Plain language editing

Clear English for everyone

Clear communication is more important than ever. In the UK, reading and comprehension skills have been declining for years, while the amount of written information people need to process stays the same.

Research by the OECD shows that reading performance has fallen across many developed countries, including the UK. Studies also indicate that around one in five British adults struggles with basic reading skills. This affects how people understand and interpret written information.

For organisations, this creates a real challenge as important messages may be published, but are not properly understood.

Plain language offers a solution.

We help organisations rewrite and edit their English texts into clear, accessible, plain language, so their message actually reaches the people it is meant for.

Writing with the reader in mind

You may recognise this situation. You’ve written a professional text for your website, policy document, brochure or report. The content is accurate, detailed and carefully formulated. After a final check, it feels ready to share.

But accuracy alone does not guarantee understanding.

As a subject-matter expert, you naturally write from your own perspective. You know the terminology, the background and the logic behind your message. Your readers often do not. They may have limited time, limited attention, or limited reading skills.

Plain language means stepping into the reader’s shoes, so it is important to ask yourself:

What do they already know?
What might confuse them?
What do they need to do with this information?

Clear writing is all about making sure your information is correctly understood.

Literary challenges in the UK

Recent reporting on adult literacy in the UK paints a worrying picture. While education levels have risen, reading for pleasure has declined sharply. Digital habits increasingly favour short, fragmented content over sustained reading.

As a result, many people struggle with:

Long or complex sentences
Abstract or formal language
Unfamiliar terminology
Dense blocks of text

This affects not only vulnerable groups or non-native speakers. Many native English speakers find official or professional texts difficult to understand or process. Yet these texts often contain important information such as legal rights, financial decisions and safety instructions.

Plain language helps ensure that information is not only available, but usable.

Plain language in the UK

Since the late 1970s, clear communication has been actively promoted across public life in the UK.

One of the most influential organisations is the Plain English Campaign, founded in 1979. The campaign helped raise awareness of unclear and overly bureaucratic language and pushed organisations to communicate more transparently.

The introduction of the Crystal Mark created a visible quality standard for clarity. Today, thousands of documents worldwide carry this mark, including government forms and public-facing materials.

Over time, plain language has become firmly embedded in:

UK government communication (mandatory for GOV.UK)
Local councils and public services
Utilities, healthcare and finance
Regulated and customer-facing industries

Internationally, this approach is now reinforced by standards such as ISO 24495-1, which defines clear principles for writing in plain language.

Plain language in the USA

The United States has also played an important role in the development of clear communication. In 2010, the US government introduced the Plain Writing Act, which requires federal agencies to use clear, understandable language in public communication.

This too shows that plain language is a well-established approach used internationally to improve accessibility, transparency, and trust.

What exactly is plain language?

Plain language means writing so that the intended reader can:

Find the information they need
Understand it the first time they read it
Use it correctly

A plain language text is:

Logically structured
Written in clear, everyday English
Free of unnecessary jargon or explained where needed
Focused on actions, outcomes and clarity

Plain language is widely used in legal, medical, technical and administrative contexts, precisely because misunderstandings in these areas can have serious consequences.

How we turn complex texts into plain English

Editing for plain language requires more than simplifying vocabulary.

When we work on a text, we focus on:

Sentence structure

Long, nested sentences increase cognitive load. We break them down into shorter, clearer units without losing meaning.

Word choice

Terms that feel neutral or professional to experts – such as ‘facilitate’, ‘implement’ or ‘relevant’ – can be barriers for many readers. We replace them with clearer alternatives or provide explanations.

Structure and navigation

Clear headings, subheadings, bullet points and spacing help readers scan a text and quickly locate key information.

Consistency

Clear definitions, consistent terminology and logical flow help readers build understanding as they move through a text.

Why work with us?

Clear writing takes time, experience and a good understanding of how people read. We edit texts with one central question in mind: Will the reader understand this?

We look beyond grammar and style and focus on clarity, structure and usability.

Make sure your message is understood

Would you like more people to understand your texts? Plain language makes communication easier for everyone.

Get in touch with us via info@mettaal.nl or call us at +31 10 243 02 10.