Advanced Writing with English in Use

Instructionsand directions • Module2A

2A Instructions and directions

1.0 Neither too many words nor too few

A Thesetwo setsof instructions refer to the same keep-fitexercise. Nei t heris

perfect ,butwhich featu resmake the first set better?

1 You star tthis exercise by st a n din gupright. Now

make su rethatyou rbottomistuckedinandthat

yourkneesare sligh tl y bent.Also, yourhips

sh ou ld be slightlyforward.

2 Bendside waysatthewaist, toyou rleft.Letyour

le ft a rm slideslowlydownyourleg. Atthesame

time bring yourrightarmup above yourhead.

Allthis time,yoush ou ld bebreathingout..

3 Holdthatpositionfor a moment,thenst a r tgoing

uprightagainasyoubreathein..

4 Rep ea tthis proces satotalof fivetimes onthe

left. Afterwards ,dothesame exerciseanotherfive

t imesontheothersid e.

1 Sta ndup st raight.

2 Bend leftfive times,

breathing out, withone

a rmgoingdown your leg

and the other in the air.

3 Be ndrightfivet imes ,e tc.

B A good set of instructionsavoids any misunderstanding,withoutbeing too

long.The first set could have been writtenusing fewer words without losing any

of the details. Rewrit e each stepin a singlesentence, usingfewer words.

1 .1 Writing practice

When givinginstructions,you shouldexplain anythingthat the other person

might notunderstand, andadapt yourinstruct ions to suit your reader. It is better

togive toomuchinformat ionthannot enough.

Writea set of i nstructions,numbering themstep by step (fouror five steps), for

oneof theseactivities.Imagineyou aretalking to a friendfroma country (or

planet)w here they don' tdothese things.

Bu)'in gbre ad Turning 011 a television Shaking hands

1.2 Imperatives

Instruct ions on shampoobottles,inrecipes andso on, are often given like

commands,in the imp erative:Rinse and repeat;Add200gof chocolate.

Usefullanguage

+

Doit.
Rememb e rto.
]) 011 'tforget to..
Dorememberto ... (fore11lphasis)
BeSllreto...I BeSIIrcYOIl.
Make surethat...IMak«sureYOIl
See thai I See thaiyou.
Try to.

DOll'[doit.

Tak e carenotto

BeSllre not to...

Becaref ul notLa.

Never,everdoit.

Try notto..

Avo id doingit.

Exampl e s

PuY/ctll ate YOllricrittng.

DopunctuntcY0ltrwriting.

Rem emb ertoliseparag ra p hs.

Never,eceruseobscenelanguagein(IllexoJ1l/wper.

Make slireYOllrwritillgis legible.

Relatedst ruct ures used for givingadvice can be found on page 51.

Types of writing • 49