Re: Technique 14.1 - Use the clearest and simplest language appropriate for a site's content

I'll modify these to read:

14.1.4 - Avoid slang and jargon.
evaluation: any text within the document
Check all words in the document against a dictionary of slang and jargon
words that are in the document's primary language. If any slang or jargon
words are found then inform the user and allow them to change the words.

14.1.8 - Avoid specialized meanings of familiar words
evaluation: any text within the document
This is a manual check. User will have to check the entire document.

14.1.5 - Favor words that are commonly used
evaluation: any text within the document
Check all words in the document against a dictionary of uncommonly used
words that are in the document's primary language. If any uncommon words are
found then inform the user and allow them to change the words.

14.1.6 - Use active rather than passive verbs.
evaluation: any text within the document
For a document with a primary language of English, check for form of the
verb to be (is, am, be, being, were, was, been). If the sentence contains
any of these words then suggest to the author that they should check the
sentence for passive verbs.
(Another indicator is 'by'.)

Can anyone refine the algorithm in 14.1.6 (passive verbs) to make it more
accurate?
What about other languages for 14.1.6?

Chris


----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles McCathieNevile" <charles@w3.org>
To: "Chris Ridpath" <chris.ridpath@utoronto.ca>
Cc: "WAI ER IG List" <w3c-wai-er-ig@w3.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2000 1:23 AM
Subject: Re: Technique 14.1 - Use the clearest and simplest language
appropriate for a site's content


> These can mostly be automated by using dictionary lookups. (The exception
is
> specialised meanings for normal words) And yes, it is possible to get a
> reasonably accurate test for whether a verb is used actively or passivley
in
> many languages. An examle algorithm for english is to look for a past
> participle with a part of the verb to be. (That is oversimplified, but
works
> for the examples in this message...)
>
> cheers
>
> Charles
>
> On Wed, 14 Jun 2000, Chris Ridpath wrote:
>
>   Starting suggestions:
> [snip]
>   14.1.4 - Avoid slang, jargon, and specialized meanings of familiar words
>   evaluation: any text within the document
>   This is a manual check. User will have to check the entire document.
>
>   14.1.5 - Favor words that are commonly used
>   evaluation: any text within the document
>   This is a manual check. User will have to check the entire document.
>
>   14.1.6 - Use active rather than passive verbs.
>   evaluation: any text within the document
>   This is a manual check. User will have to check the entire document. (Is
>   there a way to accurately detect active vs. passive verbs?)
>
>

Received on Thursday, 15 June 2000 09:14:28 UTC