Words from the Wards: Paronyms in Medical Article Titles

Abstract This paper explores the use of paronyms in article titles sourced from the PubMed database. The study identified 43 paronymic pairs, 6 paronymic triads, and 1 paronymic tetrad across 207 medical article titles. We analyzed the detected paronymic lexemes in terms of their etymology, morphology, orthography, phonology, stylistic features, and pragmatic functions. In medical article titles, paronyms underlie paronomasia (puns), alliteration, antithesis, rhetorical questions, metaphor, repetition, and rhyme. These rhetorical devices ensure the compelling and memorable effect of article titles that not only capture readers’ attention but also convey the complexity and highlight the relevance of the papers’ content. Other pragmatic functions of paronyms in article titles include establishing tone, inducing curiosity, creating ambiguity, and encouraging exploration. By examining how paronyms are used in article titles, EAP students and early career writers can develop a deeper understanding of the subtle distinctions between paronymic lexemes and subsequently use them correctly, recognize the rhetorical devices and employ the pragmatic strategies in academic writing, thus enhancing their language proficiency and developing critical thinking skills. This will ultimately promote mastery of the skills needed to create engaging and compelling titles, which can increase the visibility and impact of research articles.