How to use AI for English writing: For development professionals
To use genAI as a development professional, first, understand that genAI has risks. Use it for what it’s good at and review all outputs more carefully than you would your …
Tag: international audiences
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 …
Can ChatGPT help copyedit a translation?
Can AI chatbots take over scholarly translation? I used ChatGPT to help me copyedit text that it had translated. Conclusion: it’s probably more efficient to hire a professional human translator …
Plain language vs. Easy English
Plain language’s aim is to ensure that people can access (understand and use) the information they need to lead better lives. But there’s also Easy English. The two share core …
How to use jargon effectively, responsibly, and inclusively
Most of us have heard that jargon is terrible. Is it really so terrible? And is there any way to use jargon well? For those of you who just want …
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. …
PODCAST: A Quick Dip into plain language
In a brief 15 minutes, Sarah Black and I dip into plain language and its role in supporting accessible communication across cultures, in a new podcast A Quick Dip.
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 …
Non-designers can design for better readability: 3 simple principles
Making your text more readable will help you reach more people. And there are simple principles that even non-designers can use. Readability isn’t about making things look pretty. It’s about …
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 …