73% of readers decide whether to continue a story based on the first two paragraphs. The lede hooks attention; the nut graf explains why readers should care. Below: 15 copy-paste templates for both, plus real examples from published stories.
The Lede + Nut Graf Formula
| Element | Purpose | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Lede | Hook attention with scene, surprise, or significance | 1-3 sentences |
| Nut Graf | Explain what, why, and why now | 1-2 sentences |
| Combined | Reader understands entire story premise | 3-5 sentences total |
The 6 Types of Ledes (With Templates)
Type 1: Scene-Setter Lede
Best for: Features, profiles, human interest stories
Template: [CHARACTER NAME] [VIVID ACTION] at [SPECIFIC TIME/PLACE]. [SPECIFIC DETAIL that makes scene concrete]. [BRIEF CONTEXT showing stakes].
Example:
Maria Rodriguez stood in line at 5 a.m. outside City Hall, the 47th person waiting for housing assistance that would run out before reaching the 60th. She clutched a folder of documents—pay stubs, lease termination notice, her daughter's birth certificate—papers that might determine whether they'd have a home next month.
Nut graf follows:
Rodriguez is among 12,000 city residents now facing housing insecurity as rents have increased 47% in three years while wages rose just 8%. The crisis has forced officials to consider emergency measures, including a controversial rent freeze proposal that goes before the council Thursday.
Type 2: Summary Lede (Hard News)
Best for: Breaking news, announcements, event coverage
Template: [WHO] [DID WHAT] [WHEN], [IMMEDIATE SIGNIFICANCE OR IMPACT].
Example:
The mayor announced his resignation effective immediately Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation following corruption allegations that federal prosecutors say involve $2.3 million in misused public funds.
Nut graf follows:
The resignation throws city government into uncertainty as council members scramble to establish succession plans while FBI investigators continue probing contracts awarded to donors during the mayor's 12-year tenure.
Type 3: Surprise/Contrast Lede
Best for: Investigative stories, analysis, trend pieces
Template: [SURPRISING FACT that contradicts expectations]. [BRIEF explanation or context]. [Signal that story will explain].
Example:
The company losing $2 million monthly is actually performing exactly as planned, according to executives who say the losses are necessary investments that will generate $50 million in revenue within three years.
Nut graf follows:
The counterintuitive strategy reflects a growing trend among venture-backed startups that prioritize market share over profitability—an approach that has created billion-dollar companies and spectacular failures in equal measure.
Type 4: Question Lede
Best for: Explainers, analysis, investigative setups
Template: What happens when [SCENARIO]? [BRIEF ANSWER or hint]. [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE that grounds abstract question].
Example:
What happens when a city's entire police force resigns in a single week? The 3,400 residents of Riverside are about to find out. As of Friday, the town has zero sworn officers and no plan to hire replacements.
Nut graf follows:
The mass resignation—triggered by a council decision to cut pensions—has left Riverside dependent on state troopers for emergency response and raised questions about whether small-town policing can survive budget pressures facing municipalities nationwide.
Type 5: Quote Lede
Best for: Profiles, controversies, dramatic moments
Template: "[COMPELLING QUOTE]," [ATTRIBUTION with context]. [BRIEF setup showing why quote matters].
Example:
"I knew they were lying to us—I just couldn't prove it," said Dr. Sarah Chen, the CDC researcher whose emails, released Friday under court order, show she warned superiors about contaminated vaccines six months before the recall that affected 2 million children.
Nut graf follows:
Chen's emails, obtained through a Freedom of Information lawsuit, reveal a pattern of suppressed warnings within the agency and raise questions about what officials knew and when during the largest vaccine recall in American history.
Type 6: Anecdotal Lede
Best for: Long-form features, magazine journalism
Template: [BRIEF NARRATIVE of specific moment or event]. [DETAIL that creates texture]. [Transition hint to larger story].
Example:
At 3:47 a.m. on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Tom Walsh's phone buzzed with the message that would change everything: "Dad's gone. Come home." He was 2,000 miles away, stuck in a Seattle hotel room after his flight was cancelled—one of 47,000 passengers stranded that week by Southwest Airlines.
Nut graf follows:
Walsh's story is among thousands that emerged from what federal regulators are calling the worst airline operational failure in U.S. history—a meltdown caused not by weather but by decades-old scheduling software that executives knew needed replacement.
