Rule 4: Place light ideas before heavy ideas

When you have a series of two or more related ideas, place the lighter, more specific or more concrete idea(s) before the heavier, more abstract ideas.

In the example, a is lighter, more concrete, less abstract idea than B, so it should come before B.

Example 1

"In 2 studies the quality of life was not assessable because of a ^Brapid deterioration of the patients’ physical and cognitive status and ^apoor compliance."

Better:

"In 2 studies the quality of life was not assessable because of ^apoor compliance and a ^Brapid deterioration of the patients’ physical and cognitive status."

Study Examples

Correct the following sentences based on the corresponding comment.

① Place the main point at the end of the sentence:

"Calcium entry blocking drugs and ß-adrenoreceptor blocking drugs are widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, despite their efficacy in the treatment of angina pectoris, it is recognized that treatment with either type of drug alone is frequently not fully effective against all types of angina pectoris because of their different mechanisms of action."

② Place light ideas before heavy ideas:

"The test drugs were administered intravenously through a femoral cannula or orally."

③ Place known information before new information:

"We investigated the effects of XP-538 on diurnal variation in blood pressure in hospitalized patients with essential hypertension. Diurnal amplitude, diurnal range and coefficient of diurnal range were compared between the observation and treatment periods to assess diurnal variation."

Answers

① Place main point at the end of the sentence:

"Calcium entry blocking drugs and ß-adrenoreceptor blocking drugs are widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However adespite their efficacy in the treatment of angina pectoris, it is recognized that, bbecause of their different mechanisms of action, Ctreatment with either type of drug alone is frequently not fully effective against all types of angina pectoris."

② Place light ideas before heavy ideas:

"The test drugs were administered orally or intravenously through a femoral cannula."

③ Place known information before new information:

"We investigated the effects of XP-538 on diurnal variation in blood pressure in hospitalized patients with essential hypertension. Variation was assessed by comparing diurnal amplitude, diurnal range and coefficient of diurnal range between the observation and treatment periods."