Welcome back to the Plain Language Series, where we have been focusing on plain language as it applies across a variety of settings and for readers with higher comprehension support needs. 

In Part 1, we covered the basics of the concept of plain language, and where it is most often applied, and in Part 2, we talked about some common concepts used in plain language guidelines. In Part 3, we are honing in on styles of writing that apply both principles of plain text and additional strategies to support readers who need more help with reading comprehension.

Guidelines designed for such writing styles tend to go a step beyond standard plain language guidelines, emphasizing some additional strategies that help with readability and retainability that someone seeking to write in a more generalized plain language might not focus on. 

Resources such as the CDC’s guideline may offer it as one of many guidelines in a larger plain language resource while organizations like the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network may focus more directly on one type of specialized guideline, such as Easy Read, which not only shares strategies for plain and simplified language but also explains how to convert a more complex document into a simplified resource.

Let’s take a look at some common guidelines to create a simplified language document!

One crucial difference between the formatting of traditional plain language and more simplified versions is that plain language does not necessarily limit a writer to multiple ideas on the same line or in the same sentence. 

Simplified writing more intentionally separates complex ideas into their component ideas so they can be delivered one line at a time. This formatting often necessitates radically changing the wording while preserving the substance of the idea, but makes those ideas much more digestible than when combined. 

You should consider not only writing one idea per sentence, but sticking to one sentence per line so that the writing lends itself as much as possible to processing one idea at a time. It is much easier to build on individual ideas if each idea is explained along the way!

Another helpful strategy that the basic plain language guidelines do not always capture is repetition of ideas throughout the work. While that may not be necessary or directly achieve the goals of generalized plain language in many cases, repeating themes can be an incredibly helpful comprehension and retention tool for readers with higher support needs related to reading level and comprehension. If it’s important, it’s worth bringing up again!

One challenge of avoiding “jargon” in some cases is that sometimes the aim of a document is to explain a complex concept that requires some degree of specialized language. It can sometimes be more helpful to use complex words as anchor points, especially if they are core to understanding the story being presented. 

Using simplified sentence structure to explain more complex words can sometimes take a little more time than we might like but can be worthwhile when it’s the difference between understanding and misunderstanding.

One reality of communicating complex ideas is that we all pick up on different things, and even a well-constructed one-idea-at-a-time explanation might not always fully get the idea across for everyone. 

Sometimes illustrative examples can make things easier. A classic example might be a self-reporting survey. A person who is not sure exactly what a given question means can benefit from some examples of what might be considered plausible answers to that question. 

Using several examples, approaching the idea with different contexts can be a helpful way to reinforce those ideas and offer a variety of approaches for different readers.

With that, we are wrapping up for the week, but we are always interested in your feedback on this series or anything else on our website! Suggestions, feedback, or experiences you want to share are always welcome at our inbox at hello@autismgrownup.com. In the meantime, stay tuned for Part 4, where we will focus on areas where knowledge of plain language can be applied!