Overview
ISO 24495-1:2023, Plain language - Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines, provides foundational principles and practical guidelines for creating plain language documents. Developed by ISO Technical Committee 37 (Language and terminology), this international standard is designed for anyone involved in writing, editing, or managing documents. While its primary focus is on materials for the general public, the standard is also relevant to technical writers, legislative drafters, controlled language specialists, and authors of digital or printed information. ISO 24495-1 supports clarity, usability, and accessibility across most written languages (with examples in English), emphasizing content that is relevant, easily findable, understandable, and usable by the intended audience.
Key Topics
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Plain Language Principles: The standard identifies four key principles to guide all plain language documentation:
- Readers get what they need (relevant)
- Readers can easily find what they need (findable)
- Readers can easily understand what they find (understandable)
- Readers can easily use the information (usable)
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Guideline Structure: Each principle is supported by actionable guidelines:
- Relevance: Understanding the audience, purpose, and context; choosing suitable content and document types.
- Findability: Logical document structure and organization; use of headings, tables of contents, and indexes; effective information design (typography, lists, prominence).
- Understandability: Clear, concise language; familiar words; effective use of images and multimedia; coherent paragraphs and sentences; inclusive and respectful tone.
- Usability: Ongoing evaluation and iterative improvement involving direct reader feedback and usability testing.
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Inclusive Communication: While not addressing all forms of media, the standard provides broad, transferable principles applicable to communication in both digital and print formats and indirectly aids creators of podcasts and videos.
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Limitations: The document specifically focuses on text-based communication and does not provide detailed accessibility guidance (authors creating accessible digital documents are referred to external standards such as WCAG and EN 301 549).
Applications
Implementing ISO 24495-1:2023 is valuable for:
- Public Information: Government agencies creating forms, instructions, or communications for citizens.
- Technical Documentation: Simplifying complex technical manuals, product guides, and software documentation for broader comprehension.
- Business Communication: Ensuring contracts, policies, and correspondence are clear for customers and business partners.
- Legal Drafting: Crafting laws, regulations, and legal notices that minimize ambiguity and are accessible to non-experts.
- Content Localization: Supporting efficient and accurate translation by reducing unnecessary complexity.
- Organizational Efficiency: Improving user comprehension, increasing customer satisfaction, reducing support queries, and saving time for both readers and organizations.
Related Standards
For enhanced document accessibility and effective communication, consider these standards alongside ISO 24495-1:2023:
- EN 301 549: Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Internationally recognized guidelines for digital accessibility by the W3C
- ISO 8879: Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), foundational for information processing and document structure
Implementing ISO 24495-1:2023 ensures clarity, efficiency, and user-centric communication, making documents easier to understand and use, while fostering trust and compliance across a wide range of industries and sectors.