Changes for page Simple sentences

Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
From version Icon 2.34 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/08 22:54
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To version Icon 2.36 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/08 23:07
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

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... ... @@ -4,24 +4,26 @@
4 4  
5 5  * **people in a hurry** – simply written content is easier to scan and absorb instantly
6 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
7 +* **people who are multi-tasking** – if you're distracted it's hard to comprehend convoluted structures
8 +* **cognitive impairments** – shorter, non-complex sentences carry less cognitive load
9 +* **visual impairments** – short, simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
10 +* **motor impairments** – it's less tiring when you can absorb what you read quickly
11 11  )))
12 12  
13 13  ==
14 14  Guidelines ==
15 15  
16 +Short, simple sentences are better on the web than long, protracted prose with complex syntax. WCAG says: "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
16 16  
18 +
17 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"]]
20 +[[1. Make your average sentence 15 words long.>>doc:||anchor="#1"]]
19 19  
20 20  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.A0Avoidcomplexsentencestructures." %)
21 -[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>2. Avoid complex sentence structures.||anchor="#2"]]
23 +[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>doc:||anchor="#2"]]
22 22  
23 23  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
24 -[[Usability evidence>>Usability evidence||anchor="#UESS"]]
26 +[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UESS"]]
25 25  
26 26  
27 27  ----
... ... @@ -32,9 +32,18 @@
32 32  
33 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.
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.
37 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree:
36 36  
39 +* 15 word sentences are more likely to be comprehensible
40 +* 25 words is a good maximum sentence length limit
41 +* above 40 words sentences are hard to comprehend easily
42 +
37 37  
44 +Example:
45 +
46 +(% class="mark" %)This sentence is about 15 words long and is easy to understand. (%%)
47 +
48 +
38 38  === {{id name="#2"/}}2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
39 39  
40 40  They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.