PRINCIPLES OF

CLEAR AND
EFFECTIVE WRITING
FOR RADIO

Claudia Odette J. Ayala, PhD

PRINCIPLE 1: WRITE FOR THE EAR AS
WELL AS FOR THE EYE. 
Be sure that your script is easy to say, easy to read with the
eyes, and easy to listen to.
 
 Use simple and shorter words. They are easier to
understand.
Examples: Avoid Prefer
proliferation spread
merchandise goods
necessitates needs
purchase buy
 Avoid numbers or statistics.

Instead of writing “56,978 cavans of rice” write “nearly

fifty-seven thousand.”

The precise amount or number of something is

unimportant in broadcast. Certainly, if 163 people are
killed in an airplane crash, the number is important.

But it’s better to say a budget of nearly two million pesos

than to say a budget of one million – 865 thousand
pesos.
 There are different guidelines for dealing with numbers.
Numbers 1 through 9 – write out in words.
Numbers 10 through 999 – use numerals.
Numbers higher than 999 – use a combination of words
and numerals.

For example: 37,915,776 should be written 37 million –

915 thousand – 776. 

Write phone numbers and years using all numbers

because that’s how we’re accustomed to seeing them.
Example: 710-2541 2008
 Keep hyphenated words on the same line.
Any words that are meant to be read together should be
hyphenated to alert the anchor as to how they should be
read. All parts of the hyphenation should appear on the
same line.
Example: long-running trial
 
 When complex or long words are necessary, make them
easier to read by separating the stem word from the
prefix by inserting a hyphen.
  Example: “re-confirm” instead of “reconfirm”
“un-intentionally” instead of
“unintentionally”
 Avoid using the same or similar phrases several times on
the same page. There is a danger that the reader or voice
talent could accidentally skip over some lines of the
script.
Example: Do not write a series like
It is dangerous to … in the forest.
It is dangerous to … at the sea.
It is dangerous to … with them.
It is dangerous to … today.

 Be careful with acronyms. Use hyphen when each letter

in an acronym should be pronounced.
Example: P-N-P D-S-W-D U-N
A-M
 Broadcast writers use no symbols.
All references to pesos, dollars, percent and other such
word should be spelled out or written in words. Even one
point two million pesos should be spelled out.
 
 Be conscious of sound clashes.

 Avoid alliteration. Do not repeat the initial sound of

nearby words or syllables.
For example, don’t write:
“Their organization plans to organize a conference.”
“They marketed imported goods at the Lucena public
market.”
 Avoid sibilants and popping sounds. Words with s, z, ch,
j, zh’s are called sibilants. Sibilants produce whistling or
hissing sounds. A series of sibilant words can be difficult
to read and distracting to hear.
For example, avoid a sentence like: 
“Sheryl’s children want cheese and chicken.”

Popping sounds, on the other hand, are words with b’s

and p’s. The microphone easily picks up these sounds if
the announcer is not careful in pronouncing them,
For example, avoid sentences like:
 “The pianist performed perfectly.”

 “She baked a better batch of buns.”

 Avoid tongue twisters or tanglers. They may cause a
speaker to stammer.
Examples are:
“Let us buy a quartz crystal wristwatch.”
“Her role is to roll a ball of rope near a railroad.”
 Punctuate for sounds. Use it to indicate your intentions
regarding the mood and meanings.

 Provide a pronunciation guide. This will keep the

broadcaster from mispronouncing words, names of
persons, persons, places, or things.
PRINCIPLE 2: BE INFORMAL.
 Write as if you are talking to a person sitting in front of
you. Be conversational and friendly.
 Write using the first and second person; use I, we, us.

 Contractions are a big part of sounding conversational.

Avoid those that don’t roll off the tongue very smoothly
like “that’ll” for that will or “it’ll” for it will and
“there’re” for there are.
  Avoid contractions if you want to emphasize a word,
especially in a strong negative statement.
Example: President Arroyo said today that she
will not resign.
PRINCIPLE 3: AIM FOR CLARITY.
 Use familiar words or those which are commonly used
by the listeners and which are acceptable to them. Prefer
words with clear, concise meaning.
Avoid Prefer
resuscitate revive
affluent rich
missive letter
bifurcation division
beverage drink

 Repeat important points or messages. 

 Eliminate excess words that will just make sentences
long.

Examples:
past history history
a round shape round
the year 2001 2001
in a dying condition dying
less expensive cheaper
Crammed: The Republic of the Philippines and
the Republic of Vietnam, under a
bilateral trade agreement, have
agreed to expand their two-way trade, with
the latter assuring the former that it will not
extend any support, financial or otherwise, to
the local communist movement.

Better: The Philippines and Vietnam today

agreed to expand their trade relations by
signing a trade agreement. Vietnam
assured the Philippines that it will not support
the local communist movement.
 Be accurate and precise. Write “one teaspoonful of salt”
instead of “enough amount of salt.” 
 Be careful in dealing with dates and days of the week.

  Use the words “yesterday” and “tomorrow” if the event

in question is only one day past or one day in the future.
If it’s more than one day distant, give the day of the
week. Dates aren’t necessary unless the event happened
more than a week ago or will happen more than a week
from now.
Example: The acquaintance party was held
yesterday.
The election campaign begins
tomorrow.
 Avoid abbreviations. The listeners may not understand
them. The announcer may also be confused, especially
with those referring to titles of persons.
Examples: “st.” can mean street or saint
“Dr.” is short for doctor and drive
Write: “Audio Visual Room” instead of “AVR”
“Lieutenant Colonel” instead of “Lt. Col.”
“Reverend Father” instead of “Rev. Fr.”

  Some abbreviations aren’t used because they aren’t

needed like courtesy titles Mr., Ms., and Mrs. But one
exception is with the heads of state and their spouses.
 Often, addresses and ages aren’t important in broadcast
writing.

 Point out landmarks instead of giving a street address.

A person’s age usually isn’t important unless we’re

talking about a 10-year-old college graduate or a 95-
year-old boxing champion. However, there are
exceptions. When a person has been killed, it might be
necessary to give age and an address so relatives of other
people with the same name as the dead person aren’t
alarmed for no reason.
PRINCIPLE 4: PUT ACTION INTO YOUR
SENTENCES.
 Use active verbs. They create excitement and action, and
makes sentences short and alive.
 
Instead of: The boy was hit by the car.
Write: The car hit the boy.
Instead of: A salary increase was
demanded by the laborers.
Write: The laborers demanded a salary
increase.
PRINCIPLE 5: USE DESCRIPTIVE
WORDS.
 Use words that will help readers form a definite picture
of things in their minds.
 
Instead of: Be sure that the place is safe.

Write: Be sure that there are no

criminals or thieves in that
place.
Thank you for
listening!