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Changes for page Simple sentences

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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 -
16 +* [[Simple sentences>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Plain%20English%2C%20simple%20sentences/#ssl]]
10 10  
11 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
18 +----
12 12  
13 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
20 +==
21 +Simple sentences ==
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 -
23 +=== 1. Make your average sentence 15 words long. ===
17 17  
18 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
25 +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.
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.
27 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree 15 word sentences are fine but above 40 words is hard to understand.
21 21  
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.
30 +=== 2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
26 26  
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 -Make content clear and understandable, to open the web up for users with different literacy levels and access challenges.
42 -
43 -WCAG states that "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
44 -
45 -The United Nations recommends plain language for communications.
32 +They are less easy to comprehend quickly. Understanding them requires more cognitive effort than simple sentences.
46 46  
47 47  
48 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
35 +Complexity depends on:
49 49  
50 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
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.
37 +* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
38 +* distribution of associated words across the sentence – how easily can the brain 'parse a phrase': recognise, connect and comprehend words that together convey meaning
53 53  
54 54  
55 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
41 +>Example:"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
42 +>"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
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.
58 58  
45 +== Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
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.
47 +Oxford Guide to plain English
63 63  
49 +Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish'
64 64  
65 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
51 +Author Ann Wylie
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.
53 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
68 68  
55 +[['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
69 69  
70 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
57 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
71 71  
72 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
59 +[['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
73 73  
61 +[['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
74 74  
75 -== Usability evidence ==
63 +[['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
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.
65 +[['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
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.
67 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
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
69 +[['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
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
71 +[['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
84 84  
85 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
73 +[['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
86 86  
87 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
75 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
88 88  
89 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
77 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
90 90  
91 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
79 +[['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
92 92  
93 -== Usability evidence ==
81 +[['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
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.
83 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
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.
85 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
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
87 +[['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
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
89 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
102 102  
103 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
91 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
104 104  
105 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
106 106  
107 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
94 +----
108 108  
109 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
96 +See also:
110 110  
111 -== Short sentence length ==
112 -
113 -
114 -
115 -== Simple sentence structure ==
116 -
117 -
118 -
119 -{{children/}}
120 -
121 -
122 -
98 +* Plain English
99 +* [[Specialist terms>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Plain%20English%2C%20simple%20sentences/#st]]
100 +* [[Law, medicine, money>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Medical/]]
101 +* [[Words to avoid>>url:https://readabilityguidelines.myxwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Plain%20English/Words%20to%20avoid/]]