{
    "version" : "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1",
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    "type" : "single",
    "title" : "Plain Language Web Writing Tips |Digital.gov",
    "description": "Plain Language Web Writing Tips",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/resources/plain-language-web-writing-tips/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"Plain Language Web Writing Tips","summary" : "Help your readers complete their tasks with these Plain Language writing tips.","date" : "2015-03-06T02:58:29-04:00","date_modified" : "2024-04-02T09:45:13-04:00","authors" : {"rflagg" : "Rachel Flagg","awichman" : "Ashley Wichman"},"topics" : {
        
            "communication" : "Communication",
            "plain-language" : "Plain Language"
            },"branch" : "cm-topics-button-component",
      "filename" :"plain-language-web-writing-tips.md",
      
      "filepath" :"resources/plain-language-web-writing-tips.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/cm-topics-button-component/content/resources/plain-language-web-writing-tips.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/cm-topics-button-component/content/resources/plain-language-web-writing-tips.md","slug" : "plain-language-web-writing-tips","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/cm-topics-button-component/resources/plain-language-web-writing-tips/","content" :"\u003cp\u003eOn the web, people are in a hurry. They skim and scan, looking for fast answers to their questions, so it’s important to get to the point—quickly!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelp your readers complete their tasks with these Plain Language writing tips:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"resources__plain-language-table\" style=\"width: 100%\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAudience\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eWrite for your reader. Don\u0026#8217;t write for the experts, the lawyers, or your management, unless they are your intended audience.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003e\u003cs\u003eLess is more!\u003c/s\u003e \u003cs\u003eBe concise.\u003c/s\u003e Eliminate ALL unnecessary words. \u003cs\u003eChallenge every word = do you need it?\u003c/s\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTone\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eUse conversational pronouns (you, us, our, we). Write as if you were talking to a colleague or friend. Use contractions (we’re instead of we are).\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVoice\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eUse active voice with strong verbs. Say “We mailed your form on May 1” instead of “Your form was mailed by us on May 1.”\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWord Choice\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eUse the same words your readers use when they search for your info on the Web. Avoid acronyms and jargon.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSimplify\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eUse simple, descriptive section headings; short paragraphs; and ordinary, familiar words.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLinks\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eNever use \u0026#8220;click here\u0026#8221;—link language should describe what your reader will get if they click that link. Include key words to help search engines.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrganization\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003ePut the most important information first, followed by the details.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprove Tasks\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eOrganize content around your customers’ tasks, not your organization. Highlight action items (step 1, step 2, etc.).\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScannability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eSeparate content into small chunks. Use lots of white space for easy scanning. In general, write no more than 5-7 lines per paragraph. Use lists and bullets, they are easy to scan.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeparate Topics\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003ePresent each topic separately. Keep the information on each page to three (or fewer) levels.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContext\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eDon’t assume your readers already know the subject or have read related pages. Each page should stand on its own. Put everything in context.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTest and Evaluate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eTest Web pages with actual customers so you can be sure real people can understand what you write.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n  \u003ctr\u003e\n    \u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrain\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eEncourage all your colleagues (lawyers, accountants, researchers, etc.) to use plain language—because all content is potentially Web content.\u003c/td\u003e\n  \u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\n  \u003ca class=\"usa-button usa-button--outline\" href=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/digitalgov/_legacy-img/2013/11/checklist-for-Plain-Language-Web-writing.docx\"\u003eDownload Checklist\u003c/a\u003e\n\n\n\n"}
  ]
}