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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
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on 2019/03/08 22:54
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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 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2 -Plain English
1 +(% class="box" %)
2 +(((
3 +Following this helps:
3 3  
4 -Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
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 +)))
5 5  
6 -WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
13 +==
14 +Guidelines ==
7 7  
8 -The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
9 -
10 10  
11 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
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 12  
13 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
20 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.A0Avoidcomplexsentencestructures." %)
21 +[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>2. Avoid complex sentence structures.||anchor="#2"]]
14 14  
15 -Write for the reading comprehension of a 9 year old. This helps you reach the most users and makes your content easy to scan.
23 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
24 +[[Usability evidence>>Usability evidence||anchor="#UESS"]]
16 16  
17 17  
18 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
27 +----
19 19  
20 -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.
29 +== ==
21 21  
31 +=== {{id name="#1"/}}1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
22 22  
23 -Example:
24 -"Let's touch base in 10 and do some blue sky thinking." This uses jargon.
25 -"Let's meet in 10 minutes to think of some ideas." Conveys same meaning using clear language.
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.
26 26  
35 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
27 27  
28 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
29 29  
30 -Picture your audience and write as if you were talking directly to them, with the authority of someone who can help and inform.
38 +=== {{id name="#2"/}}2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
31 31  
40 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
41 +
32 32  
33 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
43 +Complexity depends on:
34 34  
35 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
45 +* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
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 +
36 36  
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
37 37  
38 -== Usability evidence ==
39 39  
40 -[[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.
54 +----
41 41  
42 -[['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.
56 +== {{id name="#UESS"/}}Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
43 43  
44 -[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
58 +Oxford Guide to plain English
45 45  
46 -[['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
60 +Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
47 47  
48 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
62 +Author Ann Wylie
49 49  
50 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
64 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
51 51  
52 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
66 +[['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
53 53  
54 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
68 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
55 55  
56 -== Usability evidence ==
70 +[['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
57 57  
58 -[[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.
72 +[['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
59 59  
60 -[['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.
74 +[['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
61 61  
62 -[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
76 +[['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
63 63  
64 -[['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
78 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
65 65  
66 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
80 +[['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
67 67  
68 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
82 +[['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
69 69  
70 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
84 +[['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
71 71  
72 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
86 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
73 73  
74 -== Short sentence length ==
88 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
75 75  
90 +[['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
76 76  
92 +[['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
77 77  
78 -== Simple sentence structure ==
94 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
79 79  
96 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
80 80  
98 +[['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
81 81  
82 -{{children/}}
100 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
83 83  
102 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
84 84  
85 -
104 +
105 +----
106 +
107 +(% class="box" %)
108 +(((
109 +See also:
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 +)))