CalInnovate Toolkit

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CalInnovate Toolkit

CalInnovate Toolkit

Plain language

Plain language resources

Plain language checklist

This is a proof of concept. See
`GitBook`⁠
for source of truth - 9/15/2023

Principles

California Design System content design principles⁠

, authored by the Office of Data and Innovation (ODI)

California Design System principles⁠

Government Code 6219⁠

: California's plain language law

US Web Design System principles⁠

Style guides

These are the style guides ODI look at when we have questions about writing.

Associated Press (AP) Style⁠

: ODI's default style guide

18F content guide⁠

How to write for SF.gov⁠

Federal plain language guidelines⁠

at plainlanguage.gov

Digital.gov - Federal

style guides by government agencies⁠

GOV.UK A to Z of style – words to avoid⁠

: a list of some words that make your content less clear, created by a UK government content team

How to’s

Accessibility

Content designers play a role in accessibility. Creating alt text for images is one of the biggest ways.

How to: write good alt text⁠

- Supercool

Cognitive Accessibility Guidance⁠

- Web Accessibility Initiative

Write good Alt Text to describe images⁠

- Harvard University

An alt decision tree⁠

- W3C. This helps you decide if an image needs alt text

3 questions to help decide if an image doesn’t need alt text⁠

- Bureau of Internet Accessibility

Content design

Plain language is part of the broader discipline of content design. These resources can help you improve your writing beyond using plain language.

Why FAQs aren’t the answer you’re looking for⁠

- Co-op

A guide to content design⁠

- Shelter, aUK housing nonprofit

What is content design?⁠

Crits⁠

How content designers can convince subject matter experts content needs to change⁠

Inclusive language

While not a traditional part of plain language, inclusive language respects all readers.

IT inclusive language guide⁠

: terms often found in IT with alternatives from the University of Washington

Inclusive language guide⁠

: Atlassian’s guide that offers alternatives to terms and phrases

Language, Please⁠

: a resource that defines many terms. In some cases it offers guidance on choosing terms

Casey⁠

: a tool to help you identify gendered and ableist language

Supporting inclusive forms design with design systems⁠

Plain language

Plainlanguage.gov⁠

, maintained by the US federal government, is a great resource for how to implement plain language. Their site also includes

examples⁠

of plain language in action.

Human-centered design

Nielsen Norman Group⁠

Content strategy⁠

Information architecture⁠

Writing for the web⁠

Web usability⁠

Why you only need to test with 5 users⁠

Tools

Hemingway Editor⁠

ODI's

plain language checklist⁠

: detailed guidance on how to improve your content

Books

Content Design⁠

by Sarah Winters

Writing for dollars, writing to please: The case for plain language in business, government, and law⁠

by Joseph Kimble

⁠
Share feedback
⁠
⁠

This is a proof of concept. See GitBook for source of truth - 9/15/2023

Human-centered design

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.

Plain language resources

This is a proof of concept. See GitBook⁠ for source of truth - 9/15/2023

Principles

Style guides

How to’s

Accessibility

Content design

Inclusive language

Plain language

Human-centered design

Tools

Books

⁠Share feedback⁠⁠

This is a proof of concept. See
`GitBook`⁠
for source of truth - 9/15/2023

⁠
Share feedback
⁠
⁠