Question #1

1. We spoke about Plain English writing in class. 

Please answer the following in detail:

a. How would you explain to someone what “Plain English writing” is? (4 Marks)
The best way to explain “Plain English writing” to someone is that it’s writing that is clear and easy to understand. This form of writing avoids any confusing words that may prevent someone from understanding. You can find plain writing in almost everything you read because it helps the reader understand the message quickly, since that’s all their attention span really has. The goal is to accommodate all readers because you don’t know if they enjoy it or not. People don’t want to think when reading, so this is why it is so important to keep in mind when writing content.

b. What makes plain English writing different? (4 Marks)
When thinking about how plain language is different compared to more complex writing, it uses a clear and simple language for someone to understand. When thinking about plain language, all I can think about is how is importoetant to people like myself. Speaking from someone who has dyslexia, reading doesn’t come easily for me. When looking at how it’s different, sentences that are easy to follow make a huge difference in the way I process information. When reading something that has a lot of complex words, it takes a lot longer for the average person to read, which is why it can make such a difference. Additionally, plain language avoids any filler words, which ensures the reader is getting only relevant and helpful information. 

c. What is plain language writing for the web and in detail and in your own words, why is it important? (4 Marks)
Having clear and simple writing on your website helps users quickly understand what they are reading. For the web, you want to be writing for people who skim writing rather than actually read every word. Think about how often you skim and scan when reading because its definty very often. People are looking for useful information, which is why using short paragraphs, strong headings, and a clear call to action is important. In class, we discussed the “inverted pyramid,” where the most important information is placed at the very top of the page or paragraph on your website. This is a way to organize your content and ideas based on the importance (Brisco, W8 – Writing Website Copy & Plain Language Writing (W26).pdf, Slides 12 & 13) because we won’t know how much that person is actually going to read.