Changes for page Simple sentences

Summary

• Page properties (2 modified, 0 added, 0 removed)

Details

Page properties

Title

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1		-Clear language
	1	+Language use

Content

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1		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2		-This helps:
	1	+(% class="box" %)
	2	+(((
	3	+Writing about people: being inclusive
	4	+)))
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
	6	+(% class="box" %)
	7	+(((
	8	+Audience labels: I, you, we, they
	9	+)))
8	8
	11	+(% class="box" %)
	12	+(((
	13	+== [[Plain English, specialist terms >>doc:.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]] ==
	14	+)))
9	9
	16	+(% class="box" %)
	17	+(((
	18	+Simple sentences
	19	+)))
10	10
11		-== Guidelines ==
	21	+(% class="box" %)
	22	+(((
	23	+Law, medicine and money
	24	+)))
12	12
13		-[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
	26	+(% class="box" %)
	27	+(((
	28	+Words to avoid
	29	+)))
14	14
15		-[[Sentence length>> ||anchor="ssl"]]
	31	+[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
16	16
17		-Sentence structure
	33	+[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
18	18
19		-Specialist terms
	35	+[[Law, medicine, money>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
20	20
21	21	(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
22		-Words to avoid
	38	+[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
23	23
24	24
	41	+----
	42	+
	43	+== ==
	44	+
25	25	== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
26	26
27	27	Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
...	...	@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
58	58	What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
59	59
60	60
61		-== Usability evidence for plain English ==
	81	+== Usability evidence: plain English ==
62	62
63	63	[[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.
64	64
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77	77	[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
78	78
79	79
80		-== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
	100	+----
81	81
	102	+== ==
82	82
	104	+== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
83	83
84		-== Simple sentence structure ==
	106	+=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
85	85
	108	+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.
86	86
87		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
88		-Here's some sector specific guidance:
	110	+Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
89	89
90		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91		-Legal
92	92
93		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
94		-Medical
	113	+=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
95	95
	115	+They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
	116	+
	117	+
	118	+Complexity depends on:
	119	+
	120	+* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
	121	+* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
	122	+
	123	+
	124	+>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand
	125	+>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
	126	+
	127	+
	128	+== Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
	129	+
	130	+Oxford Guide to plain English
	131	+
	132	+Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
	133	+
	134	+Author Ann Wylie
	135	+
	136	+[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
	137	+
	138	+[['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
	139	+
	140	+[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
	141	+
	142	+[['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
	143	+
	144	+[['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
	145	+
	146	+[['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
	147	+
	148	+[['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
	149	+
	150	+[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
	151	+
	152	+[['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
	153	+
	154	+[['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
	155	+
	156	+[['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
	157	+
	158	+[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
	159	+
	160	+[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
	161	+
	162	+[['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
	163	+
	164	+[['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
	165	+
	166	+[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
	167	+
	168	+[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
	169	+
	170	+[['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
	171	+
	172	+[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
	173	+
	174	+[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
	175	+
	176	+
	177	+----
	178	+
	179	+== ==
	180	+
	181	+== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms ==
	182	+
96	96	(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
97		-Financial
	184	+Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
98	98
99	99
100		-{{children/}}
	187	+=== 1. Explain specialist terms: anybody can access your content. ===
101	101
	189	+Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
102	102
	191	+
	192	+=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
	193	+
	194	+When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
	195	+
	196	+If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
	197	+
	198	+
	199	+=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
	200	+
	201	+You could:
	202	+
	203	+* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
	204	+* add a explanatory definition after using the term
103	103
	206	+
	207	+>Example:
	208	+>
	209	+>"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]]).
	210	+>
	211	+>"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.
	212	+>
	213	+> "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.
	214	+
	215	+
	216	+== Usability evidence: specialist terms ==
	217	+
	218	+[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
	219	+
	220	+[['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
	221	+
	222	+[['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
	223	+
	224	+[['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
	225	+
	226	+[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
	227	+
	228	+[['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
	229	+
	230	+[['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
	231	+
	232	+
	233	+----
	234	+
	235	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	236	+Here's some sector specific guidance for [[medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]].
	237	+
	238	+
	239	+And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!