Pay Close Attention to Coordination and Subordination

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Outlines are based on the principles of coordination and subordination—the logical placement of ideas relative to their importance to one another. Ideas that are coordinate are given equal weight; coordinate points are indicated by their parallel alignment. An idea that is subordinate to another is given relatively less weight; subordinate points are indicated by their indentation below the more important points. For an example, see the outline shown earlier on using effective subject lines in business-related e-mails: Coordinate points are aligned with one another, while subordinate points are indented below the points that they substantiate. Thus Main Point II is coordinate with Main Point I, Subpoint A is subordinate to Main Point I, Subpoint B is coordinate with Subpoint A, and so forth.