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Title
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1 -Clear language
1 +Simple sentences
Parent
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1 -Main.WebHome
1 +Plain English.WebHome
Content
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1 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2 -This helps:
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2 +(((
3 +Following this helps:
3 3  
4 -* **people in a hurry** – simply written content is easier to scan and absorb instantly
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
7 -* **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can understand what you read quickly
5 +* **people in a hurry** – simply written content is easier to scan and absorb instantly
6 +* **people who are stressed** – if you're anxious you find it harder to comprehend things
7 +* **people who are multi-tasking** – if you're distracted it's hard to comprehend convoluted structures
8 +* **cognitive impairments** – shorter, non-complex sentences carry less cognitive load
9 +* **visual impairments** – short, simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
10 +* **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can absorb what you read quickly
11 +)))
8 8  
13 +==
14 +Guidelines ==
9 9  
10 -== Guidelines ==
16 +Short, simple sentences are better on the web than long, protracted prose with complex syntax. WCAG says: "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable." The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
11 11  
12 -[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
13 13  
14 -[[Sentence length>>Sentence length||anchor="ssl"]]
19 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.MakeyouraveragesentenceA015wordslong." %)
20 +[[1. Make your average sentence 15 words long.>>doc:||anchor="#1"]]
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16 -Sentence structure
22 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.A0Avoidcomplexsentencestructures." %)
23 +[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>doc:||anchor="#2"]]
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18 -Specialist terms
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20 20  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
21 -Words to avoid
26 +[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UESS"]]
27 +
22 22  
29 +----
23 23  
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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.
31 +== ==
26 26  
33 +=== {{id name="#1"/}}1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
27 27  
28 -== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
35 +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.
29 29  
30 -Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
37 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree:
31 31  
32 -WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
33 -
34 -The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
39 +* 15 word sentences are more likely to be comprehensible
40 +* 25 words is a good maximum sentence length limit
41 +* above 40 words sentences are hard to comprehend easily
35 35  
36 36  
37 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
44 +Example:
38 38  
39 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
46 +(% class="mark" %)This sentence is about 15 words long and is easy to understand.
40 40  
41 -Write for the reading comprehension of a 9 year old. This helps you reach the most users and makes your content easy to scan.
48 +=== {{id name="#2"/}}2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
49 +
50 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
42 42  
43 43  
44 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
53 +Complexity depends on:
45 45  
46 -Often, these words are too general and vague and can lead to misinterpretation or empty, meaningless text. Avoid them. Instead, think about what the term actually means and describe that. Be open and specific.
55 +* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
56 +* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
57 +
47 47  
48 -
49 49  Example:
50 -"Let's touch base in 10 and do some blue sky thinking." This uses jargon.
51 -"Let's meet in 10 minutes to think of some ideas." Conveys same meaning using clear language.
60 +\\(% class="mark" %)"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
61 +"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
52 52  
53 53  
54 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
64 +----
55 55  
56 -Picture your audience and write as if you were talking directly to them, with the authority of someone who can help and inform.
66 +== {{id name="#UESS"/}}Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
57 57  
68 +Oxford Guide to plain English
58 58  
59 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
70 +Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
60 60  
61 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
72 +Author Ann Wylie
62 62  
74 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
63 63  
64 -== Usability evidence for plain English ==
76 +[['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
65 65  
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.
78 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
67 67  
68 -[['Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities'>>url:http://templatelab.com/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/]], page 4 Article 2, Definitions, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2018.
80 +[['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
69 69  
70 -[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
82 +[['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
71 71  
72 -[['The Public Speaks: An Empirical Study of Legal Communication'>>url:https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1843415]], C. R. Trudeau in 14 Scribes J. Leg. Writing 121 2012
84 +[['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
73 73  
74 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
86 +[['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
75 75  
76 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
88 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
77 77  
78 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
90 +[['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
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80 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
92 +[['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
81 81  
94 +[['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
82 82  
83 -== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
96 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
84 84  
98 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
85 85  
100 +[['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
86 86  
87 -== Simple sentence structure ==
102 +[['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
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104 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
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90 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91 -Here's some sector specific guidance:
106 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
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93 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
94 -Legal
108 +[['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
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96 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
97 -Medical
110 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
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99 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
100 -Financial
112 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
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102 102  
103 -{{children/}}
115 +----
104 104  
117 +(% class="box" %)
118 +(((
119 +See also:
105 105  
106 -
121 +* [[Plain English>>doc:Plain English.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]]
122 +* [[Specialist terms>>doc:Plain English.Specialist terms.WebHome]]
123 +* [[Law, medicine, money>>doc:Plain English.Medical.WebHome]]
124 +* [[Words to avoid>>doc:Plain English.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
125 +)))