbers or letters. However, there are some instances, such as when writing a dissertation or thesis, where you will most likely be required to use multilevel numbering for the headings and subheadings. Therefore, when you number the headings and subheadings, ensure that it is in a consistent format that you can later use when referring to them elsewhere, for instance, in a table of contents. Microsoft Word automates the process of numbering by choosing the heading styles.

5. Be persuasive

A good subheading should coax the readers to read the text. It should give them an appetite to devour your paper. And it should be persuasive because it does the work of signposting the ideas to expect in a subsection.

6. Ensure Progression

When writing the subheadings, ensure they each add new information to your text to avoid repetitive subheadings. It would be wise to ensure that each subheading addresses a unique aspect of the topic instead of echoing the previous subheadings discussed. As you edit your paper, guarantee that the subheadings progress and add new and relevant information to engage the readers.

7. Stay away from puns, contractions, and idioms

Although tempting, avoid using corny words, jokes, and puns in your subheadings. You should not use contractions as well. Introducing these aspects can make your subheadings and headings ambiguous, deterring the readers from reading the content.

8. Ensure they are relevant and engaging

As you write the subheadings, ensure that they are relevant to the content of your essay. Eliminate any irrelevant subheadings in your essay. Think about the vital information you must include and how you need to format it into a separate section. The strategy helps write subheadings that address your essay's real issues. The subheadings should also give the readers a clue of what to expect to grab their attention further.

9. Include Keywords and Phrases

When writing the subheadings, you should include relevant keywords and phrases that attract the readers' attention. In addition, the keywords and phrases should be related to your topic and thesis statement.

10. Format them well

If you are writing an academic paper (research paper or essay), ensure that your subheadings and headings are formatted per the citation and formatting styles. Later in this article, we look at how to format subheadings and headings in MLA and APA, which are the most common styles. You can also acquaint yourself with other academic writing styles such as Chicago, Vancouver, Oxford, Bluebook, or Harvard.

If you intend to write an A essay, consider reading our guide on writing first-class essays to integrate other factors that professors look for when assigning higher grades for essays.

Related Read:

• How to write an introduction .
• Using headings and subheadings in the dissertation literature review.

Headings and Subheadings in APA

In APA formatting and citation style, headings are used in essays and research papers to separate and classify paper sections. The headings are meant to guide the readers through the document. Headings and subheadings are organized in subordination levels, with each section of the paper starting with the highest heading level.

You can organize headings into five different levels in APA. However, it would help if you used the headings in order beginning from level 1, regardless of the number of heading levels.

Below is how to organize the levels:

• Heading 1 is bold, centered, and written in the title case. This can include the main elements of the paper, such as Literature Review , methods, conclusion, discussion, recommendations, etc.
• Heading 2 is flush left, in boldface, and written in title case. These are the headings directly under heading 1. So, for example, under methods (level 1), you can have subsections such as sampling strategy, data analysis, or data processing as level 2.
• Heading 3 is flush left, in boldface italics, and title case.
• Heading 4 is indented, in boldface, and written in title case.
• Heading 5 is indented, in boldface italics, and title case.

You can use at least two subheadings in APA or non at all. If there is just one subheading, the top-level heading is enough, so do away with it.

When writing a paper in APA , the first paragraph is automatically understood as the introduction. Therefore, there is no need to start with the heading "introduction." The paper's title, which is centered and bolded, becomes the de facto level 1 heading. If your introduction has subsections, you can use headings within the introduction beginning with level 2 headings for the first level subsection, level 3 for the subsections of level 2 headings, and so on. After writing the introduction, use the level 1 heading for the following main section of the paper. Headings should be descriptive and concise. They should be well-formatted and clearly worded for visual and content appeal.

Formatting Headings and Subheadings in APA

When writing headings and subheadings in APA, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• The headings in APA are never labeled with numbers or letters
• You should not use more than one subsection within a section
• Ensure that the APA headings and subheadings are descriptive and concise
• Use as many headings and subheadings as you may require
• Headings 3-5 should all be indented and terminated with a period.
• Headings levels 1 and 2 should be formatted in sentence cases.
• Ensure that the first word in the heading level 3-5 is capitalized.
• Begin a paragraph below levels 1 and 2. However, levels 2-5 begin in line with the headings.
• There should be double line spacing for the APA heading.

MLA headings and subheadings enhance a paper's coherence, soundness, and quality. Using the hierarchy of 5 heading levels in APA should be easier now that we have explained everything.

Headings and Subheadings in MLA

MLA headings are sometimes confused with the header. While the MLA heading is found on the first page and serves the purpose of identifying information, the header is the identifier located on top of every document page.

Using section headings in MLA help improve the readability of the document. Students are mainly not required to use headings when writing essays and papers.

Formatting Headings and Subheadings in MLA

• The font should be readable, most preferably Times New Roman or Arial
• Use double-line spacing
• Every new paragraph after the headings or subheadings should have a half an inch indent.
• All the headings and subheadings must be written in the title case
• You should not include a period after the MLA headings and subheadings
• The title is the main heading. It should be center-aligned and written in sentence case. It should never be italicized, bold, underlined, or put into quotation marks unless when referring to works within it.
• All headings that succeed the title of the document are subheadings.
• The subheadings have five different levels, just like in APA formatting.
• The subheadings are styled as per their order of prominence.

Unlike APA, MLA allows the use of font styling to differentiate the levels of the subheadings. However, the styling of the subheadings should be consistent so that the readers can follow the structure of the essay or paper.

Every subheading should appear in the same size, format, and style for easier identification as one reads your text. The subheadings in MLA papers or essays should flush to the left margin to avoid confusing them with block quotes. Avoid online one level for the internal levels. For instance, if you have a level between 1 and 5, you should ensure that there is more than one instance. If you have one level 2 subheading, ensure that you also have a second level 2 subheading. Above all, every heading and subheading must have content or text beneath them. The content should support the thesis statement of your paper.

Related reading:

• Writing case study answers for business and nursing classes . 
• Analytical essay writing steps and tips. 

Levels of subheadings in MLA formatting

• Level 1 is bold, flush, or aligned with the left margin
• Level 2 is italicized, flush, or aligned with the left margin
• Level 3 is bold and center-aligned
• Level 4 is italicized and center-aligned
• Level 5 is underlined, flush, or aligned with the left margin

Ensure you use the correct subheading level to help you navigate through your essay or paper. It also helps to know what to be added to the automatic table of contents. Use the subheadings as illustrated below:

• Subheading 1 for the first subsection after the chapter title
• Subheading 2 for the subsections that are directly under Subheading 1
• Subheading 3 for the subsections that are directly under Subheading 2
• Subheading 4 for the subsections that are directly under Subheading 3
• Subheading 5 for the subsections that are directly under Subheading 4

Take some time and watch this video by Dr. Andy Jonson illustrates how to use headings and subheadings in academic writing.

Below are some sample questions, expert answers, and recommendations for essay subheadings and headings.

Should essays have subheadings?

Although shorter essays are written in continuous, flowing, and paragraphed texts and do not need subheadings, longer essays are carefully structured using headings and subheadings.

An essay or research paper can have headings and subheadings (subtopics) if it is long enough to accommodate different sections. Nevertheless, when writing the headings and subheadings, they should be relevant and consistent with the topic and contribute to the overarching goal of the essay or research paper (the thesis statement). A good length for a heading or subheading should be ten words or less. While standard essays do not use subheadings, they assuredly improve the structure of extended essays.

Subheadings subordinate the headings (the title of the essay). They should be persuasive, descriptive, and conversational. They should elaborate on what is in the headline and capture the importance of the topic. Maintain consistency when writing them.

Can introductions have subheadings?

For short papers, no. However, you can include sub-sections for longer papers with appropriate headings and subheadings. For instance, when writing a proposal, dissertation, or thesis, you can have sections and subsections for the problem statement, background information, research questions, hypothesis, aims/objectives, and paper overview.

Can a conclusion have a subheading?

You should not include subheadings in the concluding paragraphs of an essay unless for more extended research papers.

Can subheadings in essays be questions?

No, section headings and subheadings must not be phrased as questions in MLA, APA, or Harvard formatting styles.

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APA Headings and Seriation

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This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

APA Style uses a unique headings system to separate and classify paper sections. Headings are used to help guide the reader through a document. The levels are organized by levels of subordination, and each section of the paper should start with the highest level of heading. There are 5  heading levels  in APA. Regardless of the number of levels, always use the headings in order, beginning with level 1. The format of each level is illustrated below:

Thus, if the article has four sections, some of which have subsections and some of which don’t, use headings depending on the level of subordination. Section headings receive level one format. Subsections receive level two format. Subsections of subsections receive level three format. For example:

Method  (Level 1)

Site of Study  (Level 2)

Participant Population  (Level 2)

Teachers  (Level 3)

Students  (Level 3)

Results  (Level 1)

Spatial Ability  (Level 2)

Test One  (Level 3)

     Teachers With Experience.  (Level 4)

     Teachers in Training.  (Level 4)

     Teaching Assistants .  (Level 5)

Test Two  (Level 3)

Kinesthetic Ability  (Level 2)

In APA Style, the Introduction section never gets a heading and headings are not indicated by letters or numbers. For subsections in the beginning of a paper (introduction section), the first level of subsection will use Level 2 headings — the title of the paper counts as the Level 1 heading. Levels of headings will depend upon the length and organization of your paper. Regardless, always begin with level one headings and proceed to level two, etc.

