Plain language
Also: plain English, easy read, plain writing
The writing practice that produces clear, concise content readable by the broadest possible audience — supporting cognitive accessibility, low-literacy users, and non-native speakers. Cited by the US Plain Writing Act, ISO 24495, and many EU accessibility regimes.
Plain language is the writing practice that targets clarity, brevity, and accessibility over formal or technical-impressive prose. It serves several user populations simultaneously: cognitive-disability users, low-literacy users, non-native speakers of the language, users in distress (reading official communications about benefits, health, legal status), and frankly everyone reading on a small screen with limited time.
It is also a legal requirement in several jurisdictions:
- US Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to write in plain language in any public-facing document.
- ISO 24495-1:2023 is the international standard for plain language in English.
- Several EU accessibility regimes (notably France’s RGAA and the UK’s GDS Service Standard) reference plain-language principles for public-sector services.
What plain language actually requires
Plain language is not “dumbed-down” language; it’s direct language. The operative discipline:
- Short sentences. Median 15-20 words; aim for variety, with most sentences under 25 words.
- Common vocabulary. Use “use” instead of “utilise,” “show” instead of “demonstrate,” “buy” instead of “purchase.” Where technical terms are unavoidable, define them on first use.
- Active voice. “We will send your letter on Friday” beats “Your letter will be sent on Friday.” Passive voice obscures who acts.
- One idea per sentence; one topic per paragraph. Compound sentences with three nested clauses lose readers regardless of their abilities.
- Clear structure. Headings every 200-400 words. Lists for any set of three or more items. White space.
- Direct address. “You” not “the user”; “we” not “the organisation.”
- No jargon, abbreviations, or acronyms without explanation.
Reading-level targets
The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) recommends target reading age 12-14 (US grade 7-8). The UK Government Digital Service targets age 9 for service content. Both targets are substantially lower than what most professional writing defaults to.
Tools that measure reading age include Flesch-Kincaid (built into Word and Hemingway Editor), Dale-Chall, and SMOG. None is perfect; they all underweight some factors and overweight others. They’re useful as a direction check, not as a pass/fail gate.
Plain language is not “easy read”
Easy Read is a distinct, more aggressive simplification practice used primarily for users with significant intellectual disability. It pairs short sentences with symbols, uses lots of white space and large fonts, and explicitly targets reading age 7 or below. Easy Read versions of key documents are common in disability-rights and public-service contexts but are usually published alongside (not instead of) the plain- language version.
How it intersects with cognitive accessibility
Plain language is the most actionable cognitive-accessibility lever most content teams have. WCAG criterion 3.1.5 Reading Level (AAA) requires reading-level-appropriate content (or alternatives) when content exceeds lower-secondary level. Plain-language practice satisfies 3.1.5 by construction and substantially helps the much wider WCAG 3 cognitive-outcome coverage as that spec firms up.