April 8, 2009

Plain Language Version ISO Standards

… a plain language translation of the International Standards Organization Standards prepared by Praxiom.

The plain language definitons might prove useful as a resource.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Cheryl Stephens @ 5:22 am

April 6, 2009

Perceptions of Audience Awareness

When you want to write in plain language, it is important to distinguish between
your concept of plain language and your reader’s.
A reader decides whether to read your material based on the reader’s judgement whether the material:
  • looks interesting
  • appears useful
  • seems easy to read
Putting aside the reader’s search for interesting and useful, what will seem easy to read?
As the reader scans the page and picks out a phrase here and there, the decision is reached according to the reader’s idea of easy reading.
I have found that most over-educated people (as in too many years in the ivory tower) have a limited awareness of the average reader’s capabilities.
If you aim to write always in plain language, then you should inform yourself. Keep up with the relevant news.
Here are 3 items from today alone:
1.

2.

British teenagers have lower IQ scores than a generation ago, new study reveals


3.

First 2 Words: A Signal for the Scanning Eye 

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/nanocontent.html

Filed under: Uncategorized — Cheryl Stephens @ 8:55 pm

Practice Audience Awareness

Matthew Stibbe of the blog Bad Language posted this:

[This poster] should read:

Psychic Festival

You know where it is.
You know when it is.

And we know you’re coming.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Cheryl Stephens @ 5:48 pm