Special headings called section labels are used for certain sections of a paper which always start on a new page.

• Paper title
• Appendix A (and so on for subsequent appendices)

These labels should be positioned on their own line at the top of the page where the section starts, in bold and centered. 

APA also allows for seriation in the body text to help authors organize and present key ideas. For lists where a specific order or numbered procedure is necessary, use an Arabic numeral directly followed by a period, such as:

On the basis of four generations of usability testing on the Purdue OWL, the Purdue OWL Usability Team recommended the following:

• Move the navigation bar from the right to the left side of the OWL pages.
• Integrate branded graphics (the Writing Lab and OWL logos) into the text on the OWL homepage.
• Add a search box to every page of the OWL.
• Develop an OWL site map.
• Develop a three-tiered navigation system.

Numbered lists should contain full sentences or paragraphs rather than phrases. The first word after each number should be capitalized, as well as the first word in any following sentence; each sentence should end with a period or other punctuation.

For lists that do not communicate hierarchical order or chronology, use bullets:

In general, participants found the user-centered OWL mock up to be easier to use. What follows are samples of participants' responses:

• "This version is easier to use."
• "Version two seems better organized."
• "It took me a few minutes to learn how to use this version, but after that, I felt more comfortable with it."

Authors may also use seriation for paragraph length text.

For seriation within sentences, authors may use letters:

On the basis of research conducted by the usability team, OWL staff have completed (a) the OWL site map; (b) integrating graphics with text on the OWL homepage; (c) search boxes on all OWL pages except the orange OWL resources (that is pending; we do have a search page); (d) moving the navigation bar to the left side of pages on all OWL resources except in the orange area (that is pending); (e) piloting the first phase of the three-tiered navigation system, as illustrated in the new Engagement section.

Authors may also separate points with bullet lists:

On the basis of the research conducted by the usability team, OWL staff have completed

• the OWL site map;
• integrating graphics with text on the OWL homepage;
• search boxes on all OWL pages except the orange OWL resources (that is pending; we do have a search page);
• moving the navigation bar to the left side of pages on all OWL resources except in the orange area (that is pending);
• piloting the first phase of the three-tiered navigation system, as illustrated in the new Engagement section.

If your bulleted list is part of the sentence and is not preceded by a colon, treat the bullets like a part of the sentence, adhering to standard capitalization and punctuation. This option is helpful for complex or longer bulleted sentences that may be more difficult to read without the aid of punctuation. For items in a bulleted list that are phrases rather than sentences, no punctuation is necessary.

• Writing Tips

What Is a Subheading? (And How to Write a Good One)

• By  Emily Numa
• Dec 20, 2023

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If you’re a freelance content writer (or want to become one ), then you already know the importance of eye-catching titles . But did you know that subheadings can be just as valuable in capturing the attention of potential readers and organizing your writing? In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about subheadings and why they matter, including:

• What is a subheading?
• What is the purpose of a subheading?
• How to write subheadings
• Examples of effective subheadings
• How Knowadays can help you improve your writing skills and launch a freelance career

Keep reading to learn more!

What Is a Subheading?

A subheading is a secondary heading that appears under a headline or title and is used to provide context for a distinct section within an article or expand on information given under the main heading. Think of a subheading as a brief preview or summary of the content that follows, giving readers an idea of what to expect in each section of an article.

Header tags , HTML elements used to define the heading hierarchy within a blog post or article, are often used with titles and subheadings to help structure the content and help search engines understand the relevance of different sections of the text. In HTML, there are six header tags, ranging from <h1> to <h6>, with <h1> being the highest level of importance and <h6> the lowest. Typically, the <h1> tag is used for the main heading of a blog post or article, <h2> and <h3> are used for important subheadings, and <h4>, <h5>, and <h6> are lower-level tags used to further break down the content within subsections of text. Note that not all header tags will be used in every piece of content (although most blog posts and articles will at least use <h1> for the main title and a combination of <h2> and <h3> tags to organize the subheadings).

What Is the Purpose of a Subheading?

Subheadings are valuable to the overall structure of a blog post and serve several essential purposes. They’re used to:

• Organize writing into logical sections, which makes it easier for readers to follow the flow of ideas (especially for long or complex pieces)
• Let readers know what to expect from a section of text
• Establish a hierarchy within the content and indicate the relationship among different sections
• Improve readability and scannability (e.g., for skim readers or mobile users)

Another purpose of subheadings is to improve SEO . Search engines prioritize content that is easy to read and understand, so well-structured content with clear subheadings can improve a website’s ranking on results pages. Subheadings also usually include relevant keywords and phrases, which play a role in boosting SEO and driving website traffic.

How to Write Subheadings

To write subheadings that make an impact and engage your readers, consider the following points:

1. Make Subheadings Relevant

Remember that some readers may only read the subheadings to get the main ideas of the article, so ensure they’re relevant and reflect the main content. Sometimes it can help to write the main content of the article first and then use that information to craft the subheadings.

2. Use Keywords and Phrases

Incorporate relevant keywords into your subheadings, especially if you’re aiming to improve your article’s visibility in search engines. Keep in mind that keywords should always read as smoothly as possible and fit well into the surrounding text (i.e., avoid keyword stuffing ).

3. Keep It Concise

Keep subheadings short and to the point. To keep readers from losing interest, aim for brevity while conveying the main idea of each section.

4. Consider the Heading Hierarchy

It’s essential to maintain a logical hierarchy with subheadings to avoid confusing your readers. Each subheading should build upon the previous one to create a clear and organized structure.

5. Maintain Consistency

For consistency, aim to make your subheadings similar in length whenever possible. You should also ensure that all headings and subheadings within a section follow a parallel structure and recognizable pattern. For example, use consistent verb forms (e.g., all gerunds or all infinitives) and capitalization for a series of subheadings.

Subheading Examples

As inspiration for your own writing, here are some examples of different types of blog posts that effectively incorporate subheadings:

• This HubSpot blog post on sales techniques utilizes a logical heading hierarchy and parallel structure, making it easy to quickly skim the content and pick out the main ideas.
• The subheadings used in the travel website uncornered market’s blog post clearly explain the content that follows and help organize the article.
• In this Mailchimp blog post on improving freelance pitches, each subheading serves as a “tip” for the reader, which makes it easy for readers who are short on time to process the conte
• This Shopify blog post on woodworking uses concise subheadings to clearly indicate the type of project that each section discusses.
• Microsoft’s article on their diversity and inclusion efforts effectively uses subheadings to break up different (but related) topics within a lengthy piece.

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Business writing essentials

The secrets of effective subheadings

Catie holdridge.

2 minute read + 3 minute watch

It’s easy to treat subheadings as a token afterthought once you’ve gone through the hard work of actually writing your document.

But it’s worth paying more attention to them than that. They can be an effective tool in drawing your reader in to your full text or helping them find your most important points.

Want to find out how?

Watch the video

Video transcript.

Can’t watch the video now? Here’s the transcript:

Guide the way with subheading signposts

You know how it is.

You’ve written your document. Now you want people to read it (or what was the point?).

You probably know no one wants to look at a big block of text, so you break it up.

Good start. But that’s not enough, is it?

No, you also need ‘signposts’ – like subheadings.

Well, that looks better already.

And subheadings don’t just help your writing look good and your documents more inviting. They can work much harder than that. More on that in a minute.

But first, a word of warning.

Far too often, people write subheadings like these:

Background Our experience Recommendations

Background: What does that tell you about what’s coming? Not much. Our experience: Is that specific? Not really. Recommendations: Are you engaged by this?

Do you want to follow these signposts? Probably not.

If you’re trying to find your way in the world, a signpost will be no help at all if it doesn’t actually tell you what it’s pointing to.

And, just like signposts you’d follow to get somewhere, your subheadings have to be specific. They have to tell your reader exactly what’s ahead, to help them get where they need to go.

Even better if your subheading signposts make the reader want to go there.

For example:

Background ➜ What you told us Our experience ➜ 40 years in the business Recommendations ➜ How we’ll meet your aims

So, what techniques can you use to inspire subheadings that not only draw your reader in but also lead them through your document?

Well, remember: well-written subheadings can make your reader want to … dive in. So try some of these techniques.

