Writing directions and instructions
When writing directions and instructions make sure you're clear, so that there is no chance your reader will misunderstand you.
Here's an example of an attempt to describe the rules of cricket. If you're not a cricket fan, how easy is it to understand the instructions?
Cricket – As explained to a foreigner
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.
There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game.
If you're not a cricket fan, the chances are that you found the extract difficult to understand. It's written in a humorous way to show how some aspects of English (such as prepositions and phrasal verbs) can cause confusion. So how can you make sure that your writing is unambiguous?
Writing clear directions and instructions
1. Use numbers and sequencers
When you use numbers, your reader can see the sequence of instructions in a step-by-step format, which means that he or she is less likely to miss a written instruction. You can also use sequencers, such as "firstly", "secondly" etc.
2. Avoid phrasal verbs (go out, come in, go in, get out, stay out, etc) as they are not always easy to understand. Instead, use "latinate" verbs. For example, "go out" in this context can be written as "enter the cricket pitch".
3. Use precise verbs rather than prepositions, which can be hard to use and to understand.
For example, "You have two sides, one out in the field and one in" can be written: There are two sides. One side is "in the field" (trying to score "runs") and one side is waiting inside the pavilion for the first side to finish.
4. Move from the general to the specific. Let your reader know the basics before going on to more detailed information. For the cricket example, you could write "In the game of cricket, there are two sides of players, and two umpires."
5. Keep sentences short and grammatical structures simple. The simpler your sentences, the easier they are to understand, and the less likely you are to make mistakes. Use imperatives if you are telling your reader how to do something.
Is there anyone out there brave enough to try and rewrite the cricket rules?
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