---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-explain-why-and-how.md
title: "Give the reason and the specific steps with every recommendation"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "US government work, public domain; original synthesis in our own words"
license_family: usgov
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Clear Communication Index: User Guide, US government work, public domain; GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive, Use lists, US government work, public domain."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-09
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-09
as_of: 2026-11-09
confidence: medium
untested: "Editorial checklist only; not tested with readers. Sources fetched and evidence checked."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "write-comm"
tags: [plain-language, instructions, write-comm, cdc-cci]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "CDC Clear Communication Index: User Guide"
    publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    url: https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/pdf/clear-communication-user-guide.pdf
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S2
    title: "Use lists"
    publisher: GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/organize/use-lists.md
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
---
# Give the reason and the specific steps with every recommendation

**Answer:** Explain why the behavioral recommendation is important to the primary audience, and include specific directions about how to perform the behavior.

## Why (CDC Clear Communication Index, item 13)

- Give the primary audience reasons why they should or shouldn't do the behavior, and tell them possible consequences of doing or not doing it.
- Provide enough information so they can easily and quickly grasp why it is important; this helps people make informed decisions.

## How (item 14)

- Tell the audience how to do the behaviors and describe the steps involved.
- Be as specific as possible: say how often and how long to perform the behavior.
- New or complex behaviors may require more detailed directions, but don't overwhelm the audience with too much information.
- Specific action steps can increase people's confidence in their ability to perform a behavior.

## Format the steps

When you're outlining steps in a process, consider numbering the individual list items.

## See also

- [plain-call-to-action](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-call-to-action/)
- [plain-list-lead-in-and-parallel-items](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-list-lead-in-and-parallel-items/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: Give reasons and consequences.
  source: S1
  evidence: "tell them possible consequences of doing or not doing the behaviors"

- id: C2
  claim: Tell the audience how to do it.
  source: S1
  evidence: "be sure to tell the audience how to do the behaviors."

- id: C3
  claim: Be specific about how often and how long.
  source: S1
  evidence: "how often and how long a behavior needs to be performed"

- id: C4
  claim: Number the steps in a process.
  source: S2
  evidence: "consider numbering the individual list items"

## Sources

- [S1] CDC Clear Communication Index: User Guide. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/pdf/clear-communication-user-guide.pdf . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S2] Use lists. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/organize/use-lists.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: US federal government works (GSA, GPO, SEC, CDC), public domain in the United States; third-party quotations inside those works were not used. Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

---

Agents: [/agents.md](/agents.md) | [/.well-known/agent-library.json](/.well-known/agent-library.json).