how to use

These guidelines will help ensure the consistent presentation and digestibility of our work. To use:

While drafting: anyone writing content for Statewatch should apply these parameters early in the writing process and check their work against this guide before submitting it for edit.
While editing: editors should check all pieces of writing against these guidelines and suggest ways to increase the accessibility, readability, and inclusivity of the work.

By following this robust framework for all written outputs, we will set a standard that centres “access” in more ways than one!

HELPFUL RESOURCES

For editing:

**Hemingway editor:** This tool highlights difficult-to-read sentences and unnecessary words
**Grammarly:** This will help remove spelling errors and identify unclear phrasing.

For learning:

**Simple writing is better writing (a guide)** by Ettie Bailey-King, an award-winning inclusive communications educator.
**List of alternative words (a reference)** by Plain English.
**Politics and the English Language (a perspective)** by George Orwell.

For evidence:

**Why most people prefer simple writing: ”**Clarity is king – the evidence that reveals the desperate need to re-think the way we write”
Why to use short and simpler words: ”Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity: Problems with using long words needlessly” </aside>

tone & style

Bold, direct & professional: Maintain a professional tone that conveys authority and expertise. When discussing organisations or policies, especially those involving accountability or human rights, be direct and critical where necessary.
Sometimes a little cheeky: Statewatch generally speaks to audiences aligned with our values, giving us some flexibility to sparingly use humour and sarcasm in our critical analysis of a given topic. However, to increase accessibility, any jokes or references (idioms, metaphors, etc) should be clear and not require additional context.
Factual with nuanced commentary: While presenting information, incorporate nuanced commentary that reflects Statewatch's position on key issues. This approach helps underscore the seriousness of the topics discussed and reinforces Statewatch's commitment to transparency and accountability.
Emphasise accountability: Use language that highlights the importance of accountability and transparency, especially in contexts involving public institutions and human rights.

language

"Never use a long word where a short one will do.” –George Orwell, 1946

Increasing the accessibility and inclusivity of the language we use in our work will increase its impact. The more audiences can understand and digest it, the more they will use it in their advocacy and campaigns.

Follow the guidelines below to write for accessibility and inclusivity.

remember our audience.

Across all of our audiences are people who are:

Time-poor. The information might be critical to their work, but if it is too long or too dense, they likely won’t read it at all.
Non-native English speakers. This means that niche academic terms may be out of the audience’s wheelhouse…and that vague language like wheelhouse might be out of their expertise.
Actively facing or have faced systems of oppression and state violence. People may access our work to support their own situations or others’. Using language that doesn’t require a relevant education to understand a topic, will enable everyone to use it effectively.
Have varying education and literacy levels. The average educational level is around upper secondary education for adults in the UK and Europe, and the average reading level is approximately Grade 9-10, based on an average literacy score of 272-273 (PIAAC study). This means that when we use highly technical language, we restrict our audience to a minority population.
From different academic backgrounds. The issues we work on are highly intersectional and will benefit from diverse perspectives. If we limit ