Where is the inverted pyramid

A successful lead paragraph communicates, on a basic level, the essential facts of who did what, when, where, and why. These are added to the article in order of importance, so that the least important items are at the bottom. The inverted pyramid structure is the product of an old media technology—the telegraph.

When news outlets would telegraph information over the wires, it made sense to use the inverted pyramid because the most vital information in the story was transmitted first. In the event of a lost connection, whoever received the story could still print the essential facts. The inverted pyramid structure also benefits editors. If an editor needs to cut an article, they can simply cut from the bottom. If their reporter was writing in the reliable inverted pyramid structure, the most essential information would remain at the top.

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get notified about future articles. The Biggest Mistake in Writing for the Web. Why Chunking Content is Important. Translation and Localization. Share this article:. Share this article: Twitter LinkedIn Email. About the Author Amy Schade works with clients large and small in a variety of industries such as telecommunications, e-commerce, government, travel, automotive, music, publishing, banking, non-profit and education, including extensive work on corporate intranets.

The Biggest Mistake in Writing for the Web 3 minute video. Why Chunking Content is Important 2 minute video. This style of writing can be applied to press releases, news articles, blog posts, academic proposals, e-newsletters, email blasts, and countless others.

Reviewing examples can help you better grasp how to apply the concept to many different writing pieces. Our first example explores the mystery behind a recently closed business. The title alone creates interest in the story and beckons the reader to find out more. The serious tone sets the mood for the rest of the article.

We are educated on the main points of the story and are now ready to process new information to gain a better perspective on the situation. The next three paragraphs of the article include a breakdown of the details, additional background information, and quotes. Collectively these elements allow the reader to form their own opinion about why the restaurant really closed down. Further Reading. The second example allows us to see how a blogger uses the inverted pyramid.

The title asks a lighthearted question that makes the reader excited to learn the answer. The next paragraphs provide our:.

Despite the circumstances this was written in, these initial paragraphs set the humorous tone for the rest of the post.

These additional details let the reader determine which of the calls mentioned actually took place in the weirdest setting. The post ends with a call to action to comment with your weirdest call.