Write down everything needed. When you write your instructions, you may want to include a list of tools or materials that are necessary to complete the task.
If you’re familiar with the task, you may be prone to taking short cuts, so make sure you don’t skip any steps or omit any information your reader may not have.
Consider the reason as well. The instructions for kids working on a project will be different from the instructions for parents helping their kids with a project.
If you included an important warning in the introduction, be sure to include it in your steps as well, in case someone skipped the introduction. For example, if you’re explaining how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you could mention that peanut butter and jelly is a wholesome, simple option that kids love for lunch or an afternoon snack.
For example, instead of writing “Put the dog’s collar around its neck and attach the leash,” break it up into: “Fasten the dog’s collar around its neck” and “Attach the leash to the collar. " “Fasten the dog’s collar around its neck” becomes the first step, and “Attach the leash to the collar” becomes the second.
Word your instructions in terms of what someone must do, not what someone must think or know. For example, if you’re writing dog-walking instructions, “Check the collar’s fit” is more actionable than “Know the dog’s collar size. "
If there is any inherent danger in a particular step, include this warning with the step itself, not in your introduction or at the end of your instructions when it’s too late. Include guides to let your reader know when they’ve performed the step correctly. For example, you say: “Your dog’s collar fits properly if you can place two fingers between the back of the collar and your dog’s neck. "
For example, if you’re explaining how to file a legal brief, you may need to use technical legal terms. Place the plain-language definition first, then give the term used in the courts.
For example, for dog-walking instructions, it’s better to say “check the collar’s fit” than “avoid using a collar that’s too small. "
For example, if you wrote “the lever should be pushed,” you leave your reader wondering who should push the lever. “You must push the lever” or even “push the lever” leaves no doubt that this is something your reader must do.
For example, if you’re explaining how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you can add: “Substitute almond butter in case of peanut allergies. "
For more technical instructions, make sure the reader can clearly see what’s going on in the picture, and the action isn’t obscured by tools or hands.
If you’re numbering your instructions, restart the numbering with each section. The reader will feel a sense of accomplishment after finishing each part. You should still break your task into parts, even if it doesn’t have any semi-independent parts. Too many steps can overwhelm your readers.
You may have to test your instructions several times, particularly if they are lengthy or complex.
If you’re not confident in your editing skills, get a friend to look over your instructions for you.
Think of this like a recipe in a cookbook. Recipes always provide a list of ingredients and cookware at the beginning, so you can gather all these things before you start making the dish.
For example, if you’re writing instructions on how to boil water, you may want to include a warning that the pot will be too hot to touch even before the water starts boiling.
