In linguistic writing, a common principle is to express old information before new information. This involves placing familiar information at the beginning of a sentence and new information at the end. This structure is believed to enhance the cohesion and coherence of a text. This can be achieved by using a separate sentence for old and new information, or by using an "old-to-new" pattern within a single sentence. By following this principle, writers can better guide their readers through the flow of information and make their writing more effective.