D irect I nterest V erbs E voke curiosity with a question

I nsight (to expand on) N umbers

P lay on words (if appropriate) S hort (ish)

Make sure your subheadings are direct and to the point. ‘Corporation tax rate reduced’

Say something that will be of interest to the reader. ‘How to expand our customer base’

Try using verbs – remember, those are the ‘doing’ and ‘being’ words. Doing so sounds dynamic and might even encourage action in some cases. ‘Industry achieves positive change’

Evoke curiosity with a question. ‘Ready for the low-carbon future?’

Give an insight that you’ll expand on in the following section. ‘Real estate to outperform’

Try including a number – a technique often used online, which lets your reader know exactly how much information to expect. ‘Five ways to combat climate change’

And there’s a PS …

You can use a play on words – but only if you think it’s appropriate to the tone of your document and the intended reader. ‘Face the storm with catastrophe bonds’

And finally: remember to keep your subheadings short … ish. They should be long enough to be meaningful but short enough to be understood and absorbed quickly.

So, try some of these techniques for signposting your next document and see how far it takes you.

Subheadings in summary

Remember, the best subheadings will read like an overview of your document – but they should also be compelling enough to encourage readers to dive in to the main copy. If you write online content, like blog posts, remember that website visitors do tend to skim-read a page before deciding whether to stay on it. The right subheadings could help tip the balance in your favour.

Help your readers navigate

In an ideal world, your documents and emails would never be skim-read. But, realistically, some of your time-pressed colleagues or clients will have to do just that. In which case, well-chosen subheadings will at least give them a summary and help them quickly find the most relevant parts.

Find your route

Subheadings can also help you with your writing process: try coming up with them as part of the planning stage before you write the body of the document, when you’re deciding the structure. Or, if you prefer, you could read through the ‘summary’ your subheads make after you’ve finished the document to double-check its structure: did you pick the best ‘route’? You can then adjust the order if necessary (but don’t forget to make sure the text still flows logically).

Keep it appropriate

Just like anything else you write, judge the suitability of your subheadings against the tone of the document and what you know about the reader.

This post is taken from a lesson in our e-learning programme The complete business writer , which improves your writing (or your team’s) in practical, bite-sized lessons. You can find out more about the e-learning and demo two lessons here .

Image credit: Brenda Carson / Shutterstock

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Catie joined Emphasis with an English literature and creative writing degree and a keen interest in what makes language work. Having researched, written, commissioned and edited dozens of articles for the Emphasis blog, she now knows more about the intricacies of effective professional writing than she ever thought possible. She produced and co-wrote our online training programme, The Complete Business Writer , and these days oversees all the Emphasis marketing efforts. And she keeps office repartee at a suitably literary level.

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How to Write Subheadings and why they’re Important

The headline has grabbed your reader’s attention .

The opening  first sentence keeps it.

So far, so good! But now they’re just going to scroll down the page and see if anything else captures their attention.

The sad truth is only about  10% of readers are going to read every word your write . That’s the typical behavior of your average web reader.

That’s where subheadings come in. They pull your reader up to take notice.

So, it goes without saying that you need to know how to write subheadings to get your reader to read, rather than scan, what you’ve written.

What is a subheading and why they’re important

A subheading, or subhead, are mini-headlines and play a huge role in capturing and holding the scanners attention.

It also keeps them moving down the page from one subhead to the next.

Subheadings are smaller in size than the main headline but larger than the text of your article.

They’re meant to stand out.

The main purpose of subheadings are:

• They stand out because of their size and attract attention.
• The scanner will stop to read them and continue scanning until the next subhead which they’ll then read.
• Scanning from subhead to subhead, they serve to guide the reader down the page.
• A subheading that looks interesting will get the scanner to read that section, and so on.

Reading behavior of the scanner

What the scanner is doing is evaluating whether they want to invest their time into reading your article.

Think of subheadings as being like hooks. They’re the hooks that get the scanner to stop, look and read.

The subheadings should also serve to summarize your article. That way the scanner is able to read and feel the flow of the story by your subheads.

In other words, the subheadings should give the reader a quick and easy guide to see what’s going on with your article.

How to write subheadings that captivate

Creating a subheading follows the same principles as writing a headline  using the Four U’s Formula.

The subheading would ideally be:

• Useful – it shows a promise and a benefit to the reader.
• Unique – it contains a fact or opinion your reader may not be aware of.
• Ultra-specific – this makes a subheading stand out and demand attention.
• Urgent – urgency gets your reader to take notice and action.

But that’s a lot of things to put into a subheading, particularly if it needs to be short.

So, try to include the most important, which are Useful and Unique .

Just like writing headlines, you want your subheading to show a benefit , to allure and entice your reader to take notice. They also need to be descriptive about what you’re writing .

Also, like the heading, the shorter your subhead the better. Some say 8 words or less so long as it’s descriptive.

Structuring the subheadings on your page

There are no hard and fast rules, but the following will serve as a guideline:

• If the headline is the premise, then the subheadings are the tips.
• Your first subheading should be your best, the most intriguing, the one with the biggest bang.
• The shorter the subhead the better.
• Subheadings break your article up into readable and sequential sections.
• Subheadings need to have rhythm and consistency, which helps the reader move down the page from one subhead to the next subhead.
• Consistency is the natural rhythm or flow between the subheads. You want to be consistent with a step one, step two, step three, step four type approach.

Subheadings serve to summarize your article by breaking it up into readable sections.

The content below each subhead is distinct, yet there is a natural flow from one subhead to the next.

This allows for the person who’s scanning to get a quick and easy guide to see what’s going on with your article and, if of interest, to stop, look and read.

How to write subheadings follows the same principle as those for crafting a headline. Importantly you want them to be descriptive, show a benefit for your reader, and be short.

For me, the major benefit of subheads is they make reading so much easier .

About Mark Crosling

Mark Crosling founded Strategic Content, a content marketing agency specializing in premium AI-generated long-form blog content for tech and startup companies. Mark is a content marketer and SaaS copywriter with over ten years of experience in online marketing.

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Subheadings Writing Guide: Overview, Benefits & Tips

Table of Contents

An essential part of writing is the order in which key thoughts are labeled. Key points are often labeled with subheadings, which indicate how they differ from the surrounding text. Properly written subheadings can make content more organized, improve readability and increase reader retention. What are subheadings?

Subheadings are phrases that provide relevant information about a central topic. They typically contain key points that give the readers a preview of what to expect in the upcoming text.

If you’re asking the question: what are subheadings ? This guide is for you. We’ll discuss what they are, their importance, and tips for crafting winning subheadings.

What are Subheadings?

What are subheadings? Subheadings are mini-headlines that are strategically placed within a text. They’re typically used in written texts to break content into manageable and understandable sections for readers. They’re an easy way to make content more focused and organized, draw connections between ideas, and enable readers to understand what is to follow.

Headings are major titles, while subheadings are minor and more specific titles in each section. They’re typically written in H2 or H3 text to reflect their nature and stand out.

Subheadings allow readers to view content more clearly and less overwhelmingly. With a subheading, a reader learns what to expect before moving on to the content.

Where to Use Subheadings

Subheadings are commonly used in blog posts, articles, formal reports, and email newsletters. For example, an article about how to get a perfect complexion might include subheadings on beauty tips. Subheadings are typically written with keywords to create curiosity and persuade readers to read the whole piece.

There are usually three categories of subheadings.

• H2. The H2s are the first level of the subheading and the main outline points or headers for each main section of your piece. 
• H3:  The H3s are the subsections of the main H2 points.
• H4:  These are more detailed subheadings that break the content into more specific sections. 

Importance of Using Subheadings

Subheadings aim to grab the reader’s attention. They’re meant to stand out and guide the reader through the document at hand. They also break up the text and make it easier to digest information. It’s easy to follow and figure out information from an article when it’s broken up into subheadings.

Subheadings are essential for several purposes. They:

1. Improve content organization

When you use specific subheadings, you give readers an understanding of how the content will flow. With subheadings, readers can prioritize content quickly and move on to the most critical points.

The presence of adequately written subheadings helps readers avoid looking too hard and focus on what matters most.

2. Increase reader retention

Subheadings help organize your thoughts and make it easier for your reader to follow the storyline. This can benefit the reader who wants to skim the piece without reading every word.

With proper subheadings that include relevant keywords, you can create curiosity and persuade the reader to engage with the content till the end.

3. Strengthen readability

Compelling subheadings strengthen readability and improve the reading experience. While reading online content in a browser, one may need to scan the long blocks of text.

It can get overwhelming if there are no subheadings to break this text. By using subheadings, your reader can better process the pieces of text that fall beneath them.

How to Write Subheadings that Hook Readers

Here are some tips for writing subheadings that interest readers.

1. Write relevant subheadings.

When writing subheadings, it’s essential to keep in mind the message you’re trying to convey. Your subheadings should be relevant to the content that follows them. For instance, a subheading about why you love pancakes may not be suitable if you’re writing a blog post on how to make pancakes.

