Changes for page Simple sentences

Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51

From version Icon 2.7 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:14
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To version Icon 2.13 Icon
edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:54
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

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1 1  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2 -Plain English
2 +This helps:
3 3  
4 -Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
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
5 5  
6 -WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
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. ===
11 +== Guidelines ==
12 12  
13 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
13 +[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
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.
16 -
15 +[[Sentence length>>Sentence length||anchor="ssl"]]
17 17  
18 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
17 +Sentence structure
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.
19 +Specialist terms
21 21  
21 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
22 +Words to avoid
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.
26 26  
25 +== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
27 27  
28 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
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.
31 -
32 -
33 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
34 -
35 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
36 -
37 -
38 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
39 -Plain English
40 -
41 41  Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
42 42  
43 43  WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
... ... @@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
72 72  What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
73 73  
74 74  
75 -== Usability evidence ==
61 +== Usability evidence for plain English ==
76 76  
77 77  [[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.
78 78  
... ... @@ -90,32 +90,27 @@
90 90  
91 91  [[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
92 92  
93 -== Usability evidence ==
94 94  
95 -[[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 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Short sentence length ==
96 96  
97 -[['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.
98 98  
99 -[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
100 100  
101 -[['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
84 +== Simple sentence structure ==
102 102  
103 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
104 104  
105 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
87 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
88 +Here's some sector specific guidance:
106 106  
107 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
90 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
91 +Legal
108 108  
109 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
93 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
94 +Medical
110 110  
111 -== Short sentence length ==
96 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
97 +Financial
112 112  
113 113  
114 -
115 -== Simple sentence structure ==
116 -
117 -
118 -
119 119  {{children/}}
120 120  
121 121