Skip to Content

Changes for page Simple sentences

Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
From version Icon 2.14 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:55
Change comment: There is no comment for this version
To version Icon 2.33 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/08 22:02
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

Summary

Details

Icon Page properties
Title
... ... @@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
1 -Clear language
1 +Simple sentences
Parent
... ... @@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
1 -Main.WebHome
1 +Plain English.WebHome
Content
... ... @@ -1,103 +1,101 @@
1 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2 -This helps:
1 +(% class="box" %)
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 holding a baby or a running business your attention's divided
8 +* **cognitive impairments** – easy to understand words and sentences carry less cognitive load
9 +* **visual impairments** – short and simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
10 +* **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can understand what you read quickly
11 +)))
8 8  
13 +==
14 +Guidelines ==
9 9  
16 +* [[Simple sentences>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Plain%20English%2C%20simple%20sentences/#ssl]]
10 10  
11 -== Guidelines ==
18 +----
12 12  
13 -[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
20 +==
21 +Simple sentences ==
14 14  
15 -[[Sentence length>> ||anchor="ssl"]]
23 +=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
16 16  
17 -Sentence structure
25 +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.
18 18  
19 -Specialist terms
27 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
20 20  
21 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
22 -Words to avoid
23 23  
30 +=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
24 24  
25 -== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
26 -
27 -Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
28 -
29 -WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
30 -
31 -The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
32 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
32 32  
33 33  
34 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
35 +Complexity depends on:
35 35  
36 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
37 -
38 -Write for the reading comprehension of a 9 year old. This helps you reach the most users and makes your content easy to scan.
37 +* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
38 +* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
39 39  
40 40  
41 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
41 +>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
42 +>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
42 42  
43 -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.
44 44  
45 +== Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
45 45  
46 -Example:
47 -"Let's touch base in 10 and do some blue sky thinking." This uses jargon.
48 -"Let's meet in 10 minutes to think of some ideas." Conveys same meaning using clear language.
47 +Oxford Guide to plain English
49 49  
49 +Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
50 50  
51 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
51 +Author Ann Wylie
52 52  
53 -Picture your audience and write as if you were talking directly to them, with the authority of someone who can help and inform.
53 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
54 54  
55 +[['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
55 55  
56 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
57 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
57 57  
58 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
59 +[['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
59 59  
61 +[['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
60 60  
61 -== Usability evidence for plain English ==
63 +[['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
62 62  
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.
65 +[['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
64 64  
65 -[['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.
67 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
66 66  
67 -[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
69 +[['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
68 68  
69 -[['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
71 +[['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
70 70  
71 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
73 +[['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
72 72  
73 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
75 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
74 74  
75 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
77 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
76 76  
77 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
79 +[['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
78 78  
81 +[['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
79 79  
80 -== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
83 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
81 81  
85 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
82 82  
87 +[['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
83 83  
84 -== Simple sentence structure ==
89 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
85 85  
91 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
86 86  
87 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
88 -Here's some sector specific guidance:
89 89  
90 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91 -Legal
94 +----
92 92  
93 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
94 -Medical
96 +See also:
95 95  
96 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
97 -Financial
98 -
99 -
100 -{{children/}}
101 -
102 -
103 -
98 +* Plain English
99 +* [[Specialist terms>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Plain%20English%2C%20simple%20sentences/#st]]
100 +* [[Law, medicine, money>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Medical/]]
101 +* [[Words to avoid>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Words%20to%20avoid/]]