How to Understand English News Headlines (And Why They Look So Strange)
- Feb 9
- 6 min read
Decoding headline grammar, unusual sentence structures, and a very un-British reaction to rain
This post comes from my weekly English with Em newsletter.
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Weekly update
My hula hoop arrived! It came in eight pieces, so I assembled it yesterday and then gave it a whirl. I'm happy to say I took to it like a duck to water!
I have to be honest though; it's not the first time I've tried hula hooping, but it has been years since the last time, so I still consider it something new in my 40s! I guess it's like riding a bike in that you never forget how to do it.
It's just as well that I have got the hula hoop now because my level of exercise has taken a serious hit, what with all the bad weather we've been having. If you've seen the news lately, you're probably aware of the horrendous flooding that's hit many parts of Spain.
It's another wet day today, showing no signs of letting up. In England, if we decided to stay in because of the rain, we would never do anything, so we tend to just grab our umbrellas and get on with it.
The Spanish, at least here in Andalucía, respond very differently. When I first moved here, the first few times I had plans with friends and it rained, I messaged them to confirm what time we were meeting, and they responded: "It's raining."
I quickly discovered that that meant: "The plan is cancelled, obviously!"
Language note:
You may notice the phrase “that that” here. This isn’t a mistake.
˃ The first that is a conjunction introducing a clause (I discovered that…).
˃ The second that is a demonstrative pronoun referring to what was said (that = “It’s raining.”).
So the sentence means:
I discovered that “It’s raining” meant “The plan is cancelled.”
Now, I have become very Spanish in that respect, and I rarely go out in the rain. Unfortunately, as it's been fairly continuous for the last six weeks (it may not have actually been that long, but it certainly feels like it!), that means I've hardly left the house, greatly reducing my daily exercise quota.
The town where I live is extremely hilly, so every trip to the shops is a workout! It's one of the things I like about living here; exercise as part of normal daily activity. I don't drive, so I walk everywhere, often carrying heavy bags uphill.
I'm not sure what this week's something new will be (for new readers, my goal is to try something new every week this year). I've run out of the delicious coffee that my brother bought me for Christmas, so I need to find an equivalent here in Spain.
You'd think that would be easy in a nation of coffee drinkers, but I live in a small town and there isn't much choice in the local shops. Time to do some research and order something online. If you have a recommendation, feel free to share it!
Vocabulary list
Give it a whirl (idiom): To try something, especially something new or unfamiliar.
Take to something like a duck to water (idiom): See idiom of the week below.
In that (phrase): Used to explain why something is true, or in what way it is true; similar to because or in the sense that.
It's just as well (that) (idiom): Used to say that a situation is good or lucky, especially because it prevents a problem or makes a difficulty less serious.
Take a hit (phrase): To be negatively affected; to become worse or weaker.
What with (idiom): Used to give reasons or explain a situation, often when several things contribute to a problem. Watch my short video explanation here.
Horrendous (adjective): Extremely bad, unpleasant, or shocking.
Flooding (noun): A situation in which water covers land that is normally dry.
Hit (verb): To affect something strongly, often in a negative way.
Let up (phrasal verb): To stop or become less strong (used especially for rain, wind, or other weather).
Get on with it (phrasal verb): To continue doing something, especially without complaining or delaying.
Hardly (adverb): Almost not; only a very small amount or very rarely.
Quota (noun): A fixed amount that is expected or required.
Hilly (adjective): Having many hills; not flat.
Run out of (phrasal verb): To use all of something so that none is left.
Equivalent (noun): Something that has the same value, purpose, or function as something else.
What's new on YouTube?
Long-form
In this lesson, we practise shadowing to improve pronunciation, listening, and speaking fluency.
Shadowing is one of the most effective ways to sound more natural in English.
Short
Learn the difference between 'true' and 'correct' and avoid this common mistake.
An English pun for you!
Sleeping comes so naturally to me, I could do it with my eyes closed.
Explanation at the end👇
Idiom of the week
Take to something like a duck to water 🦆
If you take to something like a duck to water, you learn a new skill or activity very quickly and naturally, with little effort.
👉 When Sofia started her new job, she took to it like a duck to water and was confident from the first day.
👉 My son took to swimming like a duck to water. He was doing it without help by the end of the first lesson!
👉 Even though it was his first time using the software, he took to it like a duck to water.
🌟 Note: In conversation, we often shorten this idiom to “like a duck to water.”
We can do this when it’s already clear from the context that we’re talking about how easily someone learned or adapted to something.
👉 I thought he might struggle with public speaking, but he was like a duck to water.
Your questions answered
I find news headlines difficult to decode. Obviously they are written in a specific way so could you please tell me if there is a way to learn how to work them out?
An excellent question, and a very common problem. News headlines do indeed follow their own special style, but once you know the patterns, they become much easier to decode.
Here are some common features that can help you:
1. Articles and auxiliary verbs are often omitted
Words like a, an, the, is, are, has, and have are often removed.
👉 Government approves new law
→ The government has approved a new law.
2. The present simple is often used for past events
Headlines frequently use the present simple to describe something that already happened.
👉 President visits flood zone
→ The president visited the flood zone.
3. The infinitive can refer to the future
To + verb often means something is planned or expected.
👉 Company to open new factory
→ The company is going to open a new factory.
4. Nouns are used together (noun strings)
Headlines often put several nouns together to save space, which can be confusing.
👉 City transport budget crisis talks
To understand this, try reading from right to left:
→ Talks about a crisis in the transport budget of the city.
5. Short, powerful verbs are preferred because they save space and grab attention
👉 Government to axe fuel subsidy
→ The government is going to cut the fuel subsidy.
How to get better at understanding headlines
Compare the headline with the full article. This is one of the best ways to learn the patterns.
Look for the main verb first. This helps you see what is actually happening.
Expect missing words. Try mentally adding articles, auxiliary verbs, or prepositions.
Keep a small list of common headline verbs which appear very often in news writing.
Examples of common headline verbs
slam = strongly criticise
axe = cut or eliminate (jobs, budgets, projects)
bid = attempt or try
boost = increase
seek = try to get or achieve
Once you get used to this style, headlines become much easier to understand, and your reading speed will improve.
Explanation to the pun
This pun works because “I could do it with my eyes closed” is an idiom. It means something is very easy for you because you are very good at it.
👉 I’ve driven this route so many times, I could do it with my eyes closed.
So the sentence has two meanings:
Idiomatic: Sleeping is very easy for me.
Literal: Of course I can sleep with my eyes closed. That’s how sleeping works!
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