You don’t want to confuse and further complicate issues for your readers, so stick to what is relevant. Think of the information you must include and how to separate them into sections.

3. Make them engaging.

Your readers will stop reading if they find your subheadings boring, so make them fascinating. Whether it means showcasing interesting keywords or shocking the reader with unexpected phrases that create curiosity and make them want to read on.

However, avoid clickbaits that have nothing to do with the following text. Provide clues about what they’ll read next while using attention-grabbing languages.

3. Include keywords and phrases.

Keywords and phrases help grab a reader’s attention by being specific—without giving spoilers. For instance, if you’re writing an article about eating healthy, you might include keywords like “recipe” or “diet” in your subheadings. Key phrases like “the best recipes” and “how to eat healthily” might be relevant to your content.

To determine what keywords are relevant to your content, you might want to look at search results about your topic. This way, you’ll see what words and phrases make it easier for search engine optimization.

4. Use parallel structures.

Make sure the keywords and phrases in your subheadings are parallel. For subheadings where you make a list of information, ensure to keep them consistent.

If you begin a subheading with an action verb, follow through with it. Having parallel subheadings can make your piece flow uniquely and provide readers with a consistent reading style.

For instance, the subheadings below about the steps for making pancake begin with action verbs and are parallel.

• Grab your ingredients
• Review the recipe
• Mix the ingredients
• Add oil to a pan
• Pour the batter into the pan

Other Tips for Writing Effective Subheadings

• Be concise – the shorter, the better.
• Avoid puns – jokes don’t work as subheadings.
• Provide urgency – give your reader a reason to engage with your content.
• Use precise language – overly-complicated words or vocabulary can be hard to understand.

There are many reasons why you should learn the right way to create subheadings. Subheadings make your piece more organized , increasing reader retention and strengthening readability.

Start by writing subheadings that are relevant to your article. Also, make them engaging to hook your readers. This guide answered the question: What are subheadings, including tips on how to write winning subheadings – now it’s time to get going.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Formatting Research Paper Headings and Subheadings

Different style guides have different rules regarding the formatting of headings and subheadings in a paper, but what information you should actually put into your subheadings is a different question and often up to personal taste. Here we quickly summarize general guidelines, different approaches, and what not to do when choosing headings for a research paper.

Does it matter how I name my sections and subsections?

The main sections of a research paper have general headers and are often journal-specific, but some (e.g., the methods and discussion section) can really benefit from subsections with clear and informative headers. The things to keep in mind are thus the general style your paper is supposed to follow (e.g., APA, MLA), the specific guidelines the journal you want to submit to lists in their author instructions , and your personal style (e.g., how much information you want the reader to get from just reading your subsection headers). 

Table of Contents:

• Style Guides: Rules on Headings and Subheadings
• What Sections and Subsections Do You Need? 
• How Should You Name Your Sections and Subsections?
• Avoid These Common Mistakes

Style Guides: Research Paper Heading and Subheading Format

Headers identify the content within the different sections of your paper and should be as descriptive and concise as possible. That is why the main sections of research articles always have the same or very similar headers ( Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion ), with no or only small differences between journals. However, you also need to divide the content of some of these sections (e.g., the method section) into smaller subsections (e.g., Participants, Experimental Design, and Statistical Analysis ), and make sure you follow specific journal formatting styles when doing so. 

If the journal you submit to follows APA style , for example, you are allowed to use up to five levels of headings, depending on the length of your paper, the complexity of your work, and your personal preference. To clearly indicate how each subsection fits into the rest of the text, every header level has a different format – but note that headers are usually not numbered because the different formatting already reflects the text hierarchy.

APA style headings example structure

Level 1 Centered, Bold, Title Case

Text begins as a new paragraph.

Level 2 Left-aligned, Bold, Title Case

Level 3 Left-aligned, Bold Italic, Title Case

Level 4     Indented, Bold, Title Case, Period . Text begins on the same                    

                                 line and continues as a regular paragraph.

Level 5     Indented, Bold Italic, Title Case, Period. Text begins on the                           

                                 same line and continues as a regular paragraph.

If you only need one section header (e.g. Methods ) and one level of subsection headers (e.g., Participants, Experimental Design, and Statistical Analysis ), use Level 1 and Level 2 headers. If you need three levels of headings, use Levels 1, 2, and 3 (and so on). Do not skip levels or combine them in a different way. 

If you write a paper in Chicago style or MLA style , then you don’t need to follow such exact rules for headings and subheadings. Your structure just has to be consistent with the general formatting guidelines of both styles (12-pts Times New Roman font, double-spaced text, 0.5-inch indentation for every new paragraph) and consistent throughout your paper. Make sure the different formatting levels indicate a hierarchy (e.g., boldface for level 1 and italics for level 2, or a larger font size for level 1 and smaller font size for level 2). The main specifics regarding Chicago and MLA headings and subheadings are that they should be written in title case (major words capitalized, most minor words lowercase) and not end in a period. Both styles allow you, however, to number your sections and subsections, for example with an Arabic number and a period, followed by a space and then the section name. 

MLA paper headings example structure

1. Introduction

2. Material and Methods

2.1 Subject Recruitment

2.2 Experimental Procedure

2.3 Statistical Analysis

3.1 Experiment 1

3.2 Experiment 2

4. Discussion

5. Conclusion

What research paper headings do you need?

Your paper obviously needs to contain the main sections ( Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and maybe Conclusion ) and you need to make sure that you name them according to the target journal style (have a look at the author guidelines if you are unsure what the journal style is). The differences between journals are subtle, but some want you to combine the results and discussion sections, for example, while others don’t want you to have a separate conclusion section. You also need to check whether the target journal has specific rules on subsections (or no subsections) within these main sections. The introduction section should usually not be subdivided (but some journals do not mind), while the method section, for example, always needs to have clear subsections.

How to Name Your Sections and Subsections

The method section subheadings should be short and descriptive, but how you subdivide this section depends on the structure you choose to present your work – which can be chronological (e.g., Experiment 1, Experiment 2 ) or follow your main topics (e.g., Visual Experiment, Behavioral Experiment, Questionnaire ). Have a look at this article on how to write the methods for a research paper if you need input on what the best structure for your work is. The method subheadings should only be keywords that tell the reader what information is following, not summaries or conclusions. That means that “ Subject Recruitment ” is a good methods section subheading, but “ Subjects Were Screened Using Questionnaires ” is not.  

The subheadings for the result section should then follow the general structure of your method section, but here you can choose what information you want to put in every subheading. Some authors keep it simple and just subdivide their result section into experiments or measures like the method section, but others use the headings to summarize their findings so that the reader is prepared for the details that follow. You could, for example, simply name your subsections “ Anxiety Levels ” and “ Social Behavior ,” if those are the measures you studied and explained in the method section. 

Or, you could provide the reader with a glimpse into the results of the analyses you are going to describe, and instead name these subsections “ Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Mutant Mice ” and “ Normal Social Behaviors in Mutant Mice .” While keeping headings short and simple is always a good idea, such mini-summaries can make your result section much clearer and easier to follow. Just make sure that the target journal you want to submit to does not have a rule against that. 

Common Heading and Subheading Mistakes 

Subheadings are not sentences.

If your heading reads like a full sentence, then you can most probably omit the verb or generally rephrase to shorten it. That also means a heading should not contain punctuation except maybe colons or question marks – definitely don’t put a period at the end, except when you have reached heading level 4 in the APA formatting style (see above) and the rules say so.  

Be consistent

Always check your numbering, for example for spaces and periods before and after numbers (e.g., 3.2. vs 3.2 ), because readability depends on such features. But also make sure that your headings are consistent in structure and content: Switching between short keyword headings (e.g., “ Experiment 2 ”) and summary headings (e.g., “ Mice Do not Recognize People ”) is confusing and never a good idea. Ideally, subheadings within a section all have a similar structure. If your first subsection is called “ Mice Do not Recognize People ,” then “ People Do not Recognize Mice” is a better subheader for the next subsection than “Do People Recognize Mice? ”, because consistency is more important in a research paper than creativity. 

Don’t overdo it

Not every paragraph or every argument needs a subheading. Only use subheadings within a bigger section if you have more than one point to make per heading level, and if subdividing the section really makes the structure clearer overall.

Before submitting your journal manuscript to academic publishers, be sure to get English editing services , including manuscript editing or paper editing from a trusted source. And receive instant proofreading with Wordvice AI, our AI online text editor , which provides unlimited editing while drafting your research work.

The Power of Headings & Subheadings: Tips to Improve Your Writing

In content writing, crafting an engaging and well-structured piece is only half the battle. The real trick lies in making your work visually appealing and easy to navigate, ensuring readers can quickly locate the information they seek. This is where mastering the power of headings and subheadings can dramatically elevate your content’s impact. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore effective tips for creating headings and subheadings that improve readability and enhance your articles’ overall organization. So let’s dive deep into this essential writing skill, touching upon everything from APA heading styles to best practices for formatting head-turners.

