Readability

How to produce clear written materials for a range of readers
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For adults and young people to participate fully in work, learning and everyday activities, it is essential that they are able to read and understand written information. This increasingly demands a high level of comprehension and the application of knowledge, rather than a simple ability to recognise letters and decode words.

People who lack confidence in these crucial skills are often faced with an immediate barrier if the written information they are given doesn’t
take account of their difficulties.

It’s possible to present written information in a way that makes reading easier, as part of a strategy to address this issue. Both the design and the readability levels of texts determine how easy they are to read.

This leaflet outlines the principles that will help you to present written texts clearly, taking account of the needs of your readers.

It was produced by Niace, one of the two founding organisations of Learning and Work Institute.