GOAL: Write so people only need to read once to understand and use your content.
Readability checklist
| Content element |
Desired characteristics |
| Register |
- Written in the standard register
|
| Everyday words |
- Uses everyday words
- No buzzwords, gobbledygook or idioms
- Jargon is only used if understood by target audience
|
| Abbreviations |
- Only uses abbreviations understood by target audience
|
| Sentences |
- 15 words on average
- None over 25 words
|
| Verbs |
- Passive voice limited to around 5%
|
| Personal pronouns |
- ‘We’ and ‘our’ used to refer to the organisation
- ‘You’ and ‘your’ used to refer to users
|
| Concise writing |
- No unnecessary information
- No wasted words
|
Resources
Style manual: Clear language and writing style
