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1 -Legal, medical and financial terms
1 +Law, medicine and money
Content
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1 1  (% class="box" %)
2 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
3 +Following this helps:
4 +\\
12 12  )))
13 13  
14 14  
8 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
15 15  == Guidance ==
16 16  
17 17  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
18 -The legal, financial and medical professions are known for complex terminology. This is not necessary and confuses people. 
12 +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 19  
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. 
15 +[[Law>>doc:||anchor="l"]]
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.
17 +[[Medicine>>doc:||anchor="m"]]
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.
19 +[[Money>>doc:||anchor="mo"]]
29 29  
21 +----
30 30  
31 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Usesimplelanguageforlegalterms." %)
32 -[[1. Use simple language for legal terms.>>doc:||anchor="#l1"]]
23 +== {{id name="l"/}}Law ==
33 33  
34 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainthelawincontext." %)
35 -[[2. Explain the law in context.>>doc:||anchor="#l2"]]
25 +Judges need to decide what legal writers intended their writing to mean. They have evolved a set of tools for this analysis: Statutory Interpretation.
36 36  
37 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Writeclearly." %)
38 -[[3. Write medical information clearly.>>doc:||anchor="#m1"]]
27 +Writing in plain English can make meaning clear, so that judges don’t have to rely on sometimes contradictory interpretations.
39 39  
40 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainmedicalterms." %)
41 -[[4. Explain medical terms.>>doc:||anchor="#m2"]]
42 42  
43 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.Useclearlanguage." %)
44 -[[5. Use clear language for financial information.>>doc:||anchor="#mo1"]]
30 +=== 1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
45 45  
46 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.Explainterminology." %)
47 -[[6. Explain financial terminology.>>doc:||anchor="#mo2"]]
32 +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.
48 48  
49 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H3.Giveexamplesofconceptualarrangements." %)
50 -[[7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements.>>doc:||anchor="#mo3"]]
51 51  
52 -[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UEL"]]
53 -
35 +=== 2. Explain the law in context. ===
54 54  
55 -----
37 +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.
56 56  
57 -=== {{id name="#l1"/}}1. Use simple language for legal terms. ===
39 +>Example:
40 +> Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section.
58 58  
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.
42 +(((
43 +"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)."
44 +)))
60 60  
46 +>Example:
47 +>
48 +>"**Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act**"  [Subheading]
49 +>
50 +>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]
61 61  
62 -=== {{id name="#l2"/}}2. Explain the law in context. ===
52 +== ==
63 63  
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.
54 +== Usability evidence: plain English in law ==
65 65  
56 +[['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".
66 66  
67 -Example:
68 -\\(% class="mark" %)Positioned at the top of a form, not hidden away in references section:
58 +[[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.
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 -)))
60 +[[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.
73 73  
62 +[[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.
74 74  
75 -Example:
76 -\\[Subheading]
77 -(% class="mark" %)"**Direct sales contract — exemptions from application of the Act**(%%)
78 -
64 +[[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."
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."
82 82  
67 +----
83 83  
84 -=== {{id name="#m1"/}}3. Write medical information clearly. ===
69 +== {{id name="m"/}}Medicine ==
85 85  
86 -Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
71 +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. 
87 87  
88 88  
89 -=== {{id name="#m2"/}} 4. Explain medical terms. ===
74 +=== 1. Write clearly. ===
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.
76 +Users of the information might be in shock or anxious, which reduces cognition.
92 92  
93 93  
94 -=== {{id name="#mo1"/}}5. Use clear language for financial information. ===
79 +=== 2. Explain medical terms. ===
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 -
81 +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.
98 98  
99 -=== {{id name="#mo2"/}}6. Explain financial terminology. ===
100 100  
101 -Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
84 +== Usability evidence: plain English in medicine ==
102 102  
86 +[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
103 103  
104 -=== {{id name="#mo3"/}}7. Give examples of conceptual financial arrangements. ===
88 +[[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.
105 105  
106 -A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
90 +[['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
107 107  
108 -This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
92 +[['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
109 109  
94 +[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019
110 110  
96 +
111 111  ----
112 112  
113 -=== {{id name="#UEL"/}}Usability evidence ===
99 +== ==
114 114  
115 -==== Legal ====
101 +== {{id name="mo"/}}Money ==
116 116  
117 -[['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".
103 +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.
118 118  
119 -[[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.
120 120  
121 -[[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.
106 +=== 1. Use clear language. ===
122 122  
123 -[[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.
108 +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.
109 +\\
124 124  
125 -[[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."
111 +=== 2. Explain terminology. ===
126 126  
127 -====
128 -Medical ====
113 +Avoid using financial jargon. Acronyms and pseudonyms may make sense internally, but people using your services may not understand them.
129 129  
130 -[[Guide to medical information>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/medicalguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
131 131  
132 -[[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.
116 +=== 3. Give examples of conceptual arrangements. ===
133 133  
134 -[['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 +A tracker or shared ownership mortgage is easier to understand if you give examples.
135 135  
136 -[['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 +This is important for credit arrangements where there is an initial interest rate that may change.
137 137  
138 -[[NHS content style guide beta>>https://beta.nhs.uk/service-manual/content/how-we-write]], January 2019 
139 -
140 140  
141 -==== Finance ====
123 +== Usability evidence: plain English in finance ==
142 142  
143 143  [[A to Z of financial terms (PDF 87KB)>>http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/files/financialguide.pdf]] from Plain English Campaign.
144 144  
145 145  [[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.
146 -
147 -
148 -(% class="box" %)
149 -(((
150 -See also:
151 -
152 -* [[Plain English>>doc:Plain English.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]]
153 -* [[Simple sentences>>doc:Plain English.Simple sentences.WebHome]]
154 -* [[Specialist terms>>doc:Plain English.Specialist terms.WebHome]]
155 -* [[Words to avoid>>doc:Plain English.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
156 -)))