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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 2019/03/08 20:53
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:49
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Title
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1 -Simple sentences
1 +Clear language
Parent
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1 -Plain English.WebHome
1 +Main.WebHome
Content
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1 -(% class="box" %)
2 -(((
3 -Writing about people
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2 +Clear language is helpful for:
5 5  
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7 -(((
8 -Audience labels: using I, you, we, they
9 -)))
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
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12 -(((
13 -== [[Plain English, specialist terms >>doc:Plain English.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]] ==
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15 15  
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17 -(((
18 -Simple sentences
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10 +Read the guidelines on:
20 20  
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22 -(((
23 -Law, medicine and money
24 -)))
12 +[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
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27 -(((
28 -Words to avoid
29 -)))
14 +[[Sentence length>>Sentence length||anchor="ssl"]]
30 30  
31 -[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
16 +Sentence structure
32 32  
33 -[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
18 +Specialist terms
34 34  
35 -[[Law, medicine, money>>doc:Plain English.Medical.WebHome]]
36 -
37 37  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
38 -[[Words to avoid>>doc:Plain English.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
21 +Words to avoid
39 39  
40 40  
41 -----
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25 +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.
42 42  
43 -== ==
44 44  
45 45  == {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
46 46  
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78 78  What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
79 79  
80 80  
81 -== Usability evidence: plain English ==
64 +== Usability evidence for plain English ==
82 82  
83 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.
84 84  
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97 97  [[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
98 98  
99 99  
100 -----
83 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
101 101  
102 -== ==
103 103  
104 -== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
105 105  
106 -=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
87 +== Simple sentence structure ==
107 107  
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.
109 109  
110 -Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
90 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91 +Here's some sector specific guidance:
111 111  
93 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
94 +Legal
112 112  
113 -=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
96 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
97 +Medical
114 114  
115 -They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
116 -
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 -
183 183  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
184 -Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
100 +Financial
185 185  
186 186  
187 -=== 1. Explain specialist terms: anybody can access your content. ===
103 +{{children/}}
188 188  
189 -Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
190 190  
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
205 205  
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:Plain English.Medical.WebHome]].
237 -
238 -
239 -And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:Plain English.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!