Writing Directions 01

English writing and speaking to inform: at your local station you are asked to give a set of directions to the hospital (three miles away) to visitors on foot. They ask the following questions; answer them to create your sequenced instruction list.

What qualities do good instructions share? They are clear and avoid unnecessary detail. They are given in the order that they should be followed. They use directional language, such as "right", "left" and "straight", as well as positional language, such as "opposite", "next to" and "across". They give times and distances, for example: "Walk for 200 metres" or "Drive for ten minutes". They also mention landmarks to help the listener recognise the journey as they undertake it.

Excellent directions also anticipate any difficulties the listener might encounter, such as missing the last bus or train, or being likely to mistake a similar location for their final destination. If you know such details, it's good to share them!

See if you can help the visitors to find the hospital by playing this quiz.