Headings and Subheadings
Although in the writing of Academic essays, the use of headings and subheadings is not encouraged, it is quite different in the business context.
The use of headings and sub-headings provides benefits for the reader and the writer:
Benefits of headings for the reader
- Breaks a long document into sections
- Provides an overview of what the document is about
- Helps the reader locate sections of the report which may of greatest interest
- Helps the reader navigate or find their way through the report
Benefits of headings for the writer
- Helps the writer to structure the document. It is much easier to write a lengthy document by considering and deciding upon the headings first. Once the headings are determined, the task of writing the individual sections will seem far less challenging.
- Writers want their document to be read thoroughly. To this extent, headings grab and keep the attention of the reader. Headings will help keep the reader's focus
In a Microsoft Word document, it is highly recommended that headings and sub-headings are changed to a “heading style”.
There is a short cut key combination. To change any line to a heading style, depress and hold down the ALT and SHIFT keys simultaneously, and then tapping the LEFT ARROW key ONCE. This is perhaps the easiest method.
Using Microsoft Styles for your headings will have the added benefit of enabling you to create an automatic Table of Contents.