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Last modified by Lizzie Bruce on 2020/01/11 23:51
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edited by Lizzie Bruce
on 2019/03/07 11:14
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edited by Cass Bonner
on 2019/04/11 14:30
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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
Author
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1 -xwiki:XWiki.LizzieBruce
1 +XWiki.CassBonner
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 distracted it's hard to comprehend convoluted structures
8 +* **cognitive impairments** – shorter, non-complex sentences carry less cognitive load
9 +* **visual impairments** – short, simple sentences convey meaning in a smaller visual field
10 +* **motor impairments** – clear, concise content is shorted so requires less navigation
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 +Short, simple sentences are better on the web than long, protracted prose with complex syntax. WCAG says: "using the clearest and simplest language appropriate is highly desirable."
10 10  
11 -=== 1. Choose easy and short words not formal, long ones. ===
12 12  
13 -Use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, and ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’.
19 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H1.MakeyouraveragesentenceA015wordslong." %)
20 +[[1. Make your average sentence 15 words long.>>doc:||anchor="#1"]]
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.
22 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" id="H2.A0Avoidcomplexsentencestructures." %)
23 +[[2. Avoid complex sentence structures.>>doc:||anchor="#2"]]
24 +
25 +(% class="wikigeneratedid" %)
26 +[[Usability evidence>>doc:||anchor="#UESS"]]
16 16  
17 17  
18 -=== 2. Jargon and buzzwords are unlikely to be clear language. ===
29 +----
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.
31 +== ==
21 21  
33 +=== {{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.
35 +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  
37 +Oxford Guide to plain English, GOV.UK and linguists agree:
27 27  
28 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
39 +* 15 word sentences are more likely to be comprehensible
40 +* 25 words is a good maximum sentence length limit
41 +* above 40 words sentences are hard to comprehend easily
42 +
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.
44 +Example:
31 31  
46 +(% class="mark" %)This sentence is about 15 words long and is easy to understand. (%%)
47 +
32 32  
33 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
49 +=== {{id name="#2"/}}2. Avoid complex sentence structures. ===
34 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.
51 +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. ===
54 +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.
56 +* number of clauses in a sentence, the more clauses the more complex it is
57 +* 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. ===
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 -
59 -
60 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.
61 +\\(% class="mark" %)"The red fox jumped over the gate." – easier to understand 
62 +"The fox, which was red, over the gate jumped." – harder to understand
63 63  
64 64  
65 -=== 3. Write conversationally. ===
65 +----
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.
67 +== {{id name="#UESS"/}}Usability evidence: simple sentences ==
68 68  
69 +[[Oxford Guide to plain English>>https://global.oup.com/academic/product/oxford-guide-to-plain-english-9780199669172?cc=gb&lang=en&]] , Oxford University Press, 2013
69 69  
70 -=== 4. Test your content with users ===
71 +Jyoti Sanyal 'Indlish: The book for every English-speaking Indian'
71 71  
72 -What is 'plain' for one person may not be for someone else.
73 +[[Author Ann Wylie>>https://www.wyliecomm.com/]], Reach more readers website
73 73  
75 +[[Writing for GOV.UK>>url:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk]], UK Government website
74 74  
75 -== Usability evidence ==
77 +[['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
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.
79 +[['Content design'>>url:https://contentdesign.london/book/]], Sarah Richards, 2017
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.
81 +[['The role of word difficulty and sentence length in text comprehension'>>https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED215330]], T. M. Duffy and P. K. U'Ren, 1982
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
83 +[['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
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
85 +[['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
84 84  
85 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
87 +[['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
86 86  
87 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
89 +[[Reading Level>>url:https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html]], Understanding SC 3.1.5, WCAG, 2008
88 88  
89 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
91 +[['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
90 90  
91 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
93 +[['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
92 92  
93 -== Usability evidence ==
95 +[['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
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.
97 +[['Writing smaller'>>url:http://clarity-international.net/journals/63.pdf]], Clarity Journal no. 63, 2010
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.
99 +[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/aaf9e928/files/uploaded/PLCstyleguide25July2012.pdf]], 2012
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
101 +[['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
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
103 +[['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
102 102  
103 -[['Strengthening plain language'>>url:http://www.iplfederation.org/]], International Plain Language Federation. Undated.
105 +[['What is plain language?'>>url:https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/]], Plain Language Association International, 2015
104 104  
105 -[[Plain Language Commission style guide>>url:https://www.clearest.co.uk/plain-language-commission-style-guide]], Plain Language Commission, 2011
107 +[[Text complexity, ATOS, and Lexile® Measures>>url:https://www.renaissance.com/products/practice/accelerated-reader-360/atos-and-text-complexity/]], Renaissance Learning, 2016
106 106  
107 -[['The principles of readability'>>url:http://www.impact-information.com/impactinfo/readability02.pdf]], Impact Information, William H. DuBay, 2004
109 +[['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
108 108  
109 -[[Plain language entry>>url:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language]], Wikipedia, last updated 2018
111 +[['How to use Yoast SEO: The readability analysis?'>>url:https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-readability-analysis/]] Edwin Toonen, Yoast, 2018
110 110  
111 -== Short sentence length ==
113 +[[The Crystal Mark standard>>url:http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/crystal-mark/7-the-crystal-mark-standard.html]] Plain English Campaign, undated
112 112  
113 113  
116 +----
114 114  
115 -== Simple sentence structure ==
118 +(% class="box" %)
119 +(((
120 +See also:
116 116  
117 -
118 -
119 -{{children/}}
120 -
121 -
122 -
122 +* [[Plain English>>doc:Plain English.Plain English, simple sentences.WebHome]]
123 +* [[Specialist terms>>doc:Plain English.Specialist terms.WebHome]]
124 +* [[Law, medicine, money>>doc:Plain English.Medical.WebHome]]
125 +* [[Words to avoid>>doc:Plain English.Words to avoid.WebHome]]
126 +)))