Even Experts Prefer Plain English

I keep telling my business language learners not to worry about using simple words and short sentences.

According to the Nielsen Norman Group, “No one has ever complained that a text was too easy to understand” and “even highly educated online readers crave succinct information that is easy to scan, just like everyone else.“

So what are the benefits of using Plain English?

1. It shares information quickly without confusing sentences or words.
2. It helps everyone, from experts to international users and those who aren’t native English speakers.
3. It’s easy to find on search engines because it uses common words.
4. Readers like it, and it makes writers seem smarter.
5. Good communication is good for business. Clear writing makes organisations look honest and trustworthy.
6. It works well online, where people read quickly and might miss important points if the writing is difficult to understand.

If you’d like to know how plain English can improve your writing and communication, look out for a future post of mine.