7. Success story
#1
Source: Kimble, J. (2012). Writing for dollars, writing to please:
The case for plain language in business, government, and law
Durham, N.C: Carolina Academic Press. 7
18. Readability
measures
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level
formula
Flesch Reading Ease Score
Can check the score of your
documents with MS Word or
http://www.readability-
score.com/
18
19. Flesch-Kincaid
Grade Level formula
Tests word length and sentence
length
Result = number of years of
education required to
understand a text
19
22. Flesch Reading
Ease Score
Also tests word and sentence
length
Higher score = more
understandable
Reader’s Digest has a score of 65
Time a score of 52
22
26. Plain language
“The writing and setting out of essential information in a way that
gives a cooperative, motivated person a good chance of
understanding it at first reading, and in the same sense that the writer
meant it to be understood.” -- Oxford Guide to Plain Language
Also called plain English
26
27. Plain language movement
U.S. consumer groups ridicule language in government
1960s documents and forms
New York State passes law requiring leases and
1978 consumer contracts to be clearer
President Carter required regulations to be written in
1978 plain language
President Clinton required all documents about
1998 government services to be written in plain language
27
29. Example #1: Common words
Before
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends a half hour or
more of moderate physical activity on most days, preferably every
day. The activity can include brisk walking, calisthenics, home care,
gardening, moderate sports exercise, and dancing.
After
29
30. Example #2: Pronouns
Before:
A performance system will allow for the development of new and
innovative training techniques and methodologies and allow
companies added flexibility in tailoring their training to the specific
job duties of their employees.
After:
30
31. Example #3: Pronouns
Before:
Copies of tax returns must be provided.
Loan applications will be reviewed to ensure that procedures have
been followed.
After:
31
32. Example #4: Active voice
Before:
Consumer messages have been developed to educate the public about
the Key Recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines and will be used
in materials targeted for consumers separate from this publication.
After:
32
33. Exercise #5: Short sentences
Before
A performance system will allow for the development of new and
innovative training techniques and methodologies and allow
companies added flexibility in tailoring their training to the specific
job duties of their employees.
After
33
35. Take away
Know why plain language is
important
Know the benefits of plain
language
Know what readability is
Know how readability is
measured
Know how to improve
readability
Know what plain language is
Know the four elements of plain 35
36. Photo Credits
books by Arslan
paper by Hacklock
words by ninasaurusrex
newspapers by leww_pics
air force recruits by Nina_Haghighi
grade 9 by Boston Public Library
the reader by grewlike
reading ease by sapheron
Green Eggs and Ham cover
the reader by murphyeppoon
the reader by adwriter
reading newspaper by KC Toh
reading by applejan
veteran by KennethMoyle
ge by Eric Leslie
china airlines by Roberto Verzo
36
Notas do Editor
George Klare and his colleagues looked at the effects of greater reading ease on Air Force recruits. They found that more readable texts resulted in greater and more complete learning. They also increased the amount read in a given time, and made for easier acceptance. [54][55] Other studies by Klare showed how the reader's skills, [56] prior knowledge, [57] interest, and motivation [56][57] affect reading ease.
Our new system will let us train our employees with new techniques and with greater ease.