Have you heard of the plain language ISO standard yet? It was introduced not long ago, and like other ISO standards, it has to do with governing principles and guidelines. In more detail, it’s concerned with the governing principles and guidelines for developing plain language:
Plain language is communication that puts readers first. More specifically, plain language considers:
- what readers want and need to know
- readers’ level of interest, expertise, and literacy skills
- the context in which readers will use a document.
Plain language is important because using it ensures that readers can find what they need and can easily understand and use the content. It saves readers and organizations time and money, because it’s more effective and produces better outcomes than jargon-filled language.
The four governing principles
There are four governing principles when it comes to the plain language ISO standard:
1. Readers get what they need (relevant)
To create a document in plain language, you need to know what readers’ needs are. To figure that out, you need to know who your readers are. What is their purpose for reading the document? Are they looking for more information on a certain topic? Or are they looking for instructions to complete a task? You should always opt for a document type that fits readers’ needs.
2. Readers can easily find what they need (findable)
You should enable readers to quickly be able to determine what a document is about, so they can assess whether it’s useful for them to read. You can help readers figure this out by structuring the document with them in mind. Make sure you place the most important information where readers can easily find it, preferably at the beginning. Use design techniques like headers, bullets, and typography to help readers quickly find information that is relevant for them.
3. Readers can easily understand what they find (understandable)
The structure and wording of the content should be easy for readers to understand. To enable this, you should use familiar words and words that prompt a mental image for readers. Besides that, it’s important to write clear and concise sentences and paragraphs, and you should consider including images and multimedia. Also, make sure to use a consistent tone of voice that appeals to all possible readers.
4. Readers can easily use the information (usable)
If you follow the four principles above, your document should be easy to use. But how can you be sure? We advise you to continually evaluate the document while it’s in development and in use. Ask readers how they feel about the document, and adjust it based on their feedback.
Follow the four principles using Textmetrics
By following the four governing principles outlined above, you can make sure that readers can use a document as you intend it to be used. To help you comply with the plain language ISO standard, you can use Textmetrics.
Our Smart AI Writing Software helps you write understandable content. Our Readability module checks your content on words that are difficult to understand, long sentences, and a passive tone of voice, and gives you suggestions for improvements. You’ll write understandable content with familiar words, short and clear sentences, and an active tone of voice that appeals to your entire target group.