Vocabulary

  • Use clear and simple text
  • Avoid abstract concepts (ideas or concepts that have no physical reference), for example, freedom, good, moral, democracy, and any -ism (e.g. chauvinism, Communism, feminism, racism, sexism)
  • Avoid meaningless formal language (e.g. best practice, touch base, value-added)
  • Avoid hidden verbs. Use the strongest, most direct form of the verb (e.g. Don’t write “you need to carry out a review of your account”, write “you need to review your account”)
  • Avoid metaphors and figures of speech. If necessary, illustrate them with practical examples
  • Write as you talk. Use short words from everyday language that are used in oral communication
  • Don’t turn verbs into nouns. (e.g. Don’t write “animal protection procedure development”; instead, write “developing procedures to protect animals”)
  • Use vocabulary in its first meaning (common meaning)
  • In text, always designate the same objects by the same word, i.e., avoid the use of synonyms
  • Avoid abbreviations and acronyms
  • If everyone knows an abbreviation, use it without explanation (e.g. BMW, AIDS)
  • Try to avoid using legal and technical language (i.e., specialized vocabulary of any field)
  • Omit unnecessary words (e.g. Write “to” instead of “in order to”)
  • Omit excess words (e.g. Write “difficult” instead of “particularly difficult”)
  • Don’t use slashes (e.g. Write either X, or Y, or both” then “X and/or Y)
  • Do not borrow words from other languages. If this is unavoidable, explain them, except, commonly used words
  • Use definitions rarely. If you can’t avoid them, use only a few
  • Avoid long section of definitions. If you must have a section of definitions, put it at the beginning or the end of your document
  • Use correct spelling
  • Offer a search engine that forgives spelling errors
  • Include spell checkers in search engines
  • Offer pronunciations where meaning depends on it, mainly for heteronyms—words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings, such as the words “lead” (to guide/dense metal) and “wound” (injury/to encircle)