Skip to Content

Changes for page Simple sentences

Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
From version Icon 2.22 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 14:17
Change comment: There is no comment for this version
To version Icon 2.13 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:54
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

Summary

Details

Icon Page properties
Content
... ... @@ -3,32 +3,25 @@
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 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
11 -== ==
12 12  
13 13  == Guidelines ==
14 14  
15 15  [[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
16 16  
17 -[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
15 +[[Sentence length>>Sentence length||anchor="ssl"]]
18 18  
19 -[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
17 +Sentence structure
20 20  
21 -[[Medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
19 +Specialist terms
22 22  
23 23  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
24 -[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
22 +Words to avoid
25 25  
26 26  
27 -----
28 -
29 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
30 -== ==
31 -
32 32  == {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
33 33  
34 34  Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
... ... @@ -84,146 +84,27 @@
84 84  [[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
85 85  
86 86  
87 -----
80 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
88 88  
89 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
90 -== ==
91 91  
92 -== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
93 93  
94 -=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
84 +== Simple sentence structure ==
95 95  
96 -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.
97 97  
98 -Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
87 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
88 +Here's some sector specific guidance:
99 99  
90 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91 +Legal
100 100  
101 -=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
102 -
103 -They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
104 -
105 -
106 -Complexity depends on:
107 -
108 -* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
109 -* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
110 -
111 -
112 ->Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
113 ->"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
114 -
115 -
116 -== Usability evidence for simple sentences ==
117 -
118 -Oxford Guide to plain English
119 -
120 -Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
121 -
122 -Author Ann Wylie
123 -
124 -[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
125 -
126 -[['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
127 -
128 -[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
129 -
130 -[['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
131 -
132 -[['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
133 -
134 -[['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
135 -
136 -[['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
137 -
138 -[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
139 -
140 -[['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
141 -
142 -[['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
143 -
144 -[['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
145 -
146 -[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
147 -
148 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
149 -
150 -[['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
151 -
152 -[['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
153 -
154 -[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
155 -
156 -[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
157 -
158 -[['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
159 -
160 -[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
161 -
162 -[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
163 -
164 -
165 -----
166 -
167 167  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
168 -== ==
94 +Medical
169 169  
170 -== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms ==
171 -
172 172  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
173 -Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
97 +Financial
174 174  
175 175  
176 -=== 1. Explain specialist terms: anybody can access your content. ===
100 +{{children/}}
177 177  
178 -Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
179 179  
180 -
181 -=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
182 -
183 -When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
184 -
185 -If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
186 -
187 -
188 -=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
189 -
190 -You could:
191 -
192 -* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
193 -* add a explanatory definition after using the term
194 194  
195 -
196 ->Example:
197 ->
198 ->"It is a Palladian style stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – original sentence.
199 ->
200 ->"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.
201 -> "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.
202 -
203 -
204 -== Usability evidence for explaining specialist terms ==
205 -
206 -[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
207 -
208 -[['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
209 -
210 -[['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
211 -
212 -[['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
213 -
214 -[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
215 -
216 -[['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
217 -
218 -[['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
219 -
220 -
221 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
222 -We generated the [[original sentence about a specialist architecture term>>url:http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/palladian]] from yourdictionary.com.
223 -
224 -
225 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
226 -Here's some sector specific guidance for [[medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]].
227 -
228 -
229 -And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!