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***** 3 Votes

It's All In The Title

Icon 4 Comments
The title for your question is very important:

  • It is used in searches, both within DIC and by other search engines. People need to be able to find your topic in case it answers their question or, at least, contains useful information for them. You may even need to search for it yourself in the future, if you lose track of the original.
  • Someone who can answer your question may not even look at it if the title isn't good (good is defined below).
  • If your title is bad then fewer people might bother to read your question. "This guy/gal cannot explain him/herself.. hasn't made an effort.. so neither will I!".


The Good

  • Is short and to the point (five to ten words is a reasonable target)
  • Sums up the question
  • As a minimum requirement, is relevant to the question


Don't misunderstand, we are not looking for "the perfect title", just something "reasonable" and relevant.

The Bad

  • Is a rambling sequence of unconnected words
  • Has nothing to do with the question
  • Does nothing to encourage me to read further (poor spelling or grammar, txt-spk)


The Ugly

  • "Question!"
  • "Help Me!!!"
  • "Error!"


Additional Note
The programming language should not appear in the title if it already appears in the forum-name.

Fin:
"I could not think of a title" is not acceptable. If you are unable to come up with a title, or are not willing to make this effort, then I doubt that I will be able to understand your question.

4 Comments On This Entry

Page 1 of 1

Michael26 

06 September 2013 - 12:14 AM
This should be featured and attached to every nonsensical post.
3

BBeck 

06 September 2013 - 11:09 AM

Quote

Additional Note
The programming language should not appear in the title, it is already in the forum-name.


In the game programming forum it's not. Hopefully there people will include the langague in the title. Otherwise, good article.
0

andrewsw 

06 September 2013 - 03:03 PM

BBeck, on 06 September 2013 - 06:09 PM, said:

Quote

Additional Note
The programming language should not appear in the title, it is already in the forum-name.


In the game programming forum it's not. Hopefully there people will include the langague in the title. Otherwise, good article.

Thank you. I've added this exception to the note.

Andy.
0

Curtis Rutland 

10 September 2013 - 05:21 PM
I
clearly
love
rants!

:)

Good post.
0
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