What are Headings and Subheadings?

Headings are titles or phrases that break down a document or article into organized sections or topics. They provide structure by dividing content according to subject matter or theme while serving as cues for readers looking for specific information.

Subheadings are smaller divisions within those larger sections marked by headings. By offering deeper segmentation of the material, subheadings make it easier for readers to skim through an article quickly without needing to read every word on the page when attempting to answer their questions.

In essence, headings and subheadings work as signposts throughout your written work – guiding users toward particular points of interest within an otherwise dense text grouping. You can also think of them as section labels.

To better understand how these elements fit together in practice, consider examining great examples like:

• Headings:  Bolded section titles in newspapers or chapters in books
• Subheadings:  Descriptive captions under images or lists inside long-form articles

These distinctions enable authors (like you!) to keep their ideas organized while giving readers valuable cues about each segment.

Why are Headings and Subheadings Important?

Headings and subheadings are crucial in enhancing the readability and organization of written content. They serve multiple purposes, primarily guiding the reader through your work. Some key reasons explaining the importance of headings and subheadings are:

Structuring Your Content

Incorporating headers and subheaders facilitates structuring your article into logical sections, making it easy for readers to follow your line of thought. By breaking down your piece into smaller segments, you ensure that the audience clearly understands each aspect without getting overwhelmed.

Enhancing Readability

Including headings and subheadings improve readability by clearly signaling transitions between topics, thus helping readers navigate smoothly through the content. Furthermore, they aid in maintaining interest as well-formatted articles with properly separated sections create visually appealing work that encourages continued reading.

Boosting SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

From an online perspective, using headings and subheadings can significantly contribute to your article’s search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines prioritize pages with well-structured content, employing informative headers containing relevant keywords over others lacking this feature. Consequently, including these elements increases visibility on search engine results pages, driving more organic traffic to your site.

Aiding Readers’ Retention

Headings serve as visual cues that assist readers in processing information swiftly while staying focused on critical points in your text. Additionally, the appropriate use of headers aids reader retention; when people can quickly access specific sections containing pertinent details within an article or blog post, they will be more likely to remember those details later.

Catering to Skimmers

Many individuals skim through content instead of thoroughly reading it word-for-word. Properly formatted headings emphasize vital concepts discussed throughout any piece—an academic paper or a blog post—enabling skimmers to grasp the main ideas without reading every new paragraph.

Factors to Consider When Creating Headings

Creating successful headings involves much more than simply identifying topics; it requires careful consideration of several factors since they function as roadmaps for your readers’ journey through your piece. Here are a few essential aspects:

• Understandability: The backbone role of any header is to look after your content’s readability by breaking it down into digestible parts. So, prioritizing clarity should be foremost.
• Relevance : Each heading must directly correlate with its associated text block. If users click on a header expecting specific information, ensure that’s precisely what they get.
• Brevity : Remember this mantra – short enough to catch attention but long enough to encapsulate relevance.
• Consistency : Stick rigorously to one style throughout the article; varying formats might confuse readers about the text hierarchy.
• SEO-consciousness : Incorporate keywords into headers correctly for SEO ranking benefits—but not at the cost of undermining reader comfort.

Indeed, creating impactful headers isn’t simply an act—it’s an art that demands precision and practice that we will delve deeper into in the following sections.

Types of Headings and Subheadings

Before plunging into writing, one crucial element you must comprehend is the different types of headings that constitute a significant aspect of your content layout. When crafting an article or blog post, three types of headers come into play: Main headings, subheadings, and section headings.

Main Headings

Main headings (commonly known as H1 tags in digital print) serve as the title of your work. They’re responsible for communicating what your entire piece is about at a glance. Typically bold and larger than other text elements on the page, they should clearly echo the topic handled in your content.

For instance, if I were crafting a comprehensive guide about cooking basics targeted at novices, my main heading could be “Mastering Culinary Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners.” It’s concise yet descriptive enough to give readers valuable insights into what they’ll gain from perusing my article.

Subheadings

While main headings offer a broad idea of your subject matter, what is a subheading? It narrows down and organizes specific sections within this umbrella topic you’re discussing. Notably labeled as H2 or H3 tags in blog/article formatting interfaces, these findings you present after thorough exploration under chunky waters beneath the surface.

Consider them as subdivisions within your primary theme; each handles specific arguments or ideas related to it. For example, using our above “Culinary Basics” storyline, suitable subheadings would be “Understanding Your Kitchen Equipment,” “Exploring Basic Food Preparation Techniques,” or “Must-know Cooking Terms.”

Section Headings

Finally, we have section headings – essentially bridges between main titles and their designated subsections. They assume vital responsibility by offering further granularity along our reader’s journey through our written masterpiece. Assume that under your “Understanding Your Kitchen Equipment” category (a 

Section headings come into play – each could focus on a specific gadget like “Mastering the Art of Using an Oven,” “The Miraculous Whisk: More Than Just An Egg Beater,” etc. Hence, they provide structure, enhancing readability by guiding readers smoothly from point A to B while not losing sight of our central theme.

Understanding these distinctions in headings and subheadings hierarchy provides clarity as it directs your writing flow, defining how your points interrelate, thus reinforcing coherence and logic in your discussion.

Best Practices on how to write Subheadings and Headings

Learning the art of crafting riveting headings and subheadings can vastly improve your content’s readability, navigation, and SEO performance. Following are some best practices to help you master this skill.

Capturing Reader Attention with Compelling Subheadings

The true power of a captivating subheading lies in its ability to draw readers into the heart of your content. In essence, compelling subheadings serve as mini headlines – they should be engaging informative, and establish an intriguing promise for what’s yet to come. Especially in digital platforms where users scan through pages, persuasive subheadings ensure a better user engagement rate, fearing less about bouncing off from installing intrigue into their minds.

Avoid clickbait : While catchy titles might attract quick attention from readers or potential visitors, refrain from producing deceptive titles that may mislead users about what they are clicking into – providing disillusionment might cost you credibility.

Adding Variation and Creativity to Subheadings to Enhance the Overall Flow of the Content

Incorporating creativity into your subheadings not only lends an element of surprise but significantly improves the flow of your content. A little playfulness or unexpectedness can break the monotony while maintaining reader interest. It’s like being on an unpredictable journey, holding their attention until they reach their destination: the end of your article.

Using Subheadings to Break Up Large Chunks of Text and Improve Readability

Chunking down intimidating walls of text by strategically placing subheaders can drastically improve such segments’ readability quotient. Brevity allows readers’ eyes – weary from screen glare – to repose periods within dense sections while enhancing comprehension by categorizing information concisely under respective subdivisions.

Choosing Clear and Descriptive Headings

Ensuring your headings accurately depict what follows is vital. Readers want clarity; they appreciate knowing immediately whether the provided details will satisfy their inquiry without needing poetic decipherment skills. This clear, descriptive style also aids search engines in understanding page context—supporting SEO benefits apart from user-friendliness.

Formatting and Styling Headings for Readability

Proper formatting is non-negotiable when aiming to amplify readability. As a rule of thumb, headers and subheaders should stand out in your text – which could be achieved through font size, bolding, or color variations. This visual hierarchy leads readers smoothly through the storyline.

Incorporating Keywords in Headings for SEO Purposes

Incorporating keywords strategically into your headings is crucial from an SEO perspective, as search engines give higher weightage to terms in these sections. However, this should not compromise flowing articulation; these insertions must be natural-sounding and illuminative about subsequent content.

Proper Capitalization and Punctuation

Following accepted grammatical conventions relating to capitalization and punctuation ensures professional integrity while avowing reader trust. Each word within headings typically capitalizes the first letter – excluding minor ones like prepositions or conjunctions unless starting or ending the subtitle.

Consistency in Style and Formatting

Create continuity by maintaining consistency across all headings and subheadings within an article. This involves maintaining uniform styling, tense usage, capitalization rules, and lexicon choice for all titles under a particular heading category. Uniformity aids comprehension while granting your written piece a structured, polished aesthetic sheen.

Maintain hierarchy

Properly structuring your heading levels is important for establishing a logical flow within your document or article. Start with a primary heading (H1), then follow it up with secondary (h2), tertiary (h3), and so forth, using smaller header sizes accordingly.

Examples of Great Headings and Subheadings

To provide some inspiration for creating impactful headlines yourself, let me share a few examples of excellent headings and subheadings:

• Subheading : Stand Out With Creative Captions
• Subheading : Engage Your Audience Through Stories
• Subheading : Collaborate With Influencers
• Subheading : Establish Your Budget and Priorities
• Subheading : Research Neighborhoods and Amenities
• Subheading : Schedule Visits And Inspections
• Subheading : Preparing The Necessary Documentation

By analyzing these examples, one can notice how each heading effectively communicates the article’s main topic in a clear and captivating manner. Additionally, the subheadings further break down those topics into specific sections that are easy for readers to navigate as they progress through your writing.

