10 Tips About How to Write a Caption

[caption id="attachment_11317" align="alignright"]© artstudio_pro - Fotolia.com[/caption]Captions can make or break an artcle with a picture. If the caption isn't up to par, it may not properly describe what is going on in the picture and how it relates to the article. Here are some helpful tips on how to excel when it comes to writing your next caption.

If you contribute to production of a print or online publication that includes photographs or illustrations, you’re likely, at some point, to write captions. Here’s some advice about how to write good ones.

1. Caption copy must match the tone of the running text (the general written content, as opposed to display type such as headlines and captions). Determine whether captions should be formal or informal, or serious or humorous, or whether the tone can vary depending on circumstances.

2. Caption format will depend on various factors. Portraits (often referred to as headshots), or images of places or products can simply be captioned with a name: “John Smith,” for example, or “Deluxe Dual-Purpose Widget,” without terminal punctuation. (If the product caption is a description rather than an official product name, capitalize only the first word and proper names.)

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