Editing that works: Techniques
3. Put the best bit first
3. Put the best bit first
The best bit is the more useful text. It's the bit that is the most helpful for the people who will use this content.
Move the most useful bit to the start
Look for the bit that is most useful to the people you're writing for. Move it to the start. Move its headline, too.
Decide whether to keep the best bit, the headline for the best bit, or both of them.
Group bits by topic
Move the other bits around so that everything on the same topic is grouped together.
Don't worry about rewriting (yet)
At this point you'll probably have too many bits and too many headlines. That's OK because you will be cutting out the unnecessary ones in the next step: 4. Slash everything else.
Extra thoughts
Tip: Inverted pyramid principle
Some people use the term 'inverted pyramid principle' for what we call 'best bit first'.
H. Pottker (2003) "News and its communicative quality: the inverted pyramid - when and why did it appear?" Journalism Studies, vol 4. no. 4
Find out more about " Put the best bit first"
chapter 8: Announcing Your Topic with a Clear Headline
chapter 9: Including Useful Headings
