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edited by Lizzie Bruce
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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 harder to comprehend things
8 -* **people who are multi-tasking** – when distracted you cannot concentrate on complex text
9 -* **cognitive impairments** – easy to understand words carry less cognitive load
10 -* **visual impairments** – short, simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
11 -* **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can understand what you read quickly
12 -)))
13 -
14 -
15 -== Guidance ==
16 -
17 17  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
18 -The [[legal>>doc:||anchor="l"]], [[medical>>doc:||anchor="m"]] and [[financial>>doc:||anchor="mo"]] professions are known for using complex terminology. But it's not necessary and confuses people who use their services. 
19 -
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.
20 20  
21 -=== Law ===
22 22  
23 -Judges need to decide what legal writers intended by their writing. They evolved a set of tools for this analysis: Statutory Interpretation. Using plain English can make meaning clear, so that judges avoid relying on sometimes contradictory interpretations.
24 -
5 +Law
25 25  
26 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Usesimplelanguageforlegalterms." %)
27 -[[1. Use simple language for legal terms.>>doc:||anchor="#l1"]]
7 +Medicine
28 28  
29 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainthelawincontext." %)
30 -[[2. Explain the law in context.>>doc:||anchor="#l2"]]
9 +Money
31 31  
32 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in law>>doc:||anchor="#UEL"]]
33 33  
12 +== Law ==
34 34  
35 -=== Medicine ===
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.
36 36  
37 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Writeclearly." %)
38 -[[1. Write clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
16 +Writing in plain English can make meaning clear, so that judges don’t have to rely on these sometimes contradictory interpretations.
39 39  
40 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainmedicalterms." %)
41 -[[2. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
42 42  
43 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in medicine>>doc:||anchor="#UM"]]
19 +=== 1. Explain the law in context. ===
44 44  
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.
45 45  
46 -=== Money ===
47 47  
48 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Useclearlanguage." %)
49 -[[1. Use clear language.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
24 +== 2. Give simple explanations for complex terms. ==
50 50  
51 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainterminology." %)
52 -[[2. Explain terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
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.
53 53  
54 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H3.Giveexamplesofconceptualarrangements." %)
55 -[[3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
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]
56 56  
57 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in finance>>doc:||anchor="#UEMO"]]
58 -
59 -
60 -----
61 -
62 -== {{id name="l"/}}Law ==
63 -
64 -=== {{id name="#l1"/}}1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
65 -
66 -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.
67 -
68 -
69 -=== {{id name="#l2"/}}2. Explain the law in context. ===
70 -
71 -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.
72 -
73 -
74 -Example:
75 -\\(% class="mark" %)Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section.
76 -
77 -(((
78 -"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)."
79 -)))
80 -
81 -
82 -Example:
83 -\\[Subheading]
84 -(% class="mark" %)"**Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act**(%%)
85 -
86 -
87 -[Body copy]
88 -(% 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."
89 -
90 90  == ==
91 91  
92 -=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in law ===
32 +== Usability evidence for plain English in law ==
93 93  
94 94  [['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".
95 95  
... ... @@ -97,69 +97,51 @@
97 97  
98 98  [[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.
99 99  
100 -[[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.
101 101  
102 -[[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.'
103 103  
104 104  
105 -----
106 106  
107 -== {{id name="m"/}}Medicine ==
46 +== Medicine ==
108 108  
109 109  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. 
110 110  
111 111  
112 -=== {{id name="#m1"/}}1. Write clearly. ===
51 +=== 1. Write clearly. ===
113 113  
114 114  Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
115 115  
116 116  
117 -=== {{id name="#m2"/}} 2. Explain medical terms. ===
56 +=== 2. Explain medical terms. ===
118 118  
119 119  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.
120 120  
121 121  
122 -=== {{id name="#UM"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in medicine ===
61 +== Usability evidence for plain English in medicine ==
123 123  
124 -[[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]]
125 125  
126 -[[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]]
127 127  
128 -[['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
129 129  
130 -[['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 ==
131 131  
132 -[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019
133 -
134 -
135 -----
136 -
137 -== ==
138 -
139 -== {{id name="mo"/}}Money ==
140 -
141 141  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.
142 142  
143 143  
144 -=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}1. Use clear language. ===
73 +=== 1. Use clear language. ===
145 145  
146 -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.
147 -\\
75 +=== ===
148 148  
149 -=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}2. Explain terminology. ===
77 +=== 2. Explain terminology. ===
150 150  
151 -Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
79 +=== ===
152 152  
81 +=== 3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements. ===
153 153  
154 -=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements. ===
155 155  
156 -A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
84 +== Usability evidence for plain English in finance ==
157 157  
158 -This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
159 159  
160 -
161 -=== {{id name="#UEMO"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in finance ===
162 -
163 -[[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
164 -
165 -[[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 +