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edited by Lizzie Bruce
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/15 20:21
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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  
... ... @@ -29,44 +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 -People need doctors' letters and consultant reports to be easy to understand. And they need online information about health conditions to be comprehensible.  
38 -
39 -
40 40  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Writeclearly." %)
41 -[[1. Write clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
38 +[[3. Write medical information clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
42 42  
43 43  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainmedicalterms." %)
44 -[[2. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
41 +[[4. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
45 45  
46 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in medicine>>doc:||anchor="#UM"]]
47 -
48 -
49 -=== Money ===
50 -
51 -Many people do not understand financial terms. This causes problems. Complex terminology describing conceptual arrangements about a non-tangible resource does not help anyone. 
52 -
53 -
54 54  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Useclearlanguage." %)
55 -[[1. Use clear language.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
44 +[[5. Use clear language for financial information.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
56 56  
57 57  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainterminology." %)
58 -[[2. Explain terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
47 +[[6. Explain financial terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
59 59  
60 60  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H3.Giveexamplesofconceptualarrangements." %)
61 -[[3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
50 +[[7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
62 62  
63 -[[Usability evidence: plain English in finance>>doc:||anchor="#UEMO"]]
52 +[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UEL"]]
53 +
64 64  
65 -
66 66  ----
67 67  
68 -== {{id name="l"/}}Law – plain English guidelines ==
69 -
70 70  === {{id name="#l1"/}}1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
71 71  
72 72  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.
... ... @@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
78 78  
79 79  
80 80  Example:
81 -\\(% 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:
82 82  
83 83  (((
84 84  "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)."
... ... @@ -94,71 +94,77 @@
94 94  (% 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."
95 95  
96 96  
97 -=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in law ===
84 +=== {{id name="#m1"/}}3. Write medical information clearly. ===
98 98  
99 -[['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.
100 100  
101 -[[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.
102 102  
103 -[[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. ===
104 104  
105 -[[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 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.
106 106  
107 -[[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."
108 108  
94 +=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}5. Use clear language for financial information. ===
109 109  
110 -----
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 +
111 111  
112 -== {{id name="m"/}}Medicine – plain English guidelines ==
99 +=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}6. Explain financial terminology. ===
113 113  
114 -=== {{id name="#m1"/}}1. Write clearly. ===
101 +Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
115 115  
116 -Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
117 117  
104 +=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements. ===
118 118  
119 -=== {{id name="#m2"/}} 2. Explain medical terms. ===
106 +A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
120 120  
121 -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.
108 +This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
122 122  
123 123  
124 -=== {{id name="#UM"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in medicine ===
111 +----
125 125  
126 -[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
113 +=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence ===
127 127  
128 -[[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.
115 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
116 +==== Legal ====
129 129  
130 -[['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
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".
131 131  
132 -[['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
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.
133 133  
134 -[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019
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.
135 135  
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.
136 136  
137 -----
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."
138 138  
139 -== ==
128 +====
129 +Medical ====
140 140  
141 -== {{id name="mo"/}}Money – plain English guidelines ==
131 +[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
142 142  
143 -=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}1. Use clear language. ===
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.
144 144  
145 -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.
146 -\\
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
147 147  
148 -=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}2. Explain financial terminology. ===
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
149 149  
150 -Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
139 +[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019 
140 +
151 151  
142 +==== Finance ====
152 152  
153 -=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements. ===
144 +[[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
154 154  
155 -A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
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.
156 156  
157 -This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
158 158  
149 +(% class="box" %)
150 +(((
151 +See also:
159 159  
160 -=== {{id name="#UEMO"/}}Usability evidence: plain English in finance ===
161 -
162 -[[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
163 -
164 -[[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.
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 +)))