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Changes for page Simple sentences

Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 14:15
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:52
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3 3  
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 visual field
6 +* **visual impairments** – short and simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller field of focus
7 7  * **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can understand what you read quickly
8 8  
9 9  
10 +
10 10  == Guidelines ==
11 11  
12 12  [[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
13 13  
14 -[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
15 +[[Sentence length>>Sentence length||anchor="ssl"]]
15 15  
16 -[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
17 +Sentence structure
17 17  
18 -[[Medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
19 +Specialist terms
19 19  
20 20  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
21 -[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
22 +Words to avoid
22 22  
23 23  
24 -----
25 -
26 26  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
27 -== ==
26 +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.
28 28  
28 +
29 29  == {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
30 30  
31 31  Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
... ... @@ -81,146 +81,27 @@
81 81  [[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
82 82  
83 83  
84 -----
84 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
85 85  
86 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
87 -== ==
88 88  
89 -== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
90 90  
91 -=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
88 +== Simple sentence structure ==
92 92  
93 -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.
94 94  
95 -Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
91 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
92 +Here's some sector specific guidance:
96 96  
94 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
95 +Legal
97 97  
98 -=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
99 -
100 -They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
101 -
102 -
103 -Complexity depends on:
104 -
105 -* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
106 -* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
107 -
108 -
109 ->Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
110 ->"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
111 -
112 -
113 -== Usability evidence for simple sentences ==
114 -
115 -Oxford Guide to plain English
116 -
117 -Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
118 -
119 -Author Ann Wylie
120 -
121 -[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
122 -
123 -[['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
124 -
125 -[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
126 -
127 -[['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
128 -
129 -[['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
130 -
131 -[['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
132 -
133 -[['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
134 -
135 -[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
136 -
137 -[['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
138 -
139 -[['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
140 -
141 -[['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
142 -
143 -[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
144 -
145 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
146 -
147 -[['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
148 -
149 -[['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
150 -
151 -[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
152 -
153 -[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
154 -
155 -[['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
156 -
157 -[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
158 -
159 -[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
160 -
161 -
162 -----
163 -
164 164  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
165 -== ==
98 +Medical
166 166  
167 -== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms ==
168 -
169 169  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
170 -Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
101 +Financial
171 171  
172 172  
173 -=== 1. Explain specialist terms: anybody can access your content. ===
104 +{{children/}}
174 174  
175 -Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
176 176  
177 -
178 -=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
179 -
180 -When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
181 -
182 -If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
183 -
184 -
185 -=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
186 -
187 -You could:
188 -
189 -* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
190 -* add a explanatory definition after using the term
191 191  
192 -
193 ->Example:
194 ->
195 ->"It is a Palladian style stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – original sentence.
196 ->
197 ->"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.
198 -> "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.
199 -
200 -
201 -== Usability evidence for explaining specialist terms ==
202 -
203 -[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
204 -
205 -[['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
206 -
207 -[['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
208 -
209 -[['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
210 -
211 -[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
212 -
213 -[['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
214 -
215 -[['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
216 -
217 -
218 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
219 -We generated the [[original sentence about a specialist architecture term>>url:http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/palladian]] from yourdictionary.com.
220 -
221 -
222 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
223 -Here's some sector specific guidance for [[medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]].
224 -
225 -
226 -And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!