Learn more about communication with this collection
How to ask open-ended questions
How to avoid awkward silences
How to show interest in others
Plain language isn’t a trend. Plain language isn’t just for the government. It’s for businesses who want to sell. It’s for not-for-profits who want to raise funds. It’s for bloggers who want to be found on Google.
Plain language is for everyone. In every language.
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MORE IDEAS ON THIS
Usability expert Nielson Norman Group recommends we:
This is helpful for all users including people who use a screen reader.
Exceptions:
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Writing in simple, clear language helps us whether we’re sighted, blind, or have a cognitive disability. When we:
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The Myth most of us believe in:
‘My target readers are professionals with higher education.’
The Truth:
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Key takeaway: College-educated professionals and experts appreciate plain language.
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Cutting long sentences is a simple way to improve readability. It’s easier to digest it on mobile too. Yet many people don’t bother.
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A great way to start writing plainly is to use simple words instead of complex words.
Example of simple word replacements
Instead of:
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You might be reading this on an iPhone. Apple products are so damn easy to use, aren’t they? But you might not realize the effort behind them.It takes more effort and time to write simply.
Yet we can all create a better experience for our readers by using plain language.
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Have you ever read a website’s terms and conditions? A privacy policy? Or a legal document? These documents are known for being ridiculously tedious and so damn hard to understand.
Don’t make me think!
Usability expert Norman Nielson Group ran research on how user...
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Your readers — your prospects — are busy. They read in a range of situations. On a range of devices.
They don’t have time for big words, walls of text, and acronyms they have to rack their brains to figure out.
You respect their time when you use plain language. You make it easy for t...
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