Captions/Cutlines(same thing)

In a flash!

Captions are most read copy in any publication.

Write them right!

Follow these easy steps:• Photographs are frozen in time.

The first sentence is present tense. The rest of the caption is in past tense.

• Identify people by complete name, just like a quote, if there are fewer than five

• If there are five or more people, you can use a group reference: fans

Follow these easy steps:• Include important info like the date,

location, score etc.• Getting a quote for the third

sentence is great• Identify people from left to right,

but don’t say it• Double check spelling• Avoid starting with the obvious• Hitting the ball... Singing in the play..

Follow these easy steps:• Never editorialize• No gag captions• Avoid starting with names, this

year, there are or at a meeting• Vary your caption starts

Example:• Never editorialize• No gag captions• Avoid starting with names, this

year, there are or at a meeting• Vary your caption starts

Your turn.• Look at the following picture and

read the information below.• Write a caption following the rules

you just learned.• Put it on a GoogleDoc so you can

share it.

• Head cheerleader Mary Bollinger starts a chant before the varsity basketball game.• At basketball game on Feb. 4• Team played Sunflower High School• Cheerleaders performed at halftime with a choreographed dance to Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” • “Before every game, I squat down in the middle of the group and start a chant that gets all the cheerleaders pumped up for the game.” —Mary Bollinger • “I love when Mary does her chant, because we all jump around and scream and it makes me excited to cheer for the boys.” — cheerleader Erin O’Malley