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edited by Lizzie Bruce
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/15 20:24
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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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4 4  
5 5  
6 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
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 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
11 +* **motor impairments** – it takes less physical effort to navigate shorter content
12 12  )))
13 13  
14 14  
... ... @@ -15,14 +15,19 @@
15 15  == Guidance ==
16 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. 
18 +The legal, financial and medical professions are known for complex terminology. This is not necessary and confuses people. 
19 19  
20 20  
21 -=== Law ===
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. 
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 -
24 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
25 +**Finances: **Many people do not understand financial terms. This causes problems. Complex terminology describing conceptual arrangements is not helpful.
25 25  
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.
29 +
30 +
26 26  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Usesimplelanguageforlegalterms." %)
27 27  [[1. Use simple language for legal terms.>>doc:||anchor="#l1"]]
28 28  
... ... @@ -29,38 +29,26 @@
29 29  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainthelawincontext." %)
30 30  [[2. Explain the law in context.>>doc:||anchor="#l2"]]
31 31  
32 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in law>>doc:||anchor="#UEL"]]
33 -
34 -
35 -=== Medicine ===
36 -
37 37  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Writeclearly." %)
38 -[[1. Write clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
38 +[[3. Write medical information clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
39 39  
40 40  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainmedicalterms." %)
41 -[[2. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
41 +[[4. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
42 42  
43 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in medicine>>doc:||anchor="#UM"]]
44 -
45 -
46 -=== Money ===
47 -
48 48  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Useclearlanguage." %)
49 -[[1. Use clear language.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
44 +[[5. Use clear language for financial information.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
50 50  
51 51  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainterminology." %)
52 -[[2. Explain terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
47 +[[6. Explain financial terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
53 53  
54 54  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H3.Giveexamplesofconceptualarrangements." %)
55 -[[3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
50 +[[7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
56 56  
57 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in finance>>doc:||anchor="#UEMO"]]
52 +[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UEL"]]
53 +
58 58  
59 -
60 60  ----
61 61  
62 -== {{id name="l"/}}Law ==
63 -
64 64  === {{id name="#l1"/}}1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
65 65  
66 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.
... ... @@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
72 72  
73 73  
74 74  Example:
75 -\\(% class="mark" %)Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section.
68 +\\(% class="mark" %)Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section:
76 76  
77 77  (((
78 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)."
... ... @@ -87,79 +87,78 @@
87 87  [Body copy]
88 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 89  
90 -== ==
91 91  
92 -=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in law ===
84 +=== {{id name="#m1"/}}3. Write medical information clearly. ===
93 93  
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".
86 +Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
95 95  
96 -[[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.
97 97  
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.
89 +=== {{id name="#m2"/}} 4. Explain medical terms. ===
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.
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.
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."
103 103  
94 +=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}5. Use clear language for financial information. ===
104 104  
105 -----
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 +
106 106  
107 -== {{id name="m"/}}Medicine ==
99 +=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}6. Explain financial terminology. ===
108 108  
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. 
101 +Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
110 110  
111 111  
112 -=== {{id name="#m1"/}}1. Write clearly. ===
104 +=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements. ===
113 113  
114 -Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
106 +A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
115 115  
108 +This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
116 116  
117 -=== {{id name="#m2"/}} 2. Explain medical terms. ===
118 118  
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 -
121 -
122 -=== {{id name="#UM"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in medicine ===
123 -
124 -[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
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.
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 -
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
131 -
132 -[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019
133 -
134 -
135 135  ----
136 136  
137 -== ==
113 +=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence ===
138 138  
139 -== {{id name="mo"/}}Money ==
115 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
116 +==== Legal ====
140 140  
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.
118 +[['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".
142 142  
120 +[[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.
143 143  
144 -=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}1. Use clear language. ===
122 +[[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.
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 -\\
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.
148 148  
149 -=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}2. Explain terminology. ===
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."
150 150  
151 -Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
128 +====
129 +Medical ====
152 152  
131 +[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
153 153  
154 -=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements. ===
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.
155 155  
156 -A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
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
157 157  
158 -This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
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
159 159  
139 +[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019 
140 +
160 160  
161 -=== {{id name="#UEMO"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in finance ===
142 +==== Finance ====
162 162  
163 163  [[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
164 164  
165 165  [[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.
147 +
148 +
149 +(% class="box" %)
150 +(((
151 +See also:
152 +
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 +)))