In conclusion, mastering the art of crafting attention-grabbing headings and informative subheadings is essential for any content writer. By employing clarity, strategic keyword use, proper structuring techniques with hierarchy, and avoiding clickbait headlines – you will be able to create engaging content that maintains reader interest while providing an effortless reading experience.

How to choose the proper headings and subheadings for the article

Choosing the right headings and subheadings for your article is crucial in effectively organizing and structuring your content. They help guide your readers through your text and make it easier to comprehend. To ensure that you choose relevant, concise, and engaging headings for your article, follow these tips:

• Identify the main topic : Start by identifying the main subject of your article. Your headings should reflect this central theme.
• Divide into logical sections : Break down your main topic into smaller, related sections using headers and subheaders as waypoints for guiding the reader on their journey through the content.
• Use keywords strategically : Incorporate 3-5 relevant keywords within each heading or subheading, making them sound natural; examples of such phrases include “examples of subheadings,” “apa heading,” or more granular concepts like “header and subheader.”
• Keep it clear & concise : Make sure each heading accurately represents its corresponding section’s content without being too long or complicated. Be succinct in expressing ideas while also maintaining an engaging tone.
• Maintain consistency:  Adopt a consistent style throughout all headings and subheadings levels and parallel structure in phrasing similar ideas across different sections.
• Consider hierarchy:  Ensure appropriate ordering using higher-order headers (H1) and lower-order ones (H2, H3) denoting subsections nested under overarching themes.
• Test readability : After crafting potential headers/subheaders, read them aloud to evaluate how easily they flow together; adjust wording wherever necessary for improved clarity overall.

These strategies can significantly enhance organization and comprehension when drafting high-quality articles with engaging headings/subheadings – ultimately benefiting both authors and intended audiences!

Steps to Create a Proper Outline with Headings

Creating a clear and well-structured outline is essential for organizing your thoughts, ensuring the logical flow of ideas throughout your writing, and effectively guiding readers. Headings are integral in outlining content as they provide essential context and help develop a coherent structure. Here are some steps to follow when crafting an outline using headings:

• Identify main points : Start by brainstorming the core concepts you want to discuss in your article or document. These will form the basis for your primary headings (e.g., Level 1).
• Create heading levels : Once you have determined the main topics of discussion, group related ideas under these higher level headings. For each subtopic, create subheadings that align with lower-level categories.
• Use consistent formatting : To distinguish between different heading levels quickly and easily, maintain consistency in their formatting style (e.g., font size or boldness). This visual hierarchy simplifies readability across the entire piece. You can use default heading settings in Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
• Apply parallel structure : Ensure consistency by utilizing similar phrasing and construction across all headings at the same level.
• Review and revise : As you progress through your draft or outline, frequently review the overall coherence of headlining choices. Modify them as needed until a harmonious organizational structure flows naturally from topic to subtopic.
• Connection to title : Make sure every heading relates to the central theme established in the title of your article or document; this enables continuity and focus throughout.
• Be succinct : Effective headings capture vital intent within a brief phrase—aim for brevity while conveying what readers should anticipate from subsequent content.

When executed carefully, adequately structured outlines that employ insightful heading choices can drastically elevate any written piece’s quality—academic work or casual blog posts—and better engage target audiences by promoting an accessible and organized format for navigating subject matter.

Formatting Headings and Subheadings

Proper formatting is crucial to improving the readability and organization of your content. By following a consistent format, you can ensure that your article has a clear hierarchy and navigable structure for your readers.

Subheading Best Practices

To make the most out of your structure, consider these best practices:

• Keep the style consistent: Once you have decided on a specific font, size, and color for the main headings, stick to it throughout the piece. The same applies to subheadings.
• Use appropriate nesting: Always use an H1 (header 1) for primary headings before moving to H2 (header 2) for subsequent levels.
• Use proper spacing: Ensure adequate spaces between headers, separating them from other text elements.

Use Parallel Structure

Parallel structure entails applying consistent grammatical patterns to each heading level. This uniformity creates coherence and enables readers to follow the flow of ideas:

• Start with action verbs.
• Keep tense usage consistent.
• Ensure similar phrasing throughout each level of headings.

For example:

I. Cooking Techniques

   A. Stir-frying

   B. Grilling

   C. Baking

Connect to Your Title

Headings should be extensions of your title, delving deeper into its message while maintaining relevance as they narrow down aspects of the broader theme:

• Ensures topical consistency across sections
• Prevents deviation from key messages

Be Succinct

Ideally, aim for brief yet descriptive section headings, by using concise language:

• Avoid lengthy phrases or clauses, use a few words
• Opt for simple wording without compromising clarity
• Refrain from posing questions within section headers

Pairing succinctness with informative language leads readers smoothly through content without causing disengagement due to verbosity.

Think of Subsection Headings as a Table of Contents

Subheadings should serve as accessible entry points to your content, much like chapters in a book’s table of contents:

• Provide clear, comprehendible indicators for the section’s focus.
• Arrange content logically and sequentially to guide users through topics.
• Make it easy for readers to skim and identify their areas of interest.

Treating subsection headings as if they formed a miniature table of contents allows you to create well-structured articles that cater to diverse reader requirements, helping them to locate key takeaways effortlessly.

Using Headings and Subheadings for SEO Optimization

The strategic usage of headings and subheadings plays a crucial role in structuring your text and maximizing the visibility of your content on search engines. Here’s how to enhance your article’s readability and SEO performance through savvy heading selection.

Incorporating Keywords in Headings for Search Engine Visibility

Your mission to optimize headings should start with embedding keywords effectively. Why? Because search engines like Google place a higher weightage on terms within headings or subheader content. This priority given to header text helps these algorithms determine what your page is about, thus indexing it more accurately.

When adding keywords to subheaders or headers, ensure they are relevant to the content that follows them. Remember that stuffing irrelevant terms into your subtitle heading will come off as confusing at best—and deceptive manipulation attempting to game the system at worst.

Here are some tips:

• Use long-tail keyword phrases instead of single words; they tend to be less competitive and more specific.
• Utilize variant synonyms or related concepts rather than repeating the same phrase multiple times.
• Maintain a natural flow – don’t shoehorn in keywords unnaturally.
• Prioritize inclusion in main headings where appropriate, although sub-subheading placements count too!

For instance, if I’m writing about “APA formatting headings,” I could use phrases like “how to format subheadings” or “example of headings and subheadings” throughout my piece.

Balancing SEO Optimization with User Readability

While incorporating keywords into headers for improved search engine visibility is beneficial, balancing SEO optimization and user readability is paramount.

As much as we might obsess over pleasing Google’s algorithmically finicky appetites, never forget that, ultimately, you’re writing first and foremost for human beings – not machine crawlers! Skewing too heavily towards SEO at the cost of clarity will only alienate readers, rendering your efforts pointless.

Instead, keep your title subtitle heading subheading formulation both SEO-friendly and user-considerate by ensuring it’s:

• Accurate: It should clearly convey what the subsequent section is about.
• Intriguing: Your headings should motivate your readers to continue reading. 3. Validating: Show that you’re providing value or solving a problem with your content.

To bring everything together—an essential facet of mastering ‘header subheader’ interaction rests on marrying search engine visibility goals with the crucial human aspect of content consumption—ensuring your hard work reaches the audience it deserves.

APA Headings and Subheadings – APA Style Papers

The American Psychological Association (APA) publication manual format is widely used in academic writing for organizing content and presenting research work. APA headings have specific rules for formatting to establish a clear structure that is easy to follow. It distinguishes five levels of headings.

APA Heading Level 1

Level of Heading no 1 signifies the main sections of your paper, such as the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. In an APA-styled document:

• Center-align the text.
• Use bold font.
• Title case – capitalize all significant words in the heading.
• Keep the heading on a separate line with no additional indentation or spacing.

Introduction

APA Heading Level 2

Heading level 2 marks sub-sections within each main section represented by heading level 1. To keep the same line with APA style:

• Left-align this text.
• Utilize a bold font.
• Title case.
• Place the heading on its line without indentations or extra spacing.

Example of a heading level 2 subheading:

Literature Review

Historical Development

• Current Trends

APA Heading Level 3

Sub-subsections are denoted by heading level 3 under an existing sub-section represented by heading level 2. These should be formatted according to APA standards as follows:

• Indent slightly from the left margin.
• Bold and italicize the text.
• Only capitalize the first significant word along with any proper nouns.
• Conclude with a period before continuing into subsection content.

For instance,

The origin of psychological theories.  Early psychological theories can be traced back…

APA Heading Level 4

Following levels of organization further down the article’s hierarchy are labeled as heading level 4 under each related subsection (heading level 3). Formats vary depending on how many subsections are required, but abide by APA guidelines to:

• Left-align the heading.
• End with a period before beginning the paragraph.

