What makes something easy to read?

Easy to read documents and websites use:

• Simple language
• Images to support text
• Accessible design, including larger font sizes and plenty of white space.

Easy English and plain language

Over the past 40 years, there has been a growing movement against the use of "gobbledygook" in all written communications. Instead, plain language is used because it is clear and easy to read.

In many government and corporate settings, language use tends to favour acronyms, jargon and professional terminology. There are some circumstances where complex language is appropriate. However, in most forms of communication, plain language is preferable.

There are other circumstances where plain language does not go far enough to simplify information. For example, if members of the intended audience have an intellectual disability, Easy English is more appropriate.

Easy English presents information in a way that is very easy to understand. There are a set of guidelines for its use, including the use of images to support text, using a large font size and allowing plenty of white space. Easy English is currently used extensively for audiences with a disability. However, it is also becoming more widely used for audiences with low literacy levels or where English is a second language.

When developing successful communication resources, taking the level of literacy of the audience into account is a vital step. Read about the literacy levels in our community.

At the Information Access Group, we advise on the best language level for the intended audience and assist with the editorial process. We also select and/or create images as required. Our team also includes talented designers who specialise in making documents easy to read and websites easy to use.

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