Write a First Line a Viewer Can Read in One Second

The first line a viewer reads decides whether they read the second. A line that takes three seconds to read has already cost you the opening. Write the first line so a viewer can take it in at a glance, and the rest of the video gets a chance.

Count the words

Fewer words is better. Say the line out loud, and if you run out of breath, cut it down. Short lines also leave more of the picture visible, which matters in a vertical frame where text can crowd the subject.

Lead with the useful word

Put the word that carries the meaning first. "Three mistakes that ruin a photo" starts with a number and a promise. "There are a few mistakes people tend to make with photos" spends its first words on nothing. Read your line and ask which word a viewer needs first, then move it to the front.

Choose plain words

A one-second read needs common words. Pick the short word over the long one: "use" over "utilize", "fix" over "remediate". Skip jargon unless your viewers use it daily. A line like "Fix a shaky shot in two steps" can be understood by almost anyone who scrolls past.

Set it so it reads fast

1. Press T in DepCut to add a title. It reads "Your text".
2. Change its words in the Text tab, or double-click the title in the preview.
3. Choose a large size and a font with clear letter shapes.
4. Make sure the text has strong contrast with the footage behind it.

Use one or two lines at most. If the text needs three lines, the idea needs another pass.

Time the line to the shot

The line should be on screen from the first frame. A title that arrives half a second late leaves the opening empty. Keep it up long enough to be read twice, then let it go so the next beat has the screen to itself.

Test the one-second read

Open the first frame and look at it for one second, then look away. Can you say what the line said? If you can, the line works. If you cannot, trim a word, enlarge the text or raise the contrast and try again. Ask a friend to do the same, since a fresh pair of eyes reads the line the way a stranger will.

Keep the line honest

A first line sets an expectation. The video has to deliver what the line suggests. A clear, accurate line brings viewers who stay to the end, which is worth more than a clever line that sends them away after five seconds.

Try the one-second read on your next video in DepCut and see how a shorter first line changes the opening.