Skip to Content

Changes for page Simple sentences

Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
From version Icon 2.2 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:04
Change comment: There is no comment for this version
To version Icon 2.35 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/08 23:05
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
... ... @@ -1,47 +1,125 @@
1 -== Plain English ==
1 +(% class="box" %)
2 +(((
3 +Following this helps:
2 2  
3 -Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
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 +)))
4 4  
5 -WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
13 +==
14 +Guidelines ==
6 6  
7 -The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
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.
17 +
18 +
19 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.MakeyouraveragesentenceA015wordslong." %)
20 +[[1. Make your average sentence 15 words long.>>doc:||anchor="#1"]]
21 +
22 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.A0Avoidcomplexsentencestructures." %)
23 +[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>doc:||anchor="#2"]]
24 +
25 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
26 +[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UESS"]]
8 8  
9 9  
10 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal and long ones. ===
29 +----
11 11  
12 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
31 +== ==
13 13  
14 -Write for the reading comprehension of a 9 year old. This helps you reach the most users and makes your content easy to scan.
33 +=== {{id name="#1"/}}1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
34 +
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.
36 +
37 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree:
38 +
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
15 15  
16 16  
17 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
44 +Example:
18 18  
19 -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.
46 +(% class="mark" %)This sentence is about 15 words long and is easy to understand.
20 20  
48 +=== {{id name="#2"/}}2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
21 21  
50 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
51 +
52 +
53 +Complexity depends on:
54 +
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 +
58 +
22 22  Example:
23 -"Let's touch base in 10 and do some blue sky thinking." This uses jargon.
24 -"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
25 25  
26 26  
27 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
64 +----
28 28  
29 -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 ==
30 30  
68 +Oxford Guide to plain English
31 31  
32 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
70 +Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
33 33  
34 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
72 +Author Ann Wylie
35 35  
36 -== Short sentence length ==
74 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
37 37  
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
38 38  
78 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
39 39  
40 -== Simple sentence structure ==
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
41 41  
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
42 42  
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
43 43  
44 -{{children/}}
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
45 45  
88 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
46 46  
47 -
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
91 +
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
93 +
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
95 +
96 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
97 +
98 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
99 +
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
101 +
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
103 +
104 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
105 +
106 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
107 +
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
109 +
110 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
111 +
112 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
113 +
114 +
115 +----
116 +
117 +(% class="box" %)
118 +(((
119 +See also:
120 +
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 +)))