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3 3  
4 4  * **people in a hurry** – simply written content is easier to scan and absorb instantly
5 5  * **cognitive impairments** – easy to understand words and sentences need less cognition
6 -* **visual impairments** – short and simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller field of focus
6 +* **visual impairments** – short and simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
7 7  * **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can understand what you read quickly
8 +
8 8  
10 +== ==
9 9  
10 10  == Guidelines ==
11 11  
12 12  [[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
13 13  
14 -[[Sentence length>>Sentence length||anchor="ssl"]]
16 +[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
15 15  
16 -Sentence structure
18 +[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
17 17  
18 -Specialist terms
20 +[[Medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
19 19  
20 20  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
21 -Words to avoid
23 +[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
22 22  
23 23  
24 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
25 -Our guidelines come out of conversations held on Slack about clear language usability evidence. Clear language helps in all areas. It opens it up to the widest possible audience.
26 +----
26 26  
28 +== ==
27 27  
28 28  == {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
29 29  
... ... @@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
61 61  What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
62 62  
63 63  
64 -== Usability evidence for plain English ==
66 +== Usability evidence: plain English ==
65 65  
66 66  [[Guideline 3.1 Readable: Make text content readable and understandable.>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, 2008.
67 67  
... ... @@ -80,27 +80,143 @@
80 80  [[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
81 81  
82 82  
83 -== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
85 +----
84 84  
87 +== ==
85 85  
89 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
86 86  
87 -== Simple sentence structure ==
91 +=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
88 88  
93 +The maximum sentence length for a good level of comprehension is 25 words. Split long sentences up into 2 or 3, or use bullet points.
89 89  
90 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91 -Here's some sector specific guidance:
95 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
92 92  
93 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
94 -Legal
95 95  
96 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
97 -Medical
98 +=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
98 98  
100 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
101 +
102 +
103 +Complexity depends on:
104 +
105 +* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
106 +* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
107 +
108 +
109 +>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
110 +>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
111 +
112 +
113 +== Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
114 +
115 +Oxford Guide to plain English
116 +
117 +Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
118 +
119 +Author Ann Wylie
120 +
121 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
122 +
123 +[['Sentence length: why 25 words is our limit'>>url:https://insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk/2014/08/04/sentence-length-why-25-words-is-our-limit/]], Inside GOV.UK, UK Government blog, 2014
124 +
125 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
126 +
127 +[['The role of word difficulty and sentence length in text comprehension'>>url:https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a114935.pdf]], T. M. Duffy and P. K. U'Ren, 1982
128 +
129 +[['The Influence of Semantics and Syntax on What Readers Remember'>>url:https://www.hcde.washington.edu/files/people/docs/Isakson_Spyridakis_Sem_Syn.pdf]], C. S. Isakson and J. H. Spyridakis, 1999
130 +
131 +[['How the brain attunes to sentence processing: Relating behavior, structure, and function'>>url:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819595/]], A. Fengler, L. Meyer, A. D. Friederici, National Center for Biotechnology Information
132 +
133 +[['Functional Analysis of Clause Complex in the Language of News Websites Texts: A Comparative Study of Two Articles'>>url:http://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0616/ijsrp-p5445.pdf]], F. M. S. Eid, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, Issue 6, June 2016
134 +
135 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
136 +
137 +[['Readability Assessment of Internet-Based Consumer Health Information'>>url:http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/53/10/1310/tab-pdf]], T. M. Walsh and T. A. Volsko in Respiratory Care October 2008, 53 (10) 1310-1315
138 +
139 +[['The research basis of plain language techniques: Implications for establishing standards'>>url:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karen_Schriver/publication/285927928_The_research_basis_of_plain_language_techniques_Implications_for_establishing_standards/links/5664c50208ae192bbf90aa85/The-research-basis-of-plain-language-techniques-Implications-for-establishing-standards.pdf]], Karen Schriver, PhD, Dr. A. L. Cheek, M. Mercer, Center for Plain Language, November 20, 2008, Mexico City
140 +
141 +[['Readability Levels of Health-Based Websites: From Content to Comprehension'>>url:https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ851863.pdf]], M. Schutten, A. McFarland, PhD, International Electronic Journal of Health Education, 2009, 12:99-107
142 +
143 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
144 +
145 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
146 +
147 +[['Shorter Lines Facilitate Reading in Those Who Struggle'>>url:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0071161]], Matthew H. Schneps , Jenny M. Thomson, Gerhard Sonnert, Marc Pomplun, Chen Chen, Amanda Heffner-Wong, 2013
148 +
149 +[['Towards a better measure of readability: Explanation of empirical performance results'>>url:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00437956.1989.11435805]], Leslie A. Olsen & Rod Johnson, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015
150 +
151 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
152 +
153 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
154 +
155 +[['Understanding Plain English summaries. A comparison of two approaches to improve the quality of Plain English summaries in research reports.'>>url:https://researchinvolvement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40900-017-0064-0]] 2017
156 +
157 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
158 +
159 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
160 +
161 +
162 +----
163 +
164 +== ==
165 +
166 +== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms ==
167 +
99 99  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
100 -Financial
169 +Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
101 101  
102 102  
103 -{{children/}}
172 +=== 1. Explain specialist terms: anybody can access your content. ===
104 104  
174 +Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
105 105  
176 +
177 +=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
178 +
179 +When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
180 +
181 +If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
182 +
183 +
184 +=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
185 +
186 +You could:
187 +
188 +* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
189 +* add a explanatory definition after using the term
106 106  
191 +
192 +>Example:
193 +>
194 +>"It is a Palladian style stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – original sentence (source [[yourdictionary.com>>url:http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/palladian]]).
195 +>
196 +>"It is a [[Palladian style>>url:http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/style-guide-palladianism/]] stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – with link to a definition.
197 +>
198 +> "It is a Palladian style stone building and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving. Palladian style architecture features include columns, symmetry and decorative arches." – with explanatory definition.
199 +
200 +
201 +== Usability evidence: specialist terms ==
202 +
203 +[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
204 +
205 +[['Writing Digital Copy for Specialists vs. General Audiences'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/videos/writing-digital-copy-specialists/?lm=how-users-read-on-the-web&pt=article]], Nielson Norman Group, undated
206 +
207 +[['Plain Language For Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/videos/plain-language-for-experts/?lm=how-users-read-on-the-web&pt=article]] Nielson Norman Group, undated
208 +
209 +[['TechWhirl Fast 5: Understanding Plain Language and Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://techwhirl.com/techwhirl-fast-5-understanding-plain-language-simplified-technical-english/]], Connie Giordano, TechWhirl, 2017
210 +
211 +[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
212 +
213 +[['Technical Writing Need Not Be Abstruse—Use Plain Language for Maximum Impact'>>url:https://digital.gov/2015/10/23/technical-writing-need-not-be-abstruse-use-plain-language-for-maximum-impact/#]], Colleen Blessing, 2015
214 +
215 +[['The Facets of the General Public as Audience'>>url:https://www.dropbox.com/s/2u2cybl7c57u0tr/AudienceIssues.pdf?dl=0]] Cheryl Stephens and Mariah Stufflebeam, 2017
216 +
217 +
218 +----
219 +
220 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
221 +Here's some sector specific guidance for [[medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]].
222 +
223 +
224 +And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!