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Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
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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 -Following this helps:
1 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2 +This helps:
4 4  
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 holding a baby or a running business your attention's divided
8 -* **cognitive impairments** – easy to understand words and sentences carry less cognitive load
9 -* **visual impairments** – short and simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
10 -* **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can understand what you read quickly
11 -)))
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 visual field
7 +* **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can understand what you read quickly
12 12  
13 -==
14 -Guidelines ==
15 15  
10 +== Guidelines ==
16 16  
17 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.MakeyouraveragesentenceA015wordslong." %)
18 -[[1. Make your average sentence 15 words long.>>1. Make your average sentence 15 words long.||anchor="#1"]]
12 +[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
19 19  
20 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.A0Avoidcomplexsentencestructures." %)
21 -[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>2. Avoid complex sentence structures.||anchor="#2"]]
14 +[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
22 22  
16 +[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
17 +
18 +[[Medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
19 +
23 23  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
24 -[[Usability evidence>>Usability evidence||anchor="#UESS"]]
21 +[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
22 +
23 +
24 +----
25 +
26 +== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
27 +
28 +Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
29 +
30 +WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
31 +
32 +The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
25 25  
26 26  
35 +=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
36 +
37 +Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
38 +
39 +Write for the reading comprehension of a 9 year old. This helps you reach the most users and makes your content easy to scan.
40 +
41 +
42 +=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
43 +
44 +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.
45 +
46 +
47 +Example:
48 +"Let's touch base in 10 and do some blue sky thinking." This uses jargon.
49 +"Let's meet in 10 minutes to think of some ideas." Conveys same meaning using clear language.
50 +
51 +
52 +=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
53 +
54 +Picture your audience and write as if you were talking directly to them, with the authority of someone who can help and inform.
55 +
56 +
57 +=== 4. Test your content with users ===
58 +
59 +What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
60 +
61 +
62 +== Usability evidence for plain English ==
63 +
64 +[[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.
65 +
66 +[['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.
67 +
68 +[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
69 +
70 +[['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
71 +
72 +[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
73 +
74 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
75 +
76 +[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
77 +
78 +[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
79 +
80 +
27 27  ----
28 28  
29 -== ==
83 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
30 30  
31 -=== {{id name="#1"/}}1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
32 32  
33 -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.
86 +=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
34 34  
35 -Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
88 +The maximum sentence length we would recommend for easy comprehension is 25 words.
36 36  
90 +You can split longer sentences up into 2 or 3 or restructure the content with bullet points to make meaning clearer for users.
37 37  
38 -=== {{id name="#2"/}}2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
39 39  
93 +=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
94 +
40 40  They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
41 41  
42 42  
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46 46  * distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
47 47  
48 48  
49 -Example:
50 -\\(% class="mark" %)"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
51 -"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
104 +>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
105 +>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
52 52  
53 53  
54 -----
108 +== Usability evidence for simple sentences ==
55 55  
56 -== {{id name="#UESS"/}}Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
110 +"People with some learning disabilities read letter for letter – they do not bounce around like other users. They also cannot fully understand a sentence if it’s too long. People with moderate learning disabilities can understand sentences of 5 to 8 words without difficulty. By using common words we can help all users understand sentences of around 25 words." GOV.UK
57 57  
58 -Oxford Guide to plain English
112 +The Oxford Guide to Plain English recommends 15–20 words per sentence. It also says: "…if you regularly exceed 40 words, you’ll certainly weary and deter your readers."
59 59  
60 -Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
114 +Jyoti Sanyal, author of 'Indlish' said: "Based on several studies, press associations in the USA have laid down a readability table. Their survey shows readers find sentences of 8 words or less very easy to read; 11 words, easy; 14 words fairly easy; 17 words standard; 21 words fairly difficult; 25 words difficult and 29 words or more, very difficult."
61 61  
62 -Author Ann Wylie
116 +Author Ann Wylie said: "When the average sentence length in a piece was fewer than 8 words long, readers understood 100% of the story. At 14 words, they could comprehend more than 90% of the information. But move up to 43-word sentences and comprehension dropped below 10 percent."
63 63  
64 64  [[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
65 65  
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104 104  
105 105  ----
106 106  
107 -(% class="box" %)
108 -(((
109 -See also:
161 +== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms: explain them ==
110 110  
111 -* [[Plain English>>doc:Plain English.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]]
112 -* [[Specialist terms>>doc:Plain English.Specialist terms.WebHome]]
113 -* [[Law, medicine, money>>doc:Plain English.Medical.WebHome]]
114 -* [[Words to avoid>>doc:Plain English.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
115 -)))
163 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
164 +Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
165 +
166 +
167 +=== 1. Remember that anybody can access your content. ===
168 +
169 +Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
170 +
171 +
172 +=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
173 +
174 +When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
175 +
176 +If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
177 +
178 +
179 +=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
180 +
181 +You could:
182 +
183 +* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
184 +* add a explanatory definition after using the term
185 +
186 +
187 +>Example:
188 +>
189 +>"It is a Palladian style stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – original sentence.
190 +>
191 +>"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.
192 +> "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.
193 +
194 +
195 +== Usability evidence for explaining specialist terms ==
196 +
197 +[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
198 +
199 +[['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
200 +
201 +[['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
202 +
203 +[['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
204 +
205 +[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
206 +
207 +[['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
208 +
209 +[['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
210 +
211 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
212 +We generated the [[before sentence about an architecture term>>url:http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/palladian]] from yourdictionary.com and applied our recommendations.
213 +
214 +
215 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
216 +Here's some sector specific guidance for [[medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]].
217 +
218 +
219 +And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!