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edited by Lizzie Bruce
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Title
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1 -Law, medicine and money
1 +Plain language for health, finances and law
Content
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1 +(% class="box" %)
2 +(((
3 +{{id name="#UM"/}}Following this helps:
4 +
5 +
6 +* **people in a hurry** – simply written content is quicker to scan
7 +* **people who are stressed** – if you're anxious it's difficult to understand complex text
8 +* **people who are multi-tasking** – when distracted complex text is harder to comprehend
9 +* **cognitive impairments** – easy to understand words involve less cognitive load
10 +* **visual impairments** – short, simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
11 +* **motor impairments** – it takes less physical effort to navigate shorter content
12 +)))
13 +
14 +
15 +== Guidance ==
16 +
1 1  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2 -The legal, medical and financial professions are known for using complex terminology. But it is not necessary and confuses users of their services.
18 +The legal, financial and medical professions are known for complex terminology. This is not necessary and confuses people. 
19 +
3 3  
21 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
22 +**Health:** People need to understand doctors' letters and consultant reports easily. They need to be able to comprehend online information about health. 
4 4  
5 -Law
24 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
25 +**Finances: **Many people do not understand financial terms. This causes problems. Complex terminology describing conceptual arrangements is not helpful.
6 6  
7 -Medicine
27 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
28 +**Law: **Judges created a set of tools to decide what legal writers intended: Statutory Interpretation. But analyses can contradict each other. Plain English makes meaning clearer from the start.
8 8  
9 -Money
10 10  
31 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Usesimplelanguageforlegalterms." %)
32 +[[1. Use simple language for legal terms.>>doc:||anchor="#l1"]]
11 11  
12 -== Law ==
34 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainthelawincontext." %)
35 +[[2. Explain the law in context.>>doc:||anchor="#l2"]]
13 13  
14 -Over the years, judges have tried to decide what the legal writers intended their writing to mean. They evolved a set of tools to do this analysis: Statutory Interpretation.
37 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Writeclearly." %)
38 +[[3. Write medical information clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
15 15  
16 -When we write in plain English we can make meaning clear, so that judges don’t have to rely on these, sometimes contradictory, interpretations.
40 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainmedicalterms." %)
41 +[[4. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
17 17  
43 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Useclearlanguage." %)
44 +[[5. Use clear language for financial information.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
18 18  
19 -=== 1. Explain the law in context. ===
46 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainterminology." %)
47 +[[6. Explain financial terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
20 20  
21 -When you refer to a law, or part of it, explain what the law is about right there at the point of user need. Do not only refer to it in a reference section or appendix.
49 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H3.Giveexamplesofconceptualarrangements." %)
50 +[[7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
22 22  
52 +[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UEL"]]
53 +
23 23  
24 -== 2. Give simple explanations for complex terms. ==
55 +----
25 25  
26 ->Example:"We collect personal information on this form under section 26 the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, because it concerns our programs and activities (c), and it is necessary for planning and evaluating our programs and activities(e)."This content is positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section.
57 +=== {{id name="#l1"/}}1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
27 27  
28 ->Example:"Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act" [Subheading]"5 (1) This section describes direct sellers that are, and circumstances in which direct sellers are, exempt from the application of sections 19 to 22 (required contents, direct sales contracts, direct sales contract — cancellation, credit agreement respecting direct sales contract) of the Act." [Body copy]
59 +If information on your website is unclear your organisation could be taken to court and lose, even if content is approved by your legal department.
29 29  
30 -== ==
31 31  
32 -== Usability evidence ==
62 +=== {{id name="#l2"/}}2. Explain the law in context. ===
33 33  
64 +When you refer to a law, or part of it, explain what that law is at the point of user need. Do not only refer to it in a reference section or appendix.
65 +
66 +
67 +Example:
68 +\\(% class="mark" %)Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section:
69 +
70 +(((
71 +"We collect personal information on this form under section 26 the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, because it concerns our programs and activities (c), and it is necessary for planning and evaluating our programs and activities(e)."
72 +)))
73 +
74 +
75 +Example:
76 +\\[Subheading]
77 +(% class="mark" %)"**Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act**(%%)
78 +
79 +
80 +[Body copy]
81 +(% class="mark" %)5 (1) This section describes direct sellers that are, and circumstances in which direct sellers are, exempt from the application of sections 19 to 22 (required contents, direct sales contracts, direct sales contract — cancellation, credit agreement respecting direct sales contract) of the Act."
82 +
83 +
84 +=== {{id name="#m1"/}}3. Write medical information clearly. ===
85 +
86 +Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
87 +
88 +
89 +=== {{id name="#m2"/}} 4. Explain medical terms. ===
90 +
91 +Medical terms are unlikely to be understood by your readers. It similar to assuming they would know a word in a foreign language. Follow the word or phrase with a plain English explanation.
92 +
93 +
94 +=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}5. Use clear language for financial information. ===
95 +
96 +Dealing with financial issues can be stressful, which means your audience will have less cognitive capability available. Write information so that it is easy for them to understand.
97 +
98 +
99 +=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}6. Explain financial terminology. ===
100 +
101 +Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
102 +
103 +
104 +=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements. ===
105 +
106 +A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
107 +
108 +This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
109 +
110 +
111 +----
112 +
113 +=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence ===
114 +
115 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
116 +==== Legal ====
117 +
34 34  [['Joseph Kimble—No, the law does not (normally) require legalese'>>url:http://www.ivacheung.com/2015/07/joseph-kimble-no-the-law-does-not-normally-require-legalese-editing-goes-global-2015/]] Editing Goes Global, 2015. Professor Joseph Kimble discusses the "psuedo-precision of legalese".
35 35  
36 36  [[Plain language: the underlying research>>url:https://www.victorialawfoundation.org.au/sites/default/files/resources/Schriver_Karen%20Clarity2012.pdf]], Karen Schriver slide presentation, pages 29 to 35.
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37 37  
38 38  [[The public speaks: an empirical study of legal communication>>url:http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=christopher_trudeau]], study by Christopher Trudeau (@proftrudeau on Twitter) containing case studies from solicitors about using legal language.
39 39  
40 -[[Richmond vs HRA>>url:http://www.alltrials.net/news/judgment-in-richmond-v-hra-judicial-review/]] A pharmaceutical company called Richmond took the Health Regulatory Authority to court because the website was confusing. A high court judge deemed the site 'unlawful' and ruled against the government. The site was cleared through a legal department. This set a precedent in the UK. Just because all the legal language is there, doesn't mean you can't be sued.
124 +[[Richmond vs HRA>>url:http://www.alltrials.net/news/judgment-in-richmond-v-hra-judicial-review/]] A pharmaceutical company called Richmond took the Health Regulatory Authority to court because the website was confusing. A high court judge deemed the site 'unlawful' and ruled against the government. The site was cleared through a legal department. This set a precedent in the UK. You could still be sued even with all the legal language is there, if the information is not clear.
41 41  
42 -[[Plain English Campaign>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/campaigning/past-campaigns/legal/drafting-in-plain-english.html]] The Plain English Campaign argues that legalese is unnecessary and does not do what it was intended to. 'The argument that clarity should be sacrificed for a document to be comprehensive does not stand up.'
126 +[[Plain English Campaign>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/campaigning/past-campaigns/legal/drafting-in-plain-english.html]] believes legalese is unnecessary and does not do what it was intended to. "The argument that clarity should be sacrificed for a document to be comprehensive does not stand up."
43 43  
128 +====
129 +Medical ====
44 44  
131 +[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
45 45  
46 -== Medicine ==
133 +[[Guidance on writing letters to outpatients>>http://www.aomrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Please_write_to_me_Guidance_010918.pdf]] from Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
47 47  
48 -People need letters and reports about their health from doctors and consultants to be easy to understand.
135 +[['Clarity is king – the evidence that reveals the desperate need to re-think the way we write'>>https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/02/17/guest-post-clarity-is-king-the-evidence-that-reveals-the-desperate-need-to-re-think-the-way-we-write/]] GDS blog, Mark Morris, 2014
49 49  
137 +[['Connecting with audiences: An evidence-based language sourcebook for the Department of Health'>>http://www.linguisticlandscapes.co.uk/pdf/DH%20Language%20Guidelines%20230710%20FINAL_for%20website_240114.pdf]] Linguistic Landscapes, July 2010
50 50  
51 -Usability evidence
139 +[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019 
140 +
52 52  
53 -[[Plain English Campaign – guide to medical information>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]]
142 +==== Finance ====
54 54  
55 -[[Academy of Medical Royal Colleges – Guidance on writing letters to outpatients>>http://www.aomrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Please_write_to_me_Guidance_010918.pdf]]
144 +[[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
56 56  
146 +[[Plain English guide to financial term (PDF 686KB)>>https://www.nala.ie/resources/plain-english-guide-financial-terms]] from National Adult Literacy Agency, Ireland, January 2009.
57 57  
58 -== Money ==
59 59  
60 -Many people do not understand their finances and it causes them problems. Complex terminology and arrangements about a non-tangible resource makes things difficult for everybody.
149 +(% class="box" %)
150 +(((
151 +See also:
61 61  
62 -
63 -
153 +* [[Plain English>>doc:Plain English.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]]
154 +* [[Simple sentences>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Simple%20sentences/]]
155 +* [[Specialist terms>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Plain%20English%2C%20simple%20sentences/#st]]
156 +* [[Words to avoid>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Words%20to%20avoid/]]
157 +)))