Abstract:[Purposes] This paper aims at exploring the effective strategies to design English compound titles by analyzing the problems in Chinese scientific journals. [Methods] Chinese and American authoritative journals (2008-2011) of three disciplines were included in the study. English compound titles were contrasted and compared with regard to use frequency, formation, syntactic structures, and lexical patterns. [Findings] English compound titles in Chinese scientific journals exhibited lower use frequency, less flexible formation, fewer types of syntactic structures, and overuse of some lexical patterns. [Conclusions] English compound titles in Chinese scientific journals lack attractiveness and conciseness because of the monotony of formation, syntactic structures, and lexical patterns.