Clear instructions use precise verbs and order — Language, 11–13
Good instructions let another person act without guessing. They name the action, the object and the order, while adding only details that change what the person should do.
Say what happens, and when
Clear instructions turn an aim into a sequence someone can follow. “Make the model” is too open: “Cut the card into two equal rectangles, then tape the short edges together” gives actions, objects and order. The reader should not need to guess what a vague verb means.
Why sequence solves a problem
An instruction exists because one person wants another to produce a particular result. If steps are missing or out of order, the second person may complete the actions but get a different result. Numbering and precise verbs reduce the gap between what the writer imagines and what the reader actually does.
Rewrite a vague recipe
Start with “Put the things in the box.” Ask what things, where and in what order. A clearer version is: “Place the three red counters in the small box. Put the blue counter on top. Close the lid.” Now someone can count the objects, identify the box and follow three visible steps.
More words are not always clearer
A common mistake is adding every detail you can think of, so the important action disappears in a long block of text. This feels safe because more information seems less likely to leave something out. But useful instructions select details: include what affects the result, and remove decoration or repeated warnings.
Recipes, games and real tasks
You rely on this language when following a recipe, assembling furniture, learning a game or helping someone find a place. You also use it when giving directions in a group project. Before sending instructions, try them with another person: if they must ask “Which one?” or “What next?”, revise the wording.
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