076 Inverted Pyramid
Information presented in order of importance—from most important to least important.
• In the pyramid metaphor, the base represents the most important information, while the tip represents the least important information. To invert the pyramid is to present the important information first, and the background information last.
• The inverted pyramid has been a standard in journalism for over one hundred years, and has found wide use in instructional design and technical writing.
• The lead is the critical component of the inverted pyramid, as it is presented first. It should be a terse summary of the what, where, when, who, and why.
• Use the inverted pyramid when presentation efficiency is important. When it is not possible ...
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