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Changes for page Simple sentences

Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
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Title
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1 -Clear language
1 +Simple sentences
Parent
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1 -Main.WebHome
1 +Plain English.WebHome
Content
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1 -== Plain English ==
1 +(% class="box" %)
2 +(((
3 +Writing about people
4 +)))
2 2  
6 +(% class="box" %)
7 +(((
8 +Audience labels: using I, you, we, they
9 +)))
10 +
11 +(% class="box" %)
12 +(((
13 +== [[Plain English, specialist terms >>doc:.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]] ==
14 +)))
15 +
16 +(% class="box" %)
17 +(((
18 +Simple sentences
19 +)))
20 +
21 +(% class="box" %)
22 +(((
23 +Law, medicine and money
24 +)))
25 +
26 +(% class="box" %)
27 +(((
28 +Words to avoid
29 +)))
30 +
31 +[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
32 +
33 +[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
34 +
35 +[[Law, medicine, money>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
36 +
37 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
38 +[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
39 +
40 +
41 +----
42 +
43 +== ==
44 +
45 +== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
46 +
3 3  Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
4 4  
5 5  WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
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7 7  The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
8 8  
9 9  
10 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal and long ones. ===
54 +=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
11 11  
12 12  Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
13 13  
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33 33  
34 34  What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
35 35  
36 -== Short sentence length ==
37 37  
81 +== Usability evidence: plain English ==
38 38  
83 +[[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.
39 39  
40 -== Simple sentence structure ==
85 +[['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.
41 41  
87 +[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
42 42  
89 +[['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
43 43  
44 -{{children/}}
91 +[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
45 45  
93 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
46 46  
95 +[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
96 +
97 +[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
98 +
99 +
100 +----
101 +
102 +== ==
103 +
104 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
105 +
106 +=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
107 +
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.
109 +
110 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
111 +
112 +
113 +=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
114 +
115 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
47 47  
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 +
183 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
184 +Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
185 +
186 +
187 +=== 1. Explain specialist terms: anybody can access your content. ===
188 +
189 +Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
190 +
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
205 +
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]]!