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Plain language resources
Plain language checklist
This is a proof of concept. See for source of truth - 9/15/2023
Checklist
Category
Rating
Tips
1
0-14 grade level, plus Postgraduate
Measure reading level to make sure it’s not too high for your audience. Check this through Hemingway. Target is 6th-8th Grade level.
2
Yes, No, N/A
Content should be organized around what the reader wants to know and their potential next steps.
3
Yes, No, N/A
Headings act as landmarks that help people understand what they are about to read, so make these as clear as possible. For example, including “Unemployment insurance benefits” in your heading makes it clear to claimants which benefits they are about to read about, which can be helpful if individuals have applied for multiple benefits.
4
Yes, No, N/A
Capitalize only proper nouns and the first word in sentences. This makes text easier to read and understand.
5
Yes, No, N/A
Addressing the reader directly and using a human-centered tone helps readers understand what is relevant to them.
6
Yes, No, N/A
Overly complex sentences can be hard to parse. Review long sentences for core points and break them up into shorter sentences, grouping them by theme or timeline of events to increase clarity.
7
Yes, No, N/A
Speak in the present tense. Simple present is best.
8
Yes, No, N/A
Use the strongest, most direct form of the verb possible. For example: “We scheduled a fact-finding interview” vs. “There was a fact-finding interview scheduled.”
11
Yes, No, N/A
Avoid large gaps between the subject, the verb, and the object. Put exceptions last. Place modifiers correctly.
12
Yes, No, N/A
When possible, provide information in lists, which are easier to process than large chunks of text. Tables can be used for more complex material.
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