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edited by Lizzie Bruce
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
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1 -Plain language for health, finances and law
1 +Law, medicine and money
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 -
17 17  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
18 -The legal, financial and medical professions are known for complex terminology. This is not necessary and confuses people. 
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 -(% 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. 
23 23  
24 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
25 -**Finances: **Many people do not understand financial terms. This causes problems. Complex terminology describing conceptual arrangements is not helpful.
5 +[[Law>>doc:||anchor="l"]]
26 26  
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.
7 +[[Medicine>>doc:||anchor="m"]]
29 29  
9 +[[Money>>doc:||anchor="mo"]]
30 30  
31 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Usesimplelanguageforlegalterms." %)
32 -[[1. Use simple language for legal terms.>>doc:||anchor="#l1"]]
33 33  
34 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainthelawincontext." %)
35 -[[2. Explain the law in context.>>doc:||anchor="#l2"]]
12 +== {{id name="l"/}}Law ==
36 36  
37 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Writeclearly." %)
38 -[[3. Write medical information clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
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.
39 39  
40 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainmedicalterms." %)
41 -[[4. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
16 +Writing in plain English can make meaning clear, so that judges don’t have to rely on sometimes contradictory interpretations.
42 42  
43 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Useclearlanguage." %)
44 -[[5. Use clear language for financial information.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
45 45  
46 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainterminology." %)
47 -[[6. Explain financial terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
19 +=== 1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
48 48  
49 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H3.Giveexamplesofconceptualarrangements." %)
50 -[[7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
51 -
52 -[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UEL"]]
53 -
54 -
55 -----
56 -
57 -=== {{id name="#l1"/}}1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
58 -
59 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.
60 60  
61 61  
62 -=== {{id name="#l2"/}}2. Explain the law in context. ===
24 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
25 +=== 2. Explain the law in context. ===
63 63  
64 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 65  
29 +>Example:
30 +> "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)."
31 +> This content is positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section.
66 66  
67 -Example:
68 -\\(% class="mark" %)Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section:
33 +>Example:
34 +>
35 +>"Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act" [Subheading]"
36 +>
37 +>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]
69 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 -)))
39 +== ==
73 73  
41 +== Usability evidence for plain English in law ==
74 74  
75 -Example:
76 -\\[Subheading]
77 -(% class="mark" %)"**Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act**(%%)
78 -
43 +[['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".
79 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."
45 +[[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.
82 82  
47 +[[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.
83 83  
84 -=== {{id name="#m1"/}}3. Write medical information clearly. ===
49 +[[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.
85 85  
86 -Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
51 +[[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."
87 87  
88 88  
89 -=== {{id name="#m2"/}} 4. Explain medical terms. ===
90 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.
55 +== {{id name="m"/}}Medicine ==
92 92  
57 +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. 
93 93  
94 -=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}5. Use clear language for financial information. ===
95 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 -
60 +=== 1. Write clearly. ===
98 98  
99 -=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}6. Explain financial terminology. ===
62 +Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
100 100  
101 -Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
102 102  
65 +=== 2. Explain medical terms. ===
103 103  
104 -=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements. ===
67 +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.
105 105  
106 -A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
107 107  
108 -This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
70 +== Usability evidence for plain English in medicine ==
109 109  
72 +[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
110 110  
111 -----
74 +[[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.
112 112  
113 -=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence ===
114 114  
115 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
116 -==== Legal ====
77 +== {{id name="mo"/}}Money ==
117 117  
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".
79 +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.
119 119  
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.
121 121  
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.
82 +=== 1. Use clear language. ===
123 123  
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.
84 +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.
125 125  
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."
86 +=== ===
127 127  
128 -====
129 -Medical ====
88 +=== 2. Explain terminology. ===
130 130  
131 -[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
90 +Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
132 132  
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.
92 +
134 134  
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
94 +=== 3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements. ===
136 136  
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
96 +A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
138 138  
139 -[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019 
140 -
98 +This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
141 141  
142 -==== Finance ====
143 143  
101 +== Usability evidence for plain English in finance ==
102 +
144 144  [[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
145 145  
146 146  [[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.
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 -)))