Notes and Resources on Plain Language

First, the focus of the discussion that emerged during and following the Design Sprint was split between 2 main considerations:

  1.  Regardless of terminology choice between “Plain Language” or “Simple Language”, should we adopt an existing external standard or create one?
     *   Does the fact that the standard already exists lend credibility to Silver and align to its goals?
     *   Is there any licensing or restrictions involved in using the standard?
  2.  Requirements (or guidelines) – likely in the form of a style guide – will need to be defined for explicitly how to write criteria and any supporting ‘understanding’ documents in plain language in EACH supported language.

Here are some resources I have located for consideration when discussing plain language:

W3C Reading Level Understanding SC 3.1.5
https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/meaning-supplements.html

Cites being ‘adapted from’ the UNESCO standard based on education level.

CRPD Article 2 – Definitions, Plain Language
https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/article-2-definitions.html


U.S. Government Publishing Office, Plain Writing Act of 2010
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ274/content-detail.html

Supported by 2 Executive Orders and Office of Management and Budget Guidelines

Federal Plain Language Guidelines (U.S.)
https://www.plainlanguage.gov/


U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Plain English Handbook
https://www.sec.gov/pdf/handbook.pdf


European Commission Publications, How to Write Clearly
https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/bb87884e-4cb6-4985-b796-70784ee181ce/language-en


Gov.UK Guidance for Government Digital Publishing and Services
https://www.gov.uk/topic/government-digital-guidance/content-publishing


Information for all – European Standards [Lifelong Learning Programme & Inclusion Europe]
http://easy-to-read.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/EN_Information_for_all.pdf [pdf]

How to Write Standards – ISO (2016)
https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100335.html

https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/archive/pdf/en/how-to-write-standards.pdf [pdf]

What Is Plain Language? – Plain Language Association International (PLAIN)
http://plainlanguagenetwork.org/plain-language/what-is-plain-language/


Plain language: accessibility for information – Whitney Quesenbery (2014) Article
https://rosenfeldmedia.com/a-web-for-everyone/plain-language-accessibility-for-information/

Plain language: accessibility for information – Whitney Quesenbery (2016) Slide Deck
https://www.slideshare.net/whitneyq/plain-language-is-accessibility-for-content


3.1.5 – Reading Level (Level AAA) – Luke McGrath, WUHCAG (2014)
https://www.wuhcag.com/reading-level/


Inclusivity, Gestalt Principles, and Plain Language in Document Design – Jennifer Turner and Jessica Schomberg (2016)
http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2016/accessibility/


Plain Legal Language General Resources – Clarity International
http://www.clarity-international.net/plain-language-resources/general-resouces/


Plain Language – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_language



Finally, I would consider this required reading for anyone discussing or working on translating the current WCAG SCs into plain language, since this effort is exactly that:

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines—for People Who Haven’t Read Them – Alan Dalton (2017)
https://24ways.org/2017/wcag-for-people-who-havent-read-them/



Charles Hall
UX Architect, Technology

t / 248.203.8723  m / 248.225.8179
e / charles.hall@mrm-mccann.com
skype / charles.h.all
360 W Maple, Birmingham MI 48009
w / www.mrm-mccann.com

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