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1 1  (% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
2 -Plain English
2 +This helps:
3 3  
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
8 +
9 +
10 +== Guidelines ==
11 +
12 +[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
13 +
14 +[[Simple sentences >> ||anchor="ssl"]]
15 +
16 +[[Specialist terms>>Specialist terms||anchor="st"]]
17 +
18 +[[Medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
19 +
20 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
21 +[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
22 +
23 +----
24 +
25 +== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
26 +
4 4  Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
5 5  
6 6  WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
... ... @@ -35,88 +35,159 @@
35 35  What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
36 36  
37 37  
38 -(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
39 -Plain English
61 +== Usability evidence for plain English ==
40 40  
41 -Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
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.
42 42  
43 -WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
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.
44 44  
45 -The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
46 -
67 +[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
47 47  
48 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
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
49 49  
50 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
71 +[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
51 51  
52 -Write for the reading comprehension of a 9 year old. This helps you reach the most users and makes your content easy to scan.
73 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
74 +
75 +[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
76 +
77 +[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
78 +
79 +----
80 +
81 +== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
82 +
83 +
84 +=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
85 +
86 +The maximum sentence length we would recommend for easy comprehension is 25 words.
87 +
88 +You can split longer sentences up into 2 or 3 or restructure the content with bullet points to make meaning clearer for users.
89 +
90 +
91 +== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ==
92 +
93 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
53 53  
54 54  
55 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
96 +Complexity depends on:
56 56  
57 -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.
98 +* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
99 +* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
100 +
58 58  
102 +>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
103 +>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
59 59  
60 -Example:
61 -"Let's touch base in 10 and do some blue sky thinking." This uses jargon.
62 -"Let's meet in 10 minutes to think of some ideas." Conveys same meaning using clear language.
63 63  
106 +== Usability evidence for simple sentences ==
64 64  
65 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
108 +"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
66 66  
67 -Picture your audience and write as if you were talking directly to them, with the authority of someone who can help and inform.
110 +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."
68 68  
112 +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."
69 69  
70 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
114 +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."
71 71  
72 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
116 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
73 73  
118 +[['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
74 74  
75 -== Usability evidence ==
120 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
76 76  
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.
122 +[['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
78 78  
79 -[['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.
124 +[['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
80 80  
81 -[['Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language-experts/]], H. Loranger, Nielsen Norman Group, 2017
126 +[['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
82 82  
83 -[['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
128 +[['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
84 84  
85 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
130 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
86 86  
87 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
132 +[['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
88 88  
89 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
134 +[['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
90 90  
91 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
136 +[['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
92 92  
93 -== Usability evidence ==
138 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
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.
140 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
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.
142 +[['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
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
144 +[['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
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
146 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
102 102  
103 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
148 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
104 104  
105 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
150 +[['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
106 106  
107 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
152 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
108 108  
109 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
154 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
110 110  
111 -== Short sentence length ==
156 +----
112 112  
158 +== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms: explain them ==
113 113  
160 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
161 +Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
114 114  
115 -== Simple sentence structure ==
116 116  
164 +=== 1. Remember that anybody can access your content. ===
117 117  
166 +Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
118 118  
119 -{{children/}}
120 120  
169 +=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
121 121  
171 +When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
172 +
173 +If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
174 +
175 +
176 +=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
177 +
178 +You could:
179 +
180 +* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
181 +* add a explanatory definition after using the term
122 122  
183 +
184 +>Example:
185 +>
186 +>"It is a Palladian style stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – original sentence.
187 +>
188 +>"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.
189 +> "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.
190 +
191 +
192 +== Usability evidence for explaining specialist terms ==
193 +
194 +[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
195 +
196 +[['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
197 +
198 +[['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
199 +
200 +[['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
201 +
202 +[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
203 +
204 +[['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
205 +
206 +[['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
207 +
208 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
209 +We generated the [[before sentence about an architecture term>>url:http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/palladian]] from yourdictionary.com and applied our recommendations.
210 +
211 +
212 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
213 +Here's some sector specific guidance for [[medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]].
214 +
215 +
216 +And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!