Break down the walls with subheadings

We all know that when it comes to reading a new document, there are few things worse than being faced with a wall of text. We know this as readers ourselves, but it can be easy to forget as a writer, especially if you have a lot to say. But if you present your reader with too much dense text, you can put them off even attempting to read your document. The good news is that there is a very helpful tool to make your writing more digestible. 

Subheadings break down your text into manageable, consumable chunks, and actively encourage your reader to stay with you. They can be used to guide your reader around the text, making sure that they’ll pick up the key points – even if they’re only scan reading.

The key to subheadings it to utilise the natural breaks in your writing – typically, when one point has been made and the argument moves on to the next. Subheadings will divide your document into logical sections and make it easy for your reader to digest.

Here are some tips to keep your subheadings on point:

1. Keep them short
Subheadings should not intrude on the copy as a whole – just work to break it up.

2. Don’t overdo it
Subheadings should appear no more frequently than every three or four paragraphs – don’t let them destroy the overall flow. The exception to this rule is if you’re using them to make lists – such as this one.

3. Choose your tone of voice wisely
Subheadings should differ stylistically depending on what you are writing, so use a style that reflects your document’s tone. Don’t waste your cleverest puns on a white paper – you’ll lose credibility. But don’t be afraid of a light-hearted subheading in an opinion article either.

4. Be complementary
Subheadings shouldn’t stand alone. Think about making your subheadings reference your angle, any analogies you may be using, the title, or even each other.