15.4 PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC SIGNS
Since public signs are designed to regulate people's behavior，effective public signs are those which are most successful in guiding people about their life in public areas.Here are some tips about how to present the message of public signs.
（1）Being Succinct in Giving Instructions
Since most public signs are instructions regulating people's behavior in public，they should be simple to understand and easy to be carried out.If a public sign were written in a long passage composed of complicated sentences，it is almost impossible for people to understand what it means and carry out what is expected of them the moment they pass it.Therefore，most public signs are always written only in a few lines.In some cases，some public signs are just conveyed in several words or even the initials of some words.A case in point is the commonly seen public sign of“WC”in China，though it is criticized by some as an improper public sign.
（2）Choosing Correct Words
Apart from using courteous words，public signs should also be explicit and accurate in meaning.A failure of this often leads to confusions.For example，the public sign of“Racist Park”in Beijing.Does it refer to a park where racism prevails？Won't it be more acceptable if it is put into“Park of Ethnic Minorities”？More examples with misleading meanings would be like this：“Please only put toilet tissue down the toilet”，“Business Suspended”，“No dogs bikes skates skateboarding”，“Rope Way Station”and so on.
（3）Using Supplementary Figures or Pictures(https://www.daowen.com)
Public signs used together with figures or pictures are always easier to understand than those with no supplementary figures or pictures.It is largely because language is abstract whereas pictures or figures are concrete.For example，a simple public sign that“Thank you for clearing up”can be open to different interpretations if it is not accompanied with a picture in which the owner is clearing away the ordure produced by his dog.However，a badly designed figure is as misleading as bad public signs.
（4）Using Standardized Language
A public sign written in slang or idiom is always unacceptable to the wide public.As its name suggests，a public sign should use standardized language to convey what it attempts to express.
（5）Highlighting the Message
Since public signs are posted in public places to inform the public of given subjects，they should be conveyed in such a manner that it would be easy to catch people's eyes.Therefore，words spelled in capital form or bold form can be adopted.Similarly，special fonts and color can also be used to attract the public.