Nut Graf Templates by Story Type
| Story Type | Nut Graf Must Answer | Template |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking News | What happened? What's the impact? | [EVENT] affects [WHO] by [HOW]. [WHAT HAPPENS NEXT]. |
| Feature | Why should I care? Why now? | [CHARACTER] is among [TREND]. This matters because [SIGNIFICANCE]. |
| Investigative | What did we find? Why does it matter? | [DOCUMENTS/INTERVIEWS] reveal [FINDING]. The implications: [STAKES]. |
| Explainer | What is this? Why is it complicated? | [TOPIC] is [DEFINITION]. The debate centers on [TENSION]. |
| Profile | Why this person? Why now? | [PERSON]'s [ROLE/ACHIEVEMENT] comes at a moment when [CONTEXT]. |
5 Complete Lede + Nut Graf Examples
Example 1: Crime/Breaking News
Lede: A former Goldman Sachs executive was arrested Tuesday on charges she embezzled $47 million from client accounts over seven years, using the money to fund a secret gambling habit that prosecutors say cost her $300,000 weekly at Atlantic City casinos. Nut graf: The arrest caps a year-long investigation that began when a routine audit flagged unusual transactions. It marks the largest individual embezzlement case in Wall Street history and raises questions about oversight failures at one of finance's most prestigious firms.
Example 2: Health/Science
Lede: Eating breakfast may not be as important as nutritionists have claimed for decades, according to a 12-year study of 50,000 adults that found no significant health difference between those who skip the morning meal and those who don't. Nut graf: The findings, published Thursday in The Lancet, challenge dietary advice that has shaped school lunch programs, weight-loss plans, and cereal marketing for generations. Researchers say the "most important meal" mantra was based on flawed studies funded largely by the food industry.
Example 3: Politics
Lede: The senator who built her career on fiscal conservatism voted Tuesday for the largest spending bill in state history—a $47 billion infrastructure package she once called "reckless." Her explanation: "I was wrong." Nut graf: The reversal, announced in a floor speech that stunned colleagues, signals a broader shift among Republicans on infrastructure spending and sets up a potential primary challenge from her right. Three opponents have already announced campaigns.
Example 4: Business/Tech
Lede: Stripe quietly laid off 1,100 employees last week—14% of its workforce—while publicly celebrating a $50 billion valuation and telling investors the company had "never been stronger." Nut graf: The disconnect between Stripe's public messaging and internal reality reflects a pattern across Silicon Valley, where companies are cutting staff while maintaining growth narratives that keep valuations high. Analysts say the approach is unsustainable.
Example 5: Local/Community
Lede: The elementary school that graduated three generations of Riverside families will close its doors in June after the district determined it would cost $12 million to fix a leaking roof—more than the building is worth. Nut graf: Washington Elementary joins 47 schools across the state facing closure due to deferred maintenance, a crisis education officials trace to two decades of underfunding that has left districts choosing between repairs and teacher salaries.
Common Lede Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Backing in | "For years, experts have debated..." | Start with the news: "A new study shows..." |
| Vague generality | "Many people are concerned about..." | Specific: "47% of residents surveyed say..." |
| Cliché opening | "In today's fast-paced world..." | Cut and start with substance |
| Burying the lede | News in paragraph 4 | Most newsworthy fact in sentence 1 |
| Too long | 50+ word lede sentence | Keep under 35 words ideally |
| No stakes | "The council met Tuesday." | Add significance: "...and voted to..." |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a lede and a nut graf?
The lede hooks; the nut graf explains. The lede captures attention through scene, surprise, or significance—it makes readers want to continue. The nut graf (usually paragraphs 2-4) tells readers what the story is about, why it matters, and why now. Together, they orient readers within 3-5 sentences.
How long should a lede be?
1-3 sentences, ideally under 35 words for the first sentence. Hard news ledes tend to be single sentences. Feature ledes can extend to 2-3 sentences for scene-setting. If your lede runs past 50 words, you're likely including nut graf material—split it up.
When should I use a summary lede vs. an anecdotal lede?
Summary for breaking news and time-sensitive stories; anecdotal for features and human interest. If readers need facts immediately (election results, emergency, major announcement), use summary. If you have time to draw readers in and the story centers on human experience, use anecdotal.
Can my nut graf come before my lede?
Rarely, and only with intention. Some investigative pieces lead with stakes (nut graf position) then use the second paragraph as the hook (lede position). This "inverted" structure works when the significance itself is the hook. It's uncommon but valid for certain stories.
How do I know if my lede is working?
Ask: Would I keep reading? Share with someone unfamiliar with the story. Do they want to know more after the first paragraph? If they shrug, the lede isn't hooking. If they ask questions, you've succeeded. Test ledes before publishing.
Should every story have both a lede and nut graf?
Yes—even very short stories. Breaking news briefs can combine them in 2 sentences. Features need more separation. But every story needs both the hook (lede) and the context (nut graf) to orient readers properly.
Use these templates to craft openings that hook readers immediately. For faster drafting, try River's journalism tools to generate ledes and nut grafs for any story type.