Changes for page Simple sentences

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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 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		-)))
	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
12	12
13		-==
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."
17	17
	11	+== Guidelines ==
18	18
19		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.MakeyouraveragesentenceA015wordslong." %)
20		-[[1. Make your average sentence 15 words long.>>doc:||anchor="#1"]]
	13	+[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
21	21
22		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.A0Avoidcomplexsentencestructures." %)
23		-[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>doc:||anchor="#2"]]
	15	+[[Sentence length>>Sentence length||anchor="ssl"]]
24	24
25		-(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
26		-[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UESS"]]
27		-
	17	+Sentence structure
28	28
29		-----
	19	+Specialist terms
30	30
31		-== ==
	21	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	22	+Words to avoid
32	32
33		-=== {{id name="#1"/}}1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
34	34
35		-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.
	25	+== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
36	36
37		-Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree:
	27	+Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
38	38
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		-
	29	+WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
43	43
44		-Example:
45		-
46		-(% class="mark" %)This sentence is about 15 words long and is easy to understand. (%%)
	31	+The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
47	47
48	48
49		-=== {{id name="#2"/}}2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
	34	+=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
50	50
51		-They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
	36	+Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
	37	+
	38	+Write for the reading comprehension of a 9 year old. This helps you reach the most users and makes your content easy to scan.
52	52
53	53
54		-Complexity depends on:
	41	+=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
55	55
56		-* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
57		-* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
58		-
	43	+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.
59	59
	45	+
60	60	Example:
61		-\\(% class="mark" %)"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand
62		-"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
	47	+"Let's touch base in 10 and do some blue sky thinking." This uses jargon.
	48	+"Let's meet in 10 minutes to think of some ideas." Conveys same meaning using clear language.
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64	64
65		-----
	51	+=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
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67		-== {{id name="#UESS"/}}Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
	53	+Picture your audience and write as if you were talking directly to them, with the authority of someone who can help and inform.
68	68
69		-Oxford Guide to plain English
70	70
71		-Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
	56	+=== 4. Test your content with users ===
72	72
73		-Author Ann Wylie
	58	+What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
74	74
75		-[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
76	76
77		-[['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
	61	+== Usability evidence for plain English ==
78	78
79		-[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
	63	+[[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.
80	80
81		-[['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
	65	+[['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.
82	82
83		-[['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
	67	+[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
84	84
85		-[['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
	69	+[['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
86	86
87		-[['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
	71	+[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
88	88
89		-[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
	73	+[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
90	90
91		-[['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
	75	+[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
92	92
93		-[['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
	77	+[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
94	94
95		-[['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
96	96
97		-[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
	80	+== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
98	98
99		-[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
100	100
101		-[['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
102	102
103		-[['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
	84	+== Simple sentence structure ==
104	104
105		-[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
106	106
107		-[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
	87	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	88	+Here's some sector specific guidance:
108	108
109		-[['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
	90	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	91	+Legal
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111		-[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
	93	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	94	+Medical
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113		-[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
	96	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	97	+Financial
114	114
115	115
116		-----
	100	+{{children/}}
117	117
118		-(% class="box" %)
119		-(((
120		-See also:
121	121
122		-* [[Plain English>>doc:Plain English.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]]
123		-* [[Specialist terms>>doc:Plain English.Specialist terms.WebHome]]
124		-* [[Law, medicine, money>>doc:Plain English.Medical.WebHome]]
125		-* [[Words to avoid>>doc:Plain English.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
126		-)))
	103	+