Language usage

Language usage in design projects can create accessibility issues. Complex language increases the reader's cognitive load. To address this, communicate in plain language, especially for complex content. Strive for clarity and simplicity. In today's bite, you'll learn how to do exactly that.

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Who we write for

Many groups of people profit from simple and clear language:

• People with low literacy-levels;
• People that don't have English as their mother tongue, such as immigrants or deaf people who might have had to use sign language from birth.
• People with autism, who can have trouble interpreting meaning from texts, especially when their not literal.
• People with dyslexia, who benefit from language use as well as paragraph styling with enough whitespace between lines and scannable layouts with headings and lists.

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How we write

Make it scannable

• Use a clear structure and hierarchy, with a linear progression of ideas.
• Avoid complex sentences and paragraphs.
• Break up text into smaller sections with subheadings.
• Use recognisable patterns such as these bullet points or numbered lists.
• Provide plain language summaries.

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Short is Sweet

Replace long words and phrases if you can. Remove anything unnecessary to reduce cognitive load and improve clarity.

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Be literal

Avoid using idioms. Try to write as if Google will have to translate it, making sure it won't misinterpret anything. This self-imposed limit can help you write with more clarity, precision, and accessibility.

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Be simple

• Avoid incorporating foreign words unless necessary. Unless coded in right, these words are read in the original page language by screenreaders, becoming impossible to understand.
• Minimize insider knowledge, such as abbreviations, acronyms or jargon. If such words are necessary, explain or define them when first used.
• Avoid using cultural references such as celebrities, trends or news items unless their meaning is clear from the context. Not everyone is on the same page and they might not get what your trying to say. On top of that, anything relevant now might be forgotten in the near future.
• Check if your words exceed B1-reading level by using tools such as IshetB1?.

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Be engaging

Users might be overwhelmed by walls of text, even when broken op into sections. Add images, graphics and examples to engage the reader, enhance their understanding and support different approaches to processing information.

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Listen for homonyms & watch for heteronyms

Some words sound alike but have different meanings. When the reader uses a screenreader, such a homonym can confuse them. Similarly, words can be spelled identically or look very similar. Often, the difference in meaning only becomes apparent from pronunciation.

Prevent confusion by:

• Finding synonyms with a different sound or spelling;
• Ensuring a clear context;
• Providing explanations, spelling necessary words out or providing annotations or pronunciation guides.
• Explaining or defining words that exceed B1-reading level or might be unknown to your audience.

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Consider alternatives

Despite your best efforts, a text may sometimes still require a reading ability more advanced than a lower secondary school education level. In these cases, provide either a plain language summary of the complex content, or an alternate version that does not require such a high reading level. Do keep in mind that this should be an exception, as alternatives rarely reach the same value or quality and can force a user to a lesser experience.

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By following these principles, you can enhance the accessibility of your communication, ensuring clarity and inclusivity in all of your work.

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