Plain Language Tips

Tips for writing in plain language

Writing in plain language is essential to make your message clear and effective. Here are some tips to help you write in plain language:

1. Consider Your Audience: The key to effective communication in any context is understanding who you are talking to. Before you begin writing, think about your audience and their needs. This will help you tailor your message so it’s easily understood and relevant.

2. Avoid Jargon or Technical Terms: When communicating with someone who may not be familiar with industry-specific terminology, avoid using jargon or technical terms as much as possible. Substitute these words for simpler ones that everyone can understand.

3. Break Complex Information into Smaller Chunks: Breaking complex information into smaller chunks can help make it easier to understand and digest quickly. This could include breaking up paragraphs into bullet points or using images or diagrams to explain more complicated concepts.

4. Write in Short, Simple Sentences: Short sentences allow the reader to quickly absorb the message without getting lost in a sea of words or becoming confused by long sentences full of clauses and commas. Writing shorter sentences also helps make sure readers don’t get bored or distracted while reading your content.

5. Use Active Voice Instead of Passive Voice: Using active voice instead of passive voice makes the text easier to read and can also reduce the amount of words used because there is no need for extra phrases such as “by me” or “was done”. This means sentences become clearer, shorter and more concise which can lead to fewer misunderstandings from readers.

6. Put Key Information Where It's Easy To Find: When writing content that contains important information, make sure that key facts are easy for readers to find by including them at the beginning of a sentence, paragraph, section, etc. Doing this makes it easier for readers to quickly identify what they need without having to wade through large amounts of text looking for an answer.

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