What is plain language?
Plain language or plain English is understood by a reader the first time they read it, allowing writing for a more specific audience. The three main goals of plain language are that the reader:
- Finds what they need
- Understands the information quickly and
- Uses it to meet their needs.
However, clear and concise writing is slightly more than short sentences, simple words, and logical organization.
Why use it?
Studies have shown how users read on the web; the consensus is that they don’t. Instead, the majority of readers online are more inclined to scan text vs reading it word for word. Moreover, your content’s appeal is pivotal to improving your website’s readability and catching the eye of these “scanners.” After all, what’s the point of attracting traffic to your website if they don’t read what it says?
Enter plain language
Plain language encourages effortless reading. When something is easy to read and understand, people will continue reading it. By employing the following tips, you can show visitors that your webpage is worth sticking and clicking around.
Tips and techniques for using plain language
• Use the word “you”.
• Use about half the words typically seen in conventional writing.
• Use bulleted lists and highlight essential keywords by bolding or colouring them.
• Stick to one topic per paragraph.
• Write understandable subheadings. An example is the popular headline “Kids Make Nutritious Snacks.”
• Write your articles in the inverted pyramid style: Try to get as much critical information as possible at the beginning of the text, leaving the least important aspects at the end, or “tip” of the inverted pyramid. If readers don’t have the patience to read an entire paragraph, they will disappear after absorbing the most important things you have to say.
• Using the active voice. The active voice is your more familiar, comfortable ordering of words, for example: “cats eat fish” vs “fish are eaten by cats.” The object (fish) receives the verb (eat) action.
Plain language in everyday life
Using easy-to-understand language lets users communicate information much more efficiently and faster. Consequently, more government and business professionals are beginning to realize the benefits of plain language. As a result, they are changing their content to gear it toward average readers and those whose first language may not be English. The days of impossible-to-muddle-through technical jargon are ending, as complex writing can sometimes only create more questions and lead to misunderstandings.
About Writing Web Words Inc:
Based in Toronto, Canada, we are a full-service SEO Copy and Web Content Writing Company that helps small and mid-sized companies maximize the potential of their websites through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), SEO Copywriting, Social Media Marketing, and other cutting-edge interactive marketing services.
