signposting
Marking the way
Signposting is the practice of explicitly guiding readers or listeners through an argument or text—announcing what's coming, marking transitions, summarizing what's been covered.
Academic writing relies heavily on signposting: This essay will first examine... then consider... finally argue...
The term comes from literal signposts that direct travelers, extended to verbal navigation aids.
Shafted projectiles for bows
- detourAlternate path around obstruction
- exitWay to leave
- intersectionPoint where paths meet
- junctionPoint where things meet
directions · route · blazes · cairns · maps · symbols · icons · pictograms
Displays conveying information
- markersPens with porous tips
- postsPublished online content
- placardsSigns carried at demonstrations
- boardsPlanks or governing bodies
notices · plaques · banners · flags · pylons · bollards · wayfinders · totems
State of being see-through
- explicitnessQuality of being unambiguous
- lucidityClearness of mind
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
- comprehensibilityClarity of meaning
intelligibility · straightforwardness · obviousness · distinctness · articulateness · precision · structure · organization
Movements between states
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
- summarizingCondensing to main points
- recappingRestating key points briefly
previewing · outlining · structuring · linking · connecting · indicating · announcing · stating
arrows
Shafted projectiles for bows
- detourAlternate path around obstruction
- exitWay to leave
- intersectionPoint where paths meet
junction · directions · route · blazes · cairns · maps · symbols · icons · pictograms · kiosks
signs
Displays conveying information
boards · notices · plaques · banners · flags · pylons · bollards · wayfinders · totems · finger-posts
transparency
State of being see-through
- explicitnessQuality of being unambiguous
- lucidityClearness of mind
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
comprehensibility · intelligibility · straightforwardness · obviousness · distinctness · articulateness · precision · structure · organization · readability
transitions
Movements between states
- framingStructural or contextual shaping
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
- summarizingCondensing to main points
recapping · previewing · outlining · structuring · linking · connecting · indicating · announcing · stating · thesis
- debaterebuttal, argument, rebuttals, refute, case
- public speakingspeech, public speaking, keynotes, keynote speeches, oratory
- oratorypublic speaking, speeches, oration, orations, addresses
- plain languageplain language, plain English, plain text, plain talk, plain speech
- Debate Skillsargument, rebuttal, logic, persuasion, evidence
signpostingmisdirection
Intentional focus manipulation
disorientation · obscuring · ignoring · neglecting · pathlessness
signpostingobfuscation
Deliberate concealment through confusion
stream of consciousness · avoiding · disregarding · non-sequitur · rambling
signpostingconcealing
Keeping something secret
hiding · ignoring · disregarding · burying · disguising