Changes for page Simple sentences

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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
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...	...	@@ -12,16 +12,17 @@
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13	13	[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
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15		-[[Sentence length>> ||anchor="ssl"]]
	15	+[[Simple sentences >> ||anchor="ssl"]]
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17		-Sentence structure
	17	+[[Specialist terms>>Specialist terms||anchor="st"]]
18	18
19		-Specialist terms
20		-
21	21	(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
22	22	Words to avoid
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	22	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	23	+Medicine, money and law
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	25	+
25	25	== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
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27	27	Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
...	...	@@ -77,27 +77,139 @@
77	77	[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
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80		-== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
	81	+== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
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82	82
	84	+=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
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84		-== Simple sentence structure ==
	86	+The maximum sentence length we would recommend for easy comprehension is 25 words.
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	88	+You can split longer sentences up into 2 or 3 or restructure the content with bullet points to make meaning clearer for users.
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87		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
88		-Here's some sector specific guidance:
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90		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91		-Legal
	91	+== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ==
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	93	+They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
	94	+
	95	+
	96	+Complexity depends on:
	97	+
	98	+* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
	99	+* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
	100	+
	101	+
	102	+>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand
	103	+>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
	104	+
	105	+
	106	+== Usability evidence for simple sentences ==
	107	+
	108	+"People with some learning disabilities read letter for letter – they do not bounce around like other users. They also cannot fully understand a sentence if it’s too long. People with moderate learning disabilities can understand sentences of 5 to 8 words without difficulty. By using common words we can help all users understand sentences of around 25 words." GOV.UK
	109	+
	110	+The Oxford Guide to Plain English recommends 15–20 words per sentence. It also says: "…if you regularly exceed 40 words, you’ll certainly weary and deter your readers."
	111	+
	112	+Jyoti Sanyal, author of 'Indlish' said: "Based on several studies, press associations in the USA have laid down a readability table. Their survey shows readers find sentences of 8 words or less very easy to read; 11 words, easy; 14 words fairly easy; 17 words standard; 21 words fairly difficult; 25 words difficult and 29 words or more, very difficult."
	113	+
	114	+Author Ann Wylie said: "When the average sentence length in a piece was fewer than 8 words long, readers understood 100% of the story. At 14 words, they could comprehend more than 90% of the information. But move up to 43-word sentences and comprehension dropped below 10 percent."
	115	+
	116	+[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
	117	+
	118	+[['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
	119	+
	120	+[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
	121	+
	122	+[['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
	123	+
	124	+[['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
	125	+
	126	+[['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
	127	+
	128	+[['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
	129	+
	130	+[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
	131	+
	132	+[['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
	133	+
	134	+[['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
	135	+
	136	+[['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
	137	+
	138	+[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
	139	+
	140	+[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
	141	+
	142	+[['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
	143	+
	144	+[['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
	145	+
	146	+[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
	147	+
	148	+[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
	149	+
	150	+[['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
	151	+
	152	+[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
	153	+
	154	+[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
	155	+
	156	+
	157	+== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms: explain them ==
	158	+
93	93	(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
94		-Medical
	160	+Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
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	162	+
	163	+=== 1. Remember that anybody can access your content. ===
	164	+
	165	+Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
	166	+
	167	+
	168	+=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
	169	+
	170	+When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
	171	+
	172	+If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
	173	+
	174	+
	175	+=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
	176	+
	177	+You could:
	178	+
	179	+* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
	180	+* add a explanatory definition after using the term
	181	+
	182	+
	183	+>Example:
	184	+>
	185	+>"It is a Palladian style stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – original sentence.
	186	+>
	187	+>"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.
	188	+> "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.
	189	+
	190	+
	191	+== Usability evidence for explaining specialist terms ==
	192	+
	193	+[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
	194	+
	195	+[['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
	196	+
	197	+[['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
	198	+
	199	+[['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
	200	+
	201	+[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
	202	+
	203	+[['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
	204	+
	205	+[['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
	206	+
96	96	(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
97		-Financial
	208	+We generated the [[before sentence about an architecture term>>url:http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/palladian]] from yourdictionary.com and applied our recommendations.
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	211	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	212	+Here's some sector specific guidance for medicine, money and law.
	213	+
100	100	{{children/}}
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