In starting a discussion, what form of title do you often use?
By markmoney
@markmoney (2868)
Philippines
August 24, 2009 5:15am CST
I think the two most common are in question form and in phrase form. In a question form, your title is a question, which of course ended with a question mark. While a phrase form is not a complete sentence, no period, question mark, or exclamation mark at the end of it. Me, when I start a discussion, I often use a question form, because I find it easier for the viewers to respond because it's a question for them to answer. While in a phrase form, the response is more of a reaction. So what form do you often use in starting your own discussion, in question form, phrase form, or other forms? 
2 people like this
14 responses
@ChrysanTflower (1607)
• Indonesia
25 Aug 09
Hi markmoney
Yes, I've seen that most of your discussion using question form. Well, until you ask this question, I never care about that, so I've just check my profile page and found that most of my discussion titles are in question form too.. But not always, my last discussion title is in phrase form. Actually I don't really care about it, I just type a title that pops up in my head
Yes, I've seen that most of your discussion using question form. Well, until you ask this question, I never care about that, so I've just check my profile page and found that most of my discussion titles are in question form too.. But not always, my last discussion title is in phrase form. Actually I don't really care about it, I just type a title that pops up in my head
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
26 Aug 09
Yes, about 90% of my discussions have a title in question form. I am using a direct question, and having this kind of title has a tendency for readers to really give their answers. It is easier for the responders because all they have do is to choose and tell the reason why they have chosen it. Not like in a phrase form, where the response will be more of a reaction, which is harder to make. Based on my experience, being more of a starter than a responder, using question form title in my discussion, really receives a lot of responses. You have noticed that too in your experience. So yes, we should better use question forms for our titles. It's an advantage. I'm glad that you appreciate my topic. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@ChrysanTflower (1607)
• Indonesia
25 Aug 09
Oh, I forget to add that I've got many responders when my discussion title in question form! I see.. so start from now I think I will use question form. Thanks for make me care about the title in my discussion, markmoney
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
24 Aug 09
Hi Mark. Like you, I most frequently use a question in my title, or a descriptive or "teaser" type of phrase. But whichever way I have the title, the ultimate "discussion starter" for me will always be a question, or even several questions.
Good discussion! 
Karen@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
24 Aug 09
Yes, both can really get responses, but it's just based on my experience that I can get more responses using question form. A descriptive type of phrase is also good. Actually it depends on which you are more comfortable with. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
29 Aug 09
I think most use questions, because they attract more responses. I usually ask a question.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
30 Aug 09
Yes, we can really see more discussions in question forms than other forms. It attracts viewers to respond. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
Yes, question form is straighforward, readers will already know what to respond. Using a title in question form is really an advantage for you to get many responses. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@dance4life (252)
• United States
29 Aug 09
I never thought about which form for a title is better before. I agree though that I probably respond more to discussions that have a question for the title instead of a phrase. This is very good advice if you want your discussion to be noticed.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
30 Aug 09
Yes, you have proven it too. Me also, I prefer to answer discussions with a title in question form than a phrase. That's why I also often use question form in the titles of my discussions. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@uchihamadaraXXX (117)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
About your topic, I personally use the question form because it is much easier to use.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
Yes, it is easier to use that's why I also often use titles in question form for my discussions. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@roniroxas (10559)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
well i think i started a few discussion asking questions and i started a few discussion about giving information. a few is about sharing jokes, and a few is about my children. but i can say that most of the discussion i made ended witha question mark, and as i can see also that most of the discussion started here ended with a question mark as well.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
Yes, most discussion titles we can see here are in form of questions. Maybe because it is easier to make and it can get many responses. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@whiteheron (4222)
• United States
24 Aug 09
I sometimes ask a question with a question mark at the end of it and other times might use "Tell a story about..." or some other directive statement to trigger a response. It depends on my mood.
I must admit that I wonder at the posters who just post a comment and want others to post about it... I never am sure what they want people to post about it... And when they abandon their posts and do not participate in them, I wonder even more.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
As long as the started discussion is descriptive, I think it will often receive responses. Actually it can also depends on the mood on how you are going to start. If you are in a good mood, it will often result to a good discussion. For those posters who seemed abandoned their discussions, the possible reasons are, lack of time, can't express their thoughts probably because of lack of knowledge in English language, or they're just not interested to comment back. In my case, I often left responses unanswered due to lack of time, it's not intended. But given the time, of course I will comment on all of them. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@daliaj (5674)
• India
24 Aug 09
I always go for a question when I crete a discussion title. I think it is important to frame the title in such a way that it attracts mylot users and tempt them to respond. I also leave some questions in the discussion description so that the mylotter will get some points to write as a response.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
24 Aug 09
Yes, making your title a question can really attract readers to respond. You should also have a brief description of the the choices and what your personal choice is. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@mermaidivy (15394)
• United States
24 Aug 09
It is an excellent topic! I have thought about it before and I found question form is easier to let mylotters to understand it right away by looking at the question instead of looking at a sentence so I always make my topics question form and straightforward, once in a while, I pharse form in emphasize what I wanto to really discuss in the discussion, otherwise, question form works better for me :-)
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
25 Aug 09
Thanks for appreciating the topic! Yes, question form is really the most straightforward we can have. And it is proven to get more responses than using other forms. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
24 Aug 09
In my discussion, I usually start with a simple question. I agree with you that the question seems a direct invitation for responses. I never just put forward the question. Instead, the responders need background that leads to the discussion. In this way, we may have more to the point feedbacks.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
24 Aug 09
Yes, a question form title really get responses. To get a better responses, we should also include to the discussion's description a brief explanation of the choices and we should also state our side, and why we have chosen it. That way, the responses we will get will be more meaningful. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@Sleepingcap (149)
• Estonia
24 Aug 09
I prefer the statement - as i can clearly give the reader a quick summary of the topic or i can use it to attract people into reading. Even though I have only started two discussions on mylot.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
24 Aug 09
So for you, it's the statement form that works for you. Maybe you should try also a question form so that you can compare the results. In my experience, being a starter, using a question form can really get more responses than using a phrase form or statement form. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@youngpatrol (425)
• United States
24 Aug 09
I believe it would be in a question form. It just seem's to me that the question form is normally used. I go mostly by what I see, so when I see it that way most of the time, I think it's more right to do it in a question form.
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
24 Aug 09
Yes, you are right. Just follow the right path and you will succeed. Question form titles is what you normally see simply because it is the most effective form. A question form title easily attracts readers to participate and share their sides or answers. So stick with question form. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
@DCLehnsherr (1037)
•
24 Aug 09
I think that I to mostly ask things in question form as well because of the way that ideas come to me. I am normally thinking about something random when suddenly it is like 'I want to know what mylotters would think/do now, and so will go and ask on the site. I find phrases much harder to do since I believe that they tend to have to convey more to grab someone's interest, and condensing ideas isn't something I do easily or well, but questions are, and so I stick with those lol!
Happy mylotting,
Dranz
@markmoney (2868)
• Philippines
24 Aug 09
Yes, for the viewers/readers, question form titles can easily invite or make them respond compare to phrase form. So we should really stick with question form in making a title. Thank you for your response. Happy myLotting!
