Dr. David BlakesleyProfessor of English, PurdueBrought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab

Five Principles of Readability

Principle One

English is an S-V-O language, so get with it!

Sentences that have a subject – verb - object order are more readable than those that don’t.

Principle One Example

S V OThe American Concrete Institute recommends the technique.

Principle one Non-Example

O V S

The technique is being recommended by the ACI.

Principle Two

Get close to the action!

When possible, put the agent(subject) and action (verb) close together in the sentence.

Principle Two Example

Modified by a chemical process, the ash strengthens the mixture.

Principle Two Non-Example

SThe ash, modified by a chemical process,

Action V O strengthens the asphalt.

Principle Three

Get those modifiers up close and personal!

Keep modifiers and the words theymodify close together in the sentence.

Principle Three Examples

modifying phrase

Prone to non-linear fissures and cracks, the asphalt is difficult to cut.

Proximity

word modified

Principle Three Non-Example

Prone to non-linear fissures and cracks, it was difficult to cut the asphalt.

modifying phrase

word modified intervening text

Principle Four

People matter!

Whenever possible, put people in the subject position in the sentence.

Principle Four example

Agent = People S V OThree teams of engineers tested the slag.

Principle Four Non-Example

Receiving ActionObjectThe slag was tested with multiple measures under laboratory conditions.

Note that there is no agent/subject in this sentence!

You may have noticed…

…that many readability problems stem from one type of sentence construction…

…the passive voice

The passive voice reverses the agent and the object.

ActiveJohn laid the pavement. s v o

PassiveThe pavement was laid by John. s v o

Principle Five

In with the old, out with the new!

Start sentences with old information, end them with new (or important) information.

Which is easier to read?

Business school professors perennially debate over whether maintaining an old employee is more costly than hiring a new one. The issue has strong proponents oneach side. Human resource experts maintain that keeping an old employee requires fewer man hours for training and orientation. However, management gurus insist that having the right person in the right position increases the overall productivity of a team or workgroup. Betweenthese two groups are the economists who study new hiringpractices in a company-specific context.

Which is easier to read?

Business school professors perennially debate over whether maintaining an old employee is more costly than hiring a new one. Strong proponents are on each side of the issue. An old employee requires fewer man hours for training and orientation, human resource experts maintain. However, having the right person in theright position increases the overall productivity of a team or workgroup, according to some management gurus.Between these two groups are the economists who studynew hiring practices in a company-specific context.

Principle Five Example

Business school professors perennially debate over whether maintaining an old employee is more costly than hiring a new one. The issue has strong proponents oneach side. Human resource experts maintain that keeping an old employee requires fewer man hours for training and orientation. However, management gurus insist that having the right person in the right position increases the overall productivity of a team or workgroup. Betweenthese two arguments are the economists who study new hiring practices in a company-specific context

new information = red old information = blue

Principle Five Non-Example

Business school professors perennially debate over whether maintaining an old employee is more costly than hiring a new one. Strong proponents are on each side of the issue. An old employee requires fewer man hours for training and orientation, human resource experts maintain. However, having the right person in theright position increases the overall productivity of a team or workgroup, according to some management gurus.Between these two groups are the economists who studynew hiring practices in a company-specific context

new information = red old information = blue

The Five Principles Again..

1. English is an S-V-O language, so get with it!

2. Get close to the action!3. Get those modifiers up close and

personal!4. People matter!5. In with the old, out with the new!

The End

Five Principles of Readability Adapted by Joshua Prenosil and David Blakesley from The Thomson Handbook by David Blakesley and Jeffrey L. HoogeveenBrought to you in cooperation with the Purdue Online Writing Lab

For More Information

Contact the Purdue Writing Lab:Drop In: Heavilon 226Call: 765-494-3723Email: owl@owl.english.purdue.eduOn the web: http://owl.english.purdue.edu