Learning from linguistics: structuring our sentences sensitively
Keywords:
readability, understandability, grammar, syntax, sentence structure, FleschAbstract
AbstractIt is important not to use language in a way that excludes certain people or groups. ‘Readability’ (or ‘understandability’, in the case of spoken language) is a common concept in the plain-language field. It applies to choosing both vocabulary and syntax (sentence structure). Having looked in a previous article at techniques to help bereavement-support workers use understandable words and phrases when communicating with clients, this article examines basic techniques to improve sentence clarity. These include avoiding long sentences and paragraphs; using active-voice verbs; and ensuring good grammar, spelling and punctuation. It also describes how to check the readability of your text using a feature built into Microsoft Word.
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