Do funny or creative titles get more citations? A recent study explores how different features of article titles impact citation rates. We used SciSummary to summarise the key findings #ad Let’s dive into the paper by Heard, Cull, & White (2023). 🧵👇

1. Humour Can Boost Citations 😂 Earlier research had suggested funny titles were cited less... Once a paper’s importance was controlled for, papers with higher humour scores had more citations, nearly doubling from the least to the most humorous.

2. Simplicity & Clarity Win 📝 The features of the title can have an impact on citation rates. Titles with Acronyms = 41% fewer citations. Taxonomic names = 32% fewer citations. Keep it simple and clear to resonate better with readers. Complexity = 👎 for citations.

3. Creativity > Length ✂️ Title length had no significant effect on citation rates. But creative touches, like cultural references, boosted citations. A clever or culturally relevant title could increase readership and impact.

This study shows just how much a well-crafted title can boost the visibility of your research. So, next time you’re writing a title, think about making it: ✅ Clear ✅ Creative ✅ Maybe a bit funny!

This thread is based on "If This Title Is Funny, Will You Cite Me?" by Heard, Cull, and White. Read the full paper here: CC BY 4.0:

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Honestly, I don’t think a study is needed here—it’s just human nature: humor brings people together and serves as a universal language. As long as professionalism is maintained, a creative title can be incredibly captivating, leaving a lasting impression and fostering genuine connections. We've successfully done this sometimes in our publications, but the unfortunate truth is that too many PIs and scientists lack awareness of their own humor and creativity. Crafting the right title, then, is also a quite delicate balancing act—a bit a dance on a razor’s edge.