Example of heading level 4:

The origin of psychological theories.

Influential psychologists during the 1800s.  Some prominent figures include…

APA Heading Level 5

Lastly, sub-subsections requiring attention should be marked under an existing subheading (level 4) as previously described. Adhere to these formatting rules for the introduction section heading level 5 in an APA-styled document:

• Use italics exclusively.
• Capitalize solely the first letter of the initial word and any proper nouns.
• Also, end with a period before commencing paragraph content.

For example,

Influential psychologists during the 1800s

Psychodynamic theory: Sigmund Freud.  Sigmund Freud was a pioneer in…

Headings and Subheadings in Blogging

In the blogging world, headings and subheadings are crucial in making your content more accessible, captivating, and easy to digest. By incorporating well-crafted headers and subheaders throughout your blog posts, you can keep the reader engaged, provide them with context and structure, and make it easier for search engines to index your content.

The Role of Headings in Blog Posts

When writing blog posts, headings enable readers to screen content. They help:

• Catch the reader’s eye: A strong heading grabs the reader’s attention and entices them to read further.
• Organize your content: Headers offer visual separation between different sections or ideas within your post.
• Improve readability: Easy-to-scan headings enable readers to identify which sections are most relevant to their interests quickly.

Using key phrases from your keyword research in headings (for example, “header subheader”, “what are headings and subheadings”) further enhances readability while signaling search engine bots about the topic.

Enhancing Structure with Subheadings

Subheadings act as additional signposts within a piece of writing. They divide content into smaller categories, making it easier for readers to understand complex ideas or processes seamlessly while offering several benefits:

• Guide reading flow: Well-placed subheadings lead readers through your article by breaking down information logically.
• Highlight important points: Effective use of subheadings can emphasize vital concepts or tips that resonate with the audience.
• Facilitate skimming for users and screen readers: Busy internet users often skim articles before fully committing; clear subheadings ensure they comprehend crucial details even at a cursory glance.

Integrating keywords such as “examples of headings and subheadings”, and “headers and subheaders” into your text creates harmony across sections while enhancing SEO performance.

Impact on SEO

Effective use of headings and subheadings, especially when incorporating relevant keywords, can improve your blog’s search engine optimization (SEO) performance. Here are some reasons why:

• Content prioritization: Search engines assign more weight to the text within headings and subheadings, making it essential to include target keywords for better ranking.
• Ease of crawling: Providing separate sections through headers and subheaders makes it easier for search engine bots to crawl and index your content accurately.
• Boost accessibility: A logical structure with clear headings impacts the user experience positively and improves your site’s overall accessibility.

Tips for Writing Engaging Headings and Subheadings in Blogging

To make the most of headings and subheadings in blogging, keep these points in mind:

• Use action words: Begin with strong verbs that convey a sense of purpose or achieving something beneficial.
• Be concise yet descriptive: Prefer short, attention-grabbing phrases that accurately reflect the section’s contents without being overly long.
• Emphasize benefits or solutions: Showcase value proposition by highlighting solutions or outcomes readers can expect from the section.
• Leverage numbers/lists: Use numbered lists or steps whenever appropriate to add order to content while enhancing readability.

By carefully crafting captivating headings and well-structured subheadings in your blog posts, you’ll witness an improvement in user engagement levels leading to higher conversion rates on your platform.

FAQs on Headings and Subheadings Examples

What is the difference between a heading and a subheading?

Headings and subheadings are crucial in organizing content, but their distinct purposes can often lead to confusion. Let’s examine each one to understand the difference between these two terms better.

Heading : A heading is an overarching title that indicates a section’s main theme or subject within your document, article, or blog post. Headings are typically formatted with larger, bold text than the surrounding content to grab readers’ attention quickly. These headings act as signposts for readers scanning through long content to find particular topics of interest.

Subheading : In contrast, a subheading serves as a smaller, more detailed description or label under the main heading. Subheadings further divide sections into subsections by providing context and highlighting specific aspects of your material under their respective headings. Typically formatted to be slightly smaller than headings but still stand out from the body text, they help guide readers through your content by making it easy for them to identify relevant information.

By using headings and subheadings effectively in tandem – providing clear overviews yet breaking data down into digestible chunks –you create accessible, engaging documents for various audiences.

How many heading levels should you use?

The number of heading levels you should use depends on several factors:

• Content length and complexity : Use multiple heading levels if your content addresses various themes or contains in-depth analyses with subsections. Thoughtful navigation facilitates quick searches throughout complex works.
• Reader comprehension : Different audience members will possess varying knowledge bases; aim for clarity by structuring information accordingly.
• Style guidelines : Depending on stylistic preferences (for example, APA style), specific formatting rules may dictate how many hierarchical subdivisions prove most effective.
• Platform requirements : Evaluate your chosen platform’s standards (such as blogging platforms like WordPress) to ensure readability.

In general, most articles or papers utilize 2 to 4 levels of headings and subheadings. This range balances the need for structure alongside passage flow. Working with highly technical documents reaching beyond 15 pages may require additional hierarchical divisions for seamless comprehension.

Remember that employing too few heading levels can inhibit topic organization, while excessive use may render narratives convoluted or cluttered. Experiment accordingly to strike the appropriate balance tailored to your unique content needs.

Seasoned SaaS and agency growth expert with deep expertise in AI, content marketing, and SEO. With SEOwind, he crafts AI-powered content that tops Google searches and magnetizes clicks. With a track record of rocketing startups to global reach and coaching teams to smash growth, Tom's all about sharing his rich arsenal of strategies through engaging podcasts and webinars. He's your go-to guy for transforming organic traffic, supercharging content creation, and driving sales through the roof.

Table of Contents

• 1 What are Headings and Subheadings?
• 2 Why are Headings and Subheadings Important?
• 3 Factors to Consider When Creating Headings
• 4 Types of Headings and Subheadings
• 5 Best Practices on how to write Subheadings and Headings
• 6 Examples of Great Headings and Subheadings
• 7 How to choose the proper headings and subheadings for the article
• 8 Steps to Create a Proper Outline with Headings
• 9 Formatting Headings and Subheadings
• 10 Using Headings and Subheadings for SEO Optimization
• 11 APA Headings and Subheadings – APA Style Papers
• 12 Headings and Subheadings in Blogging
• 13 FAQs on Headings and Subheadings Examples

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Your Guide to Subheaders in Content: What to Do with H1s, H2s, and H3s

by Julia McCoy | Jan 9, 2017 | SEO

When it comes to writing and formatting a blog post, there’s a lot to think about. If you’re publishing it onsite, you’ll need to consider keywords, SEO, content organization, image inclusion, and more.

Up there high in priority to include in your content (and one that’s commonly tough to map out correctly), is the presence of great sub headers to optimize and visually format your content for the reader.

Known by their tags, H1s, H2s, and H3s, while it may seem like article subheaders could be small beans that can be disregarded. But in the world of content and online writing, this simply isn’t true.

In fact, how you choose to use header tags can have a major effect on how well your content performs. Use them wrong, and you may find your content suffering as a result.

Here’s a guide to subheaders: what you need to know about these pesky, yet critical, little elements that should be placed in your content with care. Read on!

See how we can help you by crafting expert blogs.

First Things First in our Guide to Subheaders: Defining the Purpose of a Subheading

Subheaders, subheads, or header tags all refer to what’s written inside of a bit of code known as H1, H2, H3. The code, placed in the text editor, tells the HTML that this is a bold subheading, and to present it visually that way.

(Can you tell our First Things First in our Guide…, above, is an H2 ?)

Used correctly in content, these little headings act like a small table of contents in your online content. If people read web pages word-for-word, like a book, headers might not be as critical as they currently are. Given the fact that people skim web pages more than they read them, header tags help people determine what they can expect to find in a given chunk of web content .

They’re vital to a great web presence and content presentation.

According to  Slate.com , most visitors read only about 60% of content before bouncing off a page. 10% of people never even scroll at all! In light of the fact that peoples’ attention spans have gotten worse in recent years, it’s critical for content creators to toss their readers a bone by inserting relevant subheaders that provide a hint about what’s coming up next and why it matters.

In addition to helping people locate the points of interest in a piece of content, these small, in-text guide posts can also go a long way toward helping search engines determine what your content is about and rank it accordingly.

Your Guide to Subheaders: When to Use H1s, H2s, and H3s in Your Online Content

Learning to use H1s, H2s and H3s in your written online content is essential. Here are some key tips for each of these tags.

Some people use H1s as their subheaders tags. Don’t be swayed: this is a terrible idea. While H1s can help your rankings when they’re used correctly, you need to know that you should  never   use an H1 title in your WordPress blogs. Never. H1s should only ever be used in the HTML that starts a page. If you plug in an H1 in your WordPress blogs, the SERP robots will be confused about the topic of the page and may not rank it correctly.

It’s a safe guideline to say that a H1 tag should virtually never be used by a writer. It may be used by the development team to input code into the page header, but it’s not commonly something a writer would touch.

Header 2 Tags are much more common and necessary than header 1 tags. H2 and H3 tags are critical for formatting content correctly, and can play a massive role in how well content performs online.

Here’s an example of how H2 tags should be featured in online content:

Think of H2 tags as tiny table of contents pieces, showing your readers where to go and what they can expect to find in the given sections of your blog. What’s more, H2 tags must be optimized accordingly with your keyword phrases of choice since they help SERP crawler bots interpret your pages and rank them accordingly.

Header 3 tags, like H2 tags, are critical for organizing your content. Used in conjunction with H2 tags, but always after H2 tags, they are important for organizing your content and helping to guide your readers through it.

For an example of how H3s work, check out this mock paragraph:

H3 tags are like the little siblings to H2 content, and should be used throughout your content to organize it more efficiently.

7 Little Tips and Tricks to Help You Create Awesome Subheaders

Now that you know why headers are important, let’s talk about how to use them correctly in your content writing:

1. Think of subheaders as article titles , and write to impress your readers

You know how hard you work on a blog title ? Optimize your subheaders with the same care and attention! Think of each one as a winning title that could make or break your content (because, really, people scroll down dependent on how good your content *cough* subheads *cough* is). With today’s typical attention span being less than a goldfish (<12 seconds), you want to knock your reader’s socks off.

Use tools like the Advanced Marketing Institute’s Headline Analyzer  to help you analyze and create a winning header.

2. Keep them to five words or more

Unless you have a client who specifies that he or she would like their subheaders longer or shorter, keep them to five words at least. This helps improve the subheaders’ SEO value and enhance your visibility online. It will also enhance the value of your individual headers and make them easier for readers to engage with.

3. The first subheader you write should be optimized with your focus keyword

Give yourself an SEO boost by including your keyword phrase in the first subheader you write. It will help Google’s crawler bots determine what your site is about and rank it accordingly. It also helps your content feel cohesive and attractive for readers.

4. Include at least two subheaders in each 500 words of blog material

Subheaders help break up and organize your content, so don’t be afraid to use them accordingly. If you’re writing content with more than 500 words, consider including more than two subheaders.

For example: this piece is 1,400 words, and contains an astounding 14 subheaders!  That’s pretty much 1 per every 100 words. But if you stand back, the piece is entirely readable. With readability being your goal, don’t be afraid of creating a lot of subheads in your content.

5. The first subheader and the last subheader in your content should have an H2

Think of these as the bookends of your content. They help organize it and make it visually appealing for readers. What’s more, they can help your content look more readable and may boost its conversion rate.

6. Always use a concluding H2 header

The concluding header is more critical than many people give it credit for. That said, use it in your content to help boost readability and end the material on a good note for your readers. Don’t ever neglect the concluding H2 header in your content.

7. Use H3s to flesh out content under H2 headers

H3 headers play the primary role of being used to break down content under H2 subheaders. Use them for lists and bulleted information

Use This Guide to Subheaders & Create Content Flow

While there’s a great deal of confusion about headers and how they’re supposed to be used in online writing, these tips will help you master the use of H2 and H3 tags in your online writing.

Just remember, as a writer, your domain is H2s and H3s. There’s no need to bother with H1 tags, unless you’re writing them into a page’s code. Instead, use H2 and H3 headers to clarify your page’s meaning, break it up more intuitively, and help your readers follow through more easily.

When you do this correctly, it can help readers connect with and enjoy your content, and may make it simpler for some people to read.

What’s more, it can help you rank more prominently in the SERPs, which benefits you and your content all at once.

While headers can be confusing, learning to use them in your online content is essential, and this guide is here to help you learn to use headers throughout your online writing, without making many of the preventable mistakes others have with headers in times past. When you learn to master headers, your entire online writing life will benefit from it and you will prosper.

Need a professional writer to help you craft online copy? See how our team can help you: visit the Content Shop!

Download your Free copy of Your Guide to Subheaders in Content: What to Do with H1s, H2s, and H3s

How to Travel and Write an Essay

T raveling to new places and having new experiences can provide wonderful inspiration for writing essays. Immersing yourself in different cultures, interacting with new people, and exploring unfamiliar terrain engages your creative mind. Using your travel adventures as essay topics allows you to share your insightful reflections. Reading reviews of essay writing services can give you ideas on engaging writing styles and techniques to make your travel essay compelling. Here are some tips for traveling and gathering material to write a compelling essay.

Pick a Focused Travel Goal 

Rather than trying to do everything, pick a particular aspect of travel on which to focus your essay. This could involve food, architecture, nature, art, history, or interacting with locals. Choosing a specific emphasis will help shape your travels and give your essay direction. For example, if you want to write about regional cuisine, plan your itinerary around visiting iconic restaurants and food markets. Or if exploring national parks is your priority, design your trip to hike various trails and take in diverse landscapes. Picking a travel concentration spotlights what matters most for your essay topic.

Keep Detailed Notes and Media

Be sure to keep notes about your travel experiences, as memory alone is unreliable. Use your phone or a notebook to write descriptions of key places and events. Capture telling details, snippets of overheard conversations, interesting quotes from people you meet, and your personal reactions. In addition, take ample photos and videos to add visual elements and jog your memory later when writing your essay. Gathering detailed sensory information, verbatim conversations, and media will enable you to vividly convey your travels.

Get Off the Beaten Path 

While tourist hotspots yield common experiences many travelers share, explore lesser-known areas for fresh essay material. Wandering side streets and alleys or chatting with shop owners away from crowds provides unique perspectives. Hiking secluded trails showcases wilderness most never experience. Seeking out locals’ haunts and hidden gems exposes you to rare sights, sounds, and people unlikely to appear in standard travelogues. Venturing off the predictable beaten path unveils captivating topics to distinguish your essay.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone 

Challenge yourself on your travels by trying things outside your comfort zone, which will give you intriguing insights to inform your writing. Sample exotic cuisine with ingredients you can’t identify. Learn basic phrases in the native language. Navigate public transportation on your own. Talk to strangers from very different backgrounds. Accept an invitation to an unusual cultural event. Pushing past familiar habits and fears boosts opportunities for uncommon experiences, stimulating reflections to share in your essay. Facing uncertainty and discomfort allows you to access a fuller, richer range of travel moments.

Reflect on Your Interior Journey 

While cataloguing external places and events, also focus inward on your inner terrain. Note how travel affects you emotionally and psychologically along with the physical destinations and activities. Record when you feel wonder, irritation, joy, sadness, connection, isolation. Analyze what triggers these responses. Ponder how unfamiliar surroundings surface unanticipated reactions, or how you apply filters and assumptions unconsciously. Consider if this self-discovery challenges or reinforces your worldviews. Examining your interior shifts alongside exterior impressions provides deeper insight. Reading an Academized review reinforced the importance of weaving together outer and inner dimensions to craft a multi-layered essay.

Find Themes and Connections

As you travel and gather essay material, look for overarching themes that emerge. Do certain ideas or patterns recur as you journey? Do you keep learning similar lessons? Find common threads to tie together diverse experiences for a unified essay focusing on key themes. Or spotlight thought-provoking contrasts revealed through your travels. Additionally, consider connections between your voyage and broader context. How do your observations reflect historical, social or cultural phenomena? Can you compare and link your individual trip to larger collective issues? Identifying meaningful themes and links helps shape a compelling, impactful essay.

Craft a Strong Essay Structure 

Once you return from travels filled with observations, memories, artifacts and inspiration, it’s time to organize everything into a structured essay. First, revisit all your travel documentation and media, inventorying the best highlights to develop your central idea. Craft an introduction hooking readers’ interest while overviewing essay themes. Use each subheading to structure key travel experiences into engaging sections reinforced with vivid details, quotes, and examples. Analyze how these experiences interrelate and what insights they reveal associated with your themes. End with a powerful conclusion synthesizing main points and their significance. Edit carefully to refine language, verify facts, streamline structure while intensifying descriptions. Follow this process to translate your travel discoveries into an engaging, insightful essay.

Adding organization through focused subheadings provides natural breaks allowing readers’ eyes to rest while you emphasize key sections. Incorporating variable sentence types creates welcome rhythm and pacing variation. Contrasting longer complex sentences with shorter punchy ones, and trading sentences brimming with adjectives for straightforward construction alternates language patterns to maintain reader interest. Using low perplexity sentences when suitable enhances comprehension. Integrating these creative writing techniques keeps your travel essay lively, clear and compelling from start to finish.

So captivate readers with an essay unveiling your travel adventures and realizations. Immerse in cultural curiosities, venture off script, expand beyond your comfort zone and analyze what you uncover. Then organize intriguing experiences into an engaging essay emphasizing unforgettable impressions that reveal broader insights. With planning and attention, your travels can form the basis for a memorable, meaningful essay.

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