Category: International readers
Using plain language for better machine translation in the age of AI
More people today can understand content in other languages thanks to machine and AI translation. These translations can be more understandable if you use plain language principles. Today’s machine and ...
Quick tip: Rephrase negatives into positives
Here's an easy tip to help you write more clearly: if you can, rephrase negatives into positives. This is especially useful when you're writing instructions and test or survey questions ...
BOOK: A Guide to Writing for the United Nations, by W. H. Hindle
W. H. Hindle, a career editor for the UN, wrote a guide on how to write clearly for the organization. Peppered with gems (pointing out the "sonorous polysyllables" with their ...
Plain language as a bridge where there is no shared culture
In diverse settings, we can't rely on "common sense" to communicate. That's why we need plain language: to make the unspokens explicit. In 2022, I went to Tokyo to attend ...
Are phrasal verbs difficult? Writing for international readers
Looking up phrasal verbs in a dictionary is a pain. That's why you may want to reconsider using them if you're writing for non-fluent English speakers. Plain language guidelines suggest ...
Some contractions are easier than others: Writing for international readers
Do you use contractions (like "it's" and "don't") in your writing? I do! But some kinds of contractions may be easier than others for readers to follow. Do you use ...
How to write clear English for your diverse audiences
We're advised to tailor our writing to our audiences. But what if our intended audience is very diverse? What can we do to write as clearly as possible? ...
3 tips to present in clear English for diverse audiences
Need to present to a diverse, international audience? Here are some tips ...