Changes for page Simple sentences

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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.
5		-
6		-WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
7		-
8		-The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
	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
9	9
10	10
11		-=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
	10	+== ==
12	12
13		-Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
	12	+== Guidelines ==
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		-
	14	+[[Plain English>>Plain English||anchor="pe"]]
17	17
18		-=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
	16	+[[Simple sentences>>||anchor="ssl"]]
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.
	18	+[[Specialist terms>>||anchor="st"]]
21	21
	20	+[[Medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]]
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.
	22	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	23	+[[Words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
26	26
27	27
28		-=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
	26	+----
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.
	28	+== ==
31	31
	30	+== {{id name="pe"/}}Plain English ==
32	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 ==
	66	+== Usability evidence: 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
...	...	@@ -90,33 +90,144 @@
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.
	85	+----
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.
	87	+== ==
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
	89	+== {{id name="ssl"/}}Simple sentences ==
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
	91	+=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
102	102
103		-[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
	93	+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.
104	104
105		-[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
	95	+Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
106	106
107		-[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
108	108
109		-[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
	98	+=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
110	110
111		-== Short sentence length ==
	100	+They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
	101	+
112	112
	103	+Complexity depends on:
113	113
	105	+* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
	106	+* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
	107	+
114	114
115		-== Simple sentence structure ==
	109	+>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand
	110	+>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
116	116
117	117
	113	+== Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
118	118
119		-{{children/}}
	115	+Oxford Guide to plain English
120	120
	117	+Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
121	121
	119	+Author Ann Wylie
	120	+
	121	+[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
	122	+
	123	+[['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
	124	+
	125	+[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
	126	+
	127	+[['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
	128	+
	129	+[['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
	130	+
	131	+[['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
	132	+
	133	+[['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
	134	+
	135	+[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
	136	+
	137	+[['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
	138	+
	139	+[['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
	140	+
	141	+[['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
	142	+
	143	+[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
	144	+
	145	+[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
	146	+
	147	+[['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
	148	+
	149	+[['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
	150	+
	151	+[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
	152	+
	153	+[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
	154	+
	155	+[['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
	156	+
	157	+[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
	158	+
	159	+[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
	160	+
	161	+
	162	+----
	163	+
	164	+== ==
	165	+
	166	+== {{id name="st"/}}Specialist terms ==
	167	+
	168	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	169	+Make specialist content comprehensible by non-experts.
	170	+
	171	+
	172	+=== 1. Explain specialist terms: anybody can access your content. ===
	173	+
	174	+Assuming who your audience is, and that they'll understand the technical terms you use, are common misconceptions.
	175	+
	176	+
	177	+=== 2. Create content that all users can understand, whatever their expertise or background. ===
	178	+
	179	+When you present a concept explain its parts and processes in detail.
	180	+
	181	+If you need to include a technical term consider explaining it. Make sure the surrounding language in plain language.
	182	+
	183	+
	184	+=== 3. Help users understand specialist terms. ===
	185	+
	186	+You could:
	187	+
	188	+* link to an existing definition – this could be an external site
	189	+* add a explanatory definition after using the term
122	122
	191	+
	192	+>Example:
	193	+>
	194	+>"It is a Palladian style stone building, and contains a number of splendid paintings and much fine wood-carving." – original sentence (source [[yourdictionary.com>>url:http://sentence.yourdictionary.com/palladian]]).
	195	+>
	196	+>"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.
	197	+>
	198	+> "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.
	199	+
	200	+
	201	+== Usability evidence: specialist terms ==
	202	+
	203	+[['Writing Digital Copy for Domain Experts'>>url:https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-domain-experts/]], Nielson Norman Group, 2017
	204	+
	205	+[['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
	206	+
	207	+[['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
	208	+
	209	+[['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
	210	+
	211	+[['Advantages and disadvantages with Simplified Technical English'>>url:https://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:16816/FULLTEXT01]], Msc thesis paper, Karin Disborg, 2007
	212	+
	213	+[['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
	214	+
	215	+[['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
	216	+
	217	+
	218	+----
	219	+
	220	+(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
	221	+Here's some sector specific guidance for [[medicine, money and law>>doc:.Medical.WebHome]].
	222	+
	223	+
	224	+And here's our list of jargon [[words to avoid>>doc:.Words to avoid.WebHome]]!