Plain language is a practical tool that makes life easier for dyslexic people, those with mental disabilities, or immigrant backgrounds through simple and understandable text. But it is also more than that: a call to change the mindset and start treating understandable information as something that everyone deserves.
The right to understand
In today’s world, many of the most critical moments of our lives are marked by reading and signing various kinds of documents. We sign contracts to rent a flat, start a job, create a bank account, or take a loan. These documents affect our lives in a very real way, which is why we have the right to be informed about their contents and consequences.
In our everyday lives, we sign or click “accept” on so many things that it is challenging to track them. Every time we use a new application or program, we accept several pages of conditions of use. But how much of them can we really grasp? Do we even have time to read them properly?
Those documents are often unnecessarily lengthy and written in specialist jargon. Sometimes, official papers can be so unclear that not even lawyers agree on their interpretation. This makes it almost impossible for an average citizen to make informed decisions. The situation is even worse for those who have trouble reading, and it excludes those who are not fluent in the language of the country they live in.
While it is important to spread education, not everyone’s skills can be quickly improved. Moreover, if the instructions are unclear, not even a person with the highest literacy can be sure to interpret everything as intended. Therefore, it is necessary first to make the most important pieces of text simple to understand.
Benefits from clear language
There are several benefits to clear language. First of all, it improves the lives of people with reading difficulties. It makes it easier for them to be independent and to navigate the world without constantly feeling lost and confused. As such, it improves their well-being and the sense of self-confidence. Moreover, it can have very practical effects on their lives, as they are able to process information more effectively and are less likely to make mistakes.
However, clear language improves not only the lives of those with specific difficulties or disabilities. Everyone benefits from the policies, contracts, and official websites being written in an understandable way.
Here are some examples of the benefits of plain language:
- Saving time – the text written in plain language is quicker to read;
- Reducing the number of mistakes – things written clearly are easier to interpret;
- Encouraging participation and active citizenship – simpler pieces of text are more welcoming and make it easier to engage with their topic;
- Making informed decisions – fully understanding the conditions of various contracts and agreements is necessary for making responsible choices;
- Reducing anxiety – not being able to understand important pieces of text, such as medical documentation, leads to feeling confused and unsafe. On the other hand, understandable situations seem easier to manage.
Implementing plain language in all kinds of official documentation, policies, and websites could improve everyone’s lives. It has the potential to reduce the number of people who give up on reading the documents they sign and then suffer the consequences of not being informed about their rights. It would also help us save time and spend these precious moments on something more valuable than trying to decipher and fill in complex forms.
If you are interested in plain language, you might want to check out the text it Easy project. You can find more information on it on its website: https://text-it-easy.eu/ or through following Logopsycom on social media: https://www.facebook.com/Logopsycom.
Bosley, D. (2015) Demand to Understand: How Plain Language Makes Life Simpler, TedX Talks, YouTube, Retrieved 18 March 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXcLwlZOE1s
Fisher Martins, S. (2011) The right to understand [English Subtitled], TedX Talks, YouTube. Retrieved 18 March 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP2y0vU7EG8
plainlanguage.gov | Home. (n.d.). Retrieved 18 March 2025, from https://www.plainlanguage.gov/