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<div class='syndicate'><h1>Before You Start Writing</h1><div><p class="lead">Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper — or keystroke to keyboard. Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information.</p>
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<p>On the six cards below, learn about what to do before you start writing. You can flip the cards over to see more, too. The navigation bar above will stay with you, and you can click on it at any time to move to another topic.</p>
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<div class="flipcard-container masonry-container masonry-container-wide-boxes"><!-- CARD 1 -->
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<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
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<div class="flipcard-front">
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<div class="flipcard-content">
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<h3>Who needs plain language?</h3>
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<p>We all do! From language learners to advanced readers, <strong>everyone benefits from plain language.</strong></p>
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||
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||
<p>Plain language is one element of clear communication. It means you are communicating with your audience in a way that's understandable and direct.</p>
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||
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<p>Flip to see how plain language can be as <strong>vivid</strong> and <strong>compelling</strong> as any other type of language.</p>
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</div>
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<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
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<div class="flipcard-back">
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<div class="flipcard-content">
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<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
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||
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||
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||
<picture title="Dr. Francis Collins" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/od/francis-collins-portrait-1-square.jpg?itok=VjIxDmHg&timestamp=1431965087 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/od/francis-collins-portrait-1-square.jpg?itok=g2Y0oD24&timestamp=1431965087 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/od/francis-collins-portrait-1-square.jpg?itok=xJ-NU6Dc&timestamp=1431965087 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/od/francis-collins-portrait-1-square.jpg?itok=-nxK3njL&timestamp=1431965087 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/od/francis-collins-portrait-1-square.jpg?itok=EMZhrEfH&timestamp=1431965087 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
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||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/od/francis-collins-portrait-1-square.jpg?itok=g2Y0oD24&timestamp=1431965087" alt="Portrait of Dr. Francis Collins" title="Dr. Francis Collins" />
|
||
</picture><span class="caption">Dr. Francis Collins</span></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
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||
<p class="quote">“Science has always been a marathon, not a 100-yard dash.”</p>
|
||
|
||
<p class="caption">— Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health</p>
|
||
</div>
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||
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||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 2 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Rita Rubin" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-2-front.jpg?itok=YMZJdwnH&timestamp=1438629995 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-2-front.jpg?itok=9iyiRvJh&timestamp=1438629995 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-2-front.jpg?itok=uid_alsr&timestamp=1438629995 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-2-front.jpg?itok=8avxqtq5&timestamp=1438629995 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-2-front.jpg?itok=8E2O_ldz&timestamp=1438629995 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-2-front.jpg?itok=9iyiRvJh&timestamp=1438629995" alt="Rita Rubin" title="Rita Rubin" />
|
||
</picture></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p class="quote">“If the writer doesn’t understand the subject, the reader won’t, either.”</p>
|
||
|
||
<p class="caption">— Rita Rubin, <em>USA Today,</em> speaking at NIH (2007)</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<p><strong>Know your subject</strong> before you start to write. If you're confused about something, you won't be able to make it clear to someone else. In fact, the concept will be even more confusing for your audience.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>If you understand an idea and explain it well, you will win over your audience. If you don't, the reader may feel as if he or she has missed something. Or, worse, you may make your readers feel as if they are not smart enough to grasp the idea.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 3 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>Key questions — part 1</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>Before you hit your first key, think about what you're writing and about who will read it.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Answer these two questions:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ol>
|
||
<li>Who is my audience? (or, Who are my audiences?)</li>
|
||
<li>What is my purpose?</li>
|
||
</ol>
|
||
|
||
<p>Your answers will be different depending on what you're writing. Flip the card for some things to consider.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<p><strong>Be specific.</strong> There is no such thing as "the general public." The audience for your "general public" website might be, for example, patients, worried parents, health educators, people with limited English skills, or ___________ [you fill in the blank!].</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Is your purpose <strong>"to inform the reader"? Think again.</strong> Most informative writing is actually meant to be persuasive, too. For example, besides informing your readers about their risk for heart disease, do you want to persuade them to get their cholesterol checked?</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 4 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>Getting to know your audience</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="A woman taking notes as she interviews another woman" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-4-front_0.jpg?itok=MmiFyZfX&timestamp=1438630177 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-4-front_0.jpg?itok=229NuoCw&timestamp=1438630177 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-4-front_0.jpg?itok=h9u-a43a&timestamp=1438630177 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-4-front_0.jpg?itok=CBvXCLc-&timestamp=1438630177 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-4-front_0.jpg?itok=mKZNJmCI&timestamp=1438630177 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-4-front_0.jpg?itok=229NuoCw&timestamp=1438630177" alt="A woman taking notes as she interviews another woman." title="A woman taking notes as she interviews another woman" />
|
||
</picture><span class="credit">Thinkstock/monkeybusinessimages</span></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p>To write effectively, you need to know more about your audience. (Flip for more suggestions.)</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><strong>Talk with them.</strong> What can you learn from and about your audience?</li>
|
||
<li><strong>Find examples.</strong> Look for written materials that resonate with your audience. What can you learn from them?</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<p>More suggestions for getting to know your audience:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><strong>Immerse yourself.</strong> What is your audience watching? Reading? Listening to? Pay attention to the vocabulary and the tone that resonate with them.</li>
|
||
<li><strong>Determine if there is an intermediary.</strong> Does your audience include people with low literacy or speakers of another language? If so, someone may be communicating your information to your audience for you. How can you help prevent transmission errors?</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 5 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>Key questions — part 2</h3>
|
||
|
||
<div class="media-float-right"><div class="media media-element-container media-floated_media"><div class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-floated_media clearfix">
|
||
|
||
|
||
<picture title="Hands holding up question and answer cards" class="media-element">
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]><video style="display: none;"><![endif]-->
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-large/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-5-front.jpg?itok=nBJmcMPv&timestamp=1438630414 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 960px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-5-front.jpg?itok=6hpVkLeq&timestamp=1438630414 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 800px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium-small/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-5-front.jpg?itok=zTNyw2-A&timestamp=1438630414 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 600px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-small/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-5-front.jpg?itok=eQT9zuLG&timestamp=1438630414 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 480px)"></source>
|
||
<source srcset="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-tiny/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-5-front.jpg?itok=WtcDRRKL&timestamp=1438630414 1x" media="screen and (min-width: 0)"></source>
|
||
<!--[if IE 9]></video><![endif]-->
|
||
<img class="media-element" src="https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/styles/floated_media_breakpoint-medium/public/institutes/plain-language/before-start-5-front.jpg?itok=6hpVkLeq&timestamp=1438630414" alt="Hands holding up two cards - one displaying a large question mark and the other an exclamation mark." title="Hands holding up question and answer cards" />
|
||
</picture><span class="credit">Thinkstock/TommL</span></div>
|
||
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
<p>What do you want your document to accomplish? Answer these two questions before you start writing:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ol>
|
||
<li>What is my message?</li>
|
||
<li>How urgent is my message?</li>
|
||
</ol>
|
||
|
||
<p>Your message and its urgency will shape your document.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<p>In your message, <strong>be concrete and specific.</strong> Some examples of concrete, specific messages are:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>Consider participating in a clinical trial at NIH.</li>
|
||
<li>Include all five required parts in your Continuing Review submission.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>How urgent is it?</strong> Is your message more like "Stop, drop, and roll!" or "Pay attention to portion control"?</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- CARD 6 -->
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-wide flipcard">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-front">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<h3>Draw up a blueprint</h3>
|
||
|
||
<p>Just as an architect creates a blueprint before construction begins, you should <strong>organize your content</strong> before you start to write.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Structure your document around the needs of your audience.</p>
|
||
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>List the questions your audience will have.</li>
|
||
<li>Organize the content around the questions. Each section should answer a question.</li>
|
||
<li>Be sure your content has a logical flow.</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Flip</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-back">
|
||
<div class="flipcard-content">
|
||
<p>Let's say you're planning to write a brochure about a clinical trial, and your audience is potential participants. You might write down the following questions:</p>
|
||
|
||
<ol>
|
||
<li>What is the trial about?</li>
|
||
<li>Who can participate?</li>
|
||
<li>What does participation require?</li>
|
||
<li>What are the benefits of participating?</li>
|
||
<li>What are the risks of participating?</li>
|
||
<li>How do I get more information?</li>
|
||
</ol>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="flipcard-button-wrapper"><a class="button-link-5em gray-light flipcard-button" href="javascript:;">Back</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<h2>Where would you like to go next?</h2>
|
||
|
||
<div class="masonry-container">
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue button-disabled" href="#">Before You Start Writing</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/connecting-your-readers">Connecting with Your Readers</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/presenting-your-information">Presenting Your Information</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/formatting-visual-clarity">Formatting and Visual Clarity</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/testing-revising">Testing and Revising</a></div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="box box-transparent"><a class="button button-large blue" href="/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/plain-language/plain-language-getting-started-or-brushing">Start Over!</a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<p>Ready to start writing in plain language? <a href="/sites/default/files/institutes/plain-language/nih-plain-language-checklist.pdf">Download this checklist to refer to as you write.</a></p>
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div class="lastupdated">
|
||
<p>This page last reviewed on October 12, 2023</p> </div> </div>
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