Goal: Equip professionals with strategies to write in plain language that is clear and inclusive for multilingual and non-native speaker audiences.
Many readers are not native speakers of the language you’re writing in. To help them understand your message, use plain and simple language that makes the content understandable to people on various language levels.
Here are some helpful strategies:
- Use common, everyday words
- Avoid slang, idioms, or complicated phrases. For example, say “start” instead of “kick off”, or “check” instead of “go over.”
- Keep sentences short and clear.
- One idea per sentence is best. Avoid long, complex grammar.
- Avoid cultural references
- Not everyone will understand sayings, jokes, or examples from local culture. Use neutral examples that work in different countries.
- Use clear visuals
- Pictures, symbols, and diagrams can help explain your message across language barriers.
- Offer translations or glossaries.
- When possible, provide a version in the reader’s native language, or add simple definitions for difficult words.
Plain language doesn’t mean “baby talk”—it means respectful, clear writing that helps everyone feel included. Writing this way supports better understanding, especially in international or diverse communities.