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2 2  The legal, medical and financial professions are known for using complex terminology. But it's not necessary and confuses people who use their services.
3 3  
4 4  
5 -[[Law>>doc:||anchor="l"]]
5 +Law
6 6  
7 -[[Medicine>>doc:||anchor="m"]]
7 +Medicine
8 8  
9 -[[Money>>doc:||anchor="mo"]]
9 +Money
10 10  
11 11  
12 -== {{id name="l"/}}Law ==
12 +== Law ==
13 13  
14 -Judges need to decide what legal writers intended their writing to mean. They have evolved a set of tools for this analysis: Statutory Interpretation.
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.
15 15  
16 -Writing in plain English can make meaning clear, so that judges don’t have to rely on sometimes contradictory interpretations.
16 +Writing in plain English can make meaning clear, so that judges don’t have to rely on these sometimes contradictory interpretations.
17 17  
18 18  
19 -=== 1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
19 +=== 1. Explain the law in context. ===
20 20  
21 -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.
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.
22 22  
23 23  
24 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
25 -=== 2. Explain the law in context. ===
24 +== 2. Give simple explanations for complex terms. ==
26 26  
27 -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.
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.
28 28  
29 ->Example:
30 -> Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section.(((
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]
31 31  
32 -"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)."
33 -)))
34 -
35 ->Example:
36 ->
37 ->"**Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act**"  [Subheading]
38 ->
39 ->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]
40 -
41 41  == ==
42 42  
43 -== Usability evidence: plain English in law ==
32 +== Usability evidence for plain English in law ==
44 44  
45 45  [['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".
46 46  
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48 48  
49 49  [[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.
50 50  
51 -[[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.
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.
52 52  
53 -[[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."
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.'
54 54  
55 55  
56 56  
57 -== {{id name="m"/}}Medicine ==
46 +== Medicine ==
58 58  
59 59  People need letters and reports about their health from doctors and consultants to be easy to understand. And they need online information to be comprehensible. 
60 60  
... ... @@ -69,44 +69,30 @@
69 69  Medical terms are likely not to be understood by your readers. It is likely assuming they would know a word in a foreign language. Follow the word or phrase with a plain English explanation.
70 70  
71 71  
72 -== Usability evidence: plain English in medicine ==
61 +== Usability evidence for plain English in medicine ==
73 73  
74 -[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
63 +[[Plain English Campaign – guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]]
75 75  
76 -[[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.
65 +[[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]]
77 77  
78 -[['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
79 79  
80 -[['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
68 +== Money ==
81 81  
82 -[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019
83 -
84 -
85 -== {{id name="mo"/}}Money ==
86 -
87 87  Many people do not understand their finances and it causes them problems. Complex terminology describing concept-heavy arrangements about a non-tangible resource makes things difficult for everybody.
88 88  
89 89  
90 90  === 1. Use clear language. ===
91 91  
92 -Dealing with financial issues can be stressful, which means your audience will have less cognitive capability available. Make your information easy for them to understand.
93 -\\
75 +=== ===
94 94  
95 95  === 2. Explain terminology. ===
96 96  
97 -Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
79 +=== ===
98 98  
99 -
100 -
101 101  === 3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements. ===
102 102  
103 -A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
104 104  
105 -This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
84 +== Usability evidence for plain English in finance ==
106 106  
107 107  
108 -== Usability evidence: plain English in finance ==
109 -
110 -[[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
111 -
112 -[[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.
87 +