Easy English vs Plain Language

Why Easy English is the best choice?

Difference at a glance

Easy English example

Easy English

developed in Australia since 2005
has evolved
measurable & repeatable elements across format, linguistic elements and images for people with low literacy
uses universal design & incorporates plain language principles
designed for any person with low literacy, including those people with intermittent or situational low literacy.

Plain Language example

Plain Language

A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.

Plain Language writers are developing content for the 56% of the adult Australian population ‘who do have the literacy to manage a range of day to day reading tasks.’ (ABS, 2013. #4228).

IOS link

Difference in detail

		Easy English	Plain Langugage
Flesch - Kincaid Reading equivalence range		Range: Grade 0 to Grade 3.	Range: Grade 3 to grade 12.
Flesch - Kincaid Reading equivalence average		Grade 2. This is a person who is learning to read. For an adult, it is a person with low literacy.	Grade 5. This is a person who has the building blocks to use their reading to learn. For an adult, it is not a person with low literacy.
Sentence length		5- 8 words	11 - 14 words
Use of hard words		Never. Uses the words known to the audience.	Introduces hard words, and then continue to include throughout text. Increases cognitive load.
Use of if...then... statements		Never	Included
Image	Front cover	Always included. Image and text which tells the reader what it is about.	Not always included. Image and text often corporate. Image may not be included at all.
	Headings for images	Always has an image for headings	Never
	Number of images per page	Maximum 4	5 - 7 images per page
	Text in images	Never	Often - text in an image is a barrier
	White space	Lots of white space	Congested spaces
	Image type	Specific. Reflects message and audience need. Will choose images that meet need. Use photos only of people or places in the text.	Non specific. Can be generic photos that are not reflective of the text.
Length of document		Maximum of 20 pages of correctly formatted text and images.	Often 40 or 50 or more pages of text and images.
Consumer review		With people with low literacy. This person does not see themselves as a reader, and does not regularly try to read content.	Unknown.

Easy English example

Plain Language example

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