Why the article is helpful

• Questions the focus on word and sentence length as main predictors of readability
• Suggests a greater emphasis on context and cohesion in the creation of plain language communications.

This article has important implications for the creation of any plain language communication. The author suggests that the usual indicators of “readability” (word and sentence length) are not reliable predictors of comprehension. Using the example of passages from Plato’s Parmenides, some readability formulas calculate the text to be at a fourth to sixth grade reading level, even though it is unlikely that these readers would be able to comprehend the meaning of the text.

Reading is described as an interactive process, involving more than just decoding individual words to find meaning. Readers look for clues to decipher a passage, making the context and cohesion of the text equally important.

Reducing sentence length for the sake of readability can often artificially truncate a line of thought, leaving the reader without the context necessary for comprehension. Similarly, simplified text can often be more difficult to understand, as it can make it harder to extract key points or predict what is coming next.

This not to suggest that simpler words and shorter sentences do not improve readability, but that these factors must be balanced alongside the context and cohesion of the message.

Links to the article

• Health Professionals journal site (free access)