Improving your writing

Victoria University

http://ceds.vu.edu.au/webbja/

This is a useful guide on writing techniques.

Concise writing

Victoria University

http://ceds.vu.edu.au/webbja/Concise_writing.htm

An online tutorial, this information is clear and direct.

PLAIN

http://www.plainlanguage.gov/

The Plain Language Action & Information Network is a government-wide group of volunteers working to improve communications from the federal government to the public. We believe better communication will increase trust in government, reduce government costs, and reduce the burden on the public.

The site includes:

• “How to” guides

• Examples (Before and After)

• Reference Library

• Links to related sites

• Fun stuff on Plain English

• Free downloads

The manual, Writing User-Friendly Documents, can be read online or downloaded as a MS Word, Word Perfect or PDF file.

Plain Language Network Association International

http://plainlanguagenetwork.org/

The site includes information on:

• Plain Language Resources

• Free advice and information on planning, writing, editing and designing communications materials

• Resources for lawyers and others on plain legal language

• Examples from business, law, science, and journalism

• Recent stories about plain language, clear writing and literacy

• Links to other organisations

• The growing plain-language movement

• Government Initiatives

• Literacy links

Fighting the Fog: Write Clearly

http://europa.eu.int/comm/translation/en/ftfog/index.htm

The European Commission's Translation Service is running a campaign called "Fight the FOG" to encourage authors and translators to write more clearly. This light-hearted campaign draws attention to the dangers of FOG - that vague grey pall that descends on European Union documents, obscuring meanings and messages, causing delays and irritation.

Fonts for Dyslexia

Anne Parker and Ian Litterick

http://www.dyslexic.com/database/articles/fonts.html

This article gives clear descriptions of fonts that suit people who have dyslexia.

Reading, Typography and Low Vision http://education.umn.edu/nceo/Presentations/LPreading.ppt

This is a PowerPoint presentation outlining layout guidelines for increasing document readability for people with low vision.  The author is Elaine Kitchel from the American Printing House for the Blind.

Reading and Typography

http://hubel.sfasu.edu/courseinfo/SL99/typography.html

Nathan John Hay concluded that, for people with normal vision, serif fonts were faster and easier to read in some situations and sans serif fonts in others.  People with normal vision generally did not have problems reading any type.  He also concluded that for people with low vision, sans serif fonts were generally better as they reduced the effect of crowding that can occur with serif fonts.

APHont

http://www.aph.org/products/aphont.html

American Printing House for the Blind has developed APHont^TM (pronounced Ay'-font).  This font aims to enhance reading speed, comprehension, and comfort for large print users.  In the near future, the entire APHont Suite will be available free of charge on the APH web site. The APHont Suite consists of Regular, Bold, Italic, and Italic Bold.  To download the font, you must certify it will be used for or by a person with a visual impairment.

LPFont

http://www.tiresias.org/fonts/lpfont/index.htm

Another font designed specifically for production of large print, Tiresias LPFont, was available at the time of writing in a package including italic and bold versions for US$30.

Textmatters

http://www.textmatters.com/tm/interest.html

Textmatters is a UK-based information design consultancy.  Their web site includes information on:

• Information design

• Typography

• Designing to meet the needs of visually impaired people (http://www.textmatters.com/tm/guides/visually_impaired.html) 

Information on Technical Communication: Hints for Typography Choices

http://icarus.lcc.gatech.edu/

This site is a resource for a Georgia Tech class.  To go to Typography Hints, choose “info” and then “typography Hints” from the Menu.

Learn How to Write.com

http://learnhowtowrite.com/learnhowtowrite.html

This site lets you practice as you work through a tutorial.

Making Text Legible: Designing for People with Partial Sight, Lighthouse International

http://www.lighthouse.org/print_leg.htm

This resource gives some very useful design tips.

Plain English Manual

Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel

http://www.opc.gov.au/about/documents.htm

This manual can be downloaded in PDF or RTF format. 

Legibility and Readability of Small Print: Effects of Font, Observer Age and Spatial Vision

G. K. Connolly

http://www.psych.ucalgary.ca/PACE/VA-Lab/gkconnol/Introduction.html

This is the report from research looking at how fonts are perceived.