Writing style
People read differently on the web than they do on paper, so it needs a different approach.
Content on our website should be written so everyone is able to read and understand it. People should be able to scan the page quickly to find the information they need.
Always start with the question – what does the user need to know?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) say that “Content should be written as clearly and simply as possible.”
This means avoiding jargon, abbreviations and technical language.
Good content uses:
- short sentences
- subheadings
- simple vocabulary
The Government Digital Service (GDS) recommends sentences be no longer than 25 words and a maximum of 5 lines per paragraph.
Plymouth.gov.uk is for everyone and its main purpose is to provide information or allow someone to complete a task. We don't want to make it difficult for people to do that.
Plain English
We are committed to making sure that our content is easy to understand, concise and free of jargon. Plain English is easier to read and understand.
Using Plain English is not about dumbing down, it's about opening up.
Examples:
“buy” not “purchase”
“help” not “assist”
“about” not “approximately”
Find out more on the Plain English Campaign website.