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Simplification and readability techniques. Use when writing for broad audiences or simplifying complex content...
Purpose: Write clearly and directly using active voice, simple sentences, and minimal jargon.
Origin: Plain Writing Act of 2010 (US), Plain Language Movement
Use When: Drafting and reviewing content to maximize clarity (Phases 4-5)
Plain language means readers understand immediately what you're saying - no rereading required.
Passive: Subject receives action ("The error was caught by the test") Active: Subject performs action ("The test caught the error")
Why Active is Better:
Examples:
❌ PASSIVE:
"The bug was discovered by the QA team"
"Performance improvements were made to the API"
"A decision will be made by the committee"
✅ ACTIVE:
"The QA team discovered the bug"
"We improved API performance"
"The committee will decide"
Detection Pattern: "was/were/is/are + past participle + by"
When Passive is Okay:
Principle: Long sentences increase cognitive load and reduce comprehension.
Targets:
Techniques:
❌ LONG (42 words):
"After extensive research and consideration of multiple
frameworks over several months using various criteria
including performance, ecosystem size, learning curve,
and community support, we determined that React offers
the best balance for our team's needs."
✅ SPLIT (2 sentences, 23 + 14 words):
"Our evaluation of 5 frameworks over 3 months ranked
React highest across 12 criteria, including performance,
ecosystem, and learning curve. React offers the best
balance for our team's needs."
How to Shorten:
Jargon: Specialized terminology that excludes readers.
When to Use Jargon:
When to Avoid:
Examples:
❌ JARGON HEAVY:
"Leverage microservices to achieve scalable, cloud-native
architecture with seamless integration paradigms"
✅ PLAIN:
"Break your application into small, independent services
that can scale individually and run in the cloud"
✅ JARGON EXPLAINED:
"Use microservices—small, independent services that handle
specific functions—to scale your application efficiently"
Nominalization (verb → noun weakens writing):
❌ make a decision → ✅ decide
❌ perform an analysis → ✅ analyze
❌ give consideration to → ✅ consider
❌ have a discussion about → ✅ discuss
Weak Verbs (vague actions):
❌ utilize → ✅ use
❌ facilitate → ✅ enable / allow
❌ implement → ✅ build / create
❌ leverage → ✅ use / apply
Redundancy (unnecessary words):
❌ advance planning → ✅ planning
❌ past history → ✅ history
❌ completely eliminate → ✅ eliminate
❌ end result → ✅ result
Weasel Words (often removable):
❌ very important → ✅ critical / important
❌ really significant → ✅ significant
❌ actually improves → ✅ improves
❌ basically works → ✅ works
Calculation:
Targets:
Calculation:
Targets:
30 words: Consider splitting
Plain language typically scores:
Plain language compliance:
