When you drive along an unfamiliar road, you depend on yellow warning signs to tell you what's coming next. Perpendicular lines signal an upcoming intersection, a snaky "S" heralds a curvy passage, a leaping deer tells you ... vaulting venison!

By showing what's ahead, these signs help motorists anticipate adjustments in speed or direction. And they're much less annoying than a backseat driver.

Skillful writers also use signposts — words, phrases and sentences that link upcoming ideas to previous material and tell the reader what to expect. British writer and teacher Alastair Fowler offers helpful tips on furnishing such verbal cues in his nifty book titled simply, "How To Write."

— Use Transitions — A transition is a word or phrase placed at the beginning of a paragraph or sentence. It can indicate a shift in direction ("But," "On the other hand"); amplification ("And," "Furthermore"); exemplification ("Specifically," "For example"); or resumption ("To return," "To get back to . . .").

— Summarize — Let's say you've been writing about the dramatic political and social events of the late 1960s: riots, protests, assassinations. But in the next paragraph, you want to discuss the emerging political dominance of centrist, moderate views during that era.

A good way to signal that shift, Fowler suggests, is to begin the second paragraph with a sentence summarizing the first, e.g., "Amidst the turmoil and dissent that seemed to dominate the decade, the majority of Americans continued to concentrate on everyday concerns."

— Ask a Question — A handy way to alert your reader to upcoming ideas is to ask a question at the end of a paragraph and answer it in the next:

"But just why were so many Americans hungry for a return to moderation?

"To them, the changes of the late 1960s seemed too frenzied, too frantic and too frightening."

— Repeat Key Topics — To avoid the pedantic "First ... Second ... Third" pattern, mention three or four key subjects in the first sentence of a paragraph, and then repeat those subjects as they arise, e.g., "Julia has excelled academically, artistically and athletically. In the classroom ... On stage ... On the playing fields ..."

Remember, a good writer — (I'm nearing the end here!) — tells the reader what's coming up next.

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254