Plain English (DET)
Our aim is to produce units that are clear, concise and easily understood by our audience. Although we don't want to change the main messages in the content provided by teachers and content writers, we need to make sure text is clean. Where possible, we should avoid needless jargon and technical language.
Writing should be:
- clear: key words and sentences should stand out when the page is scanned
- targeted: consider who your audience is and write in an appropriate style that suits the audience's reading level and knowledge.
- objective: use neutral, simple language
- consistent: keep the same writing style and format throughout.
Say | Avoid saying |
about | in the region of, concerning, of the order of, regarding, respecting |
act | take action |
after | following, subsequently |
ask | inquire |
because | in consequence of |
before | prior, ahead of |
buy | purchase |
called | described as |
cause | give rise to |
comes from | hails from |
consider | give consideration to |
end | terminate |
enough | sufficient |
except | with the exception of |
few | small percentage of |
find | locate |
for | for the purpose of |
full | filled to capacity |
go | proceed |
help | come to the aid of, assist, facilitate |
helped | rendered assistance to |
if | provided |
later | subsequently |
long | lengthy |
many | numerous, a great number |
more | additional, further |
most | the majority of |
near | adjacent to |
now | currently, at the moment, this point in time |
on | respecting |
part | portion |
read | peruse |
running | in succession |
said | announced, stated, declared |
sent | dispatched |
set up | establish, implement |
since | in view of the fact that |
so | accordingly |
so far | to date |
so that | with the result that |
soon | shortly, in the near future |
tell | inform |
to | in order to, with the aim of |
took | conveyed |
towards | in the direction of |
try | attempt, endeavour |
use | utilise, employ |
usual | customary |
very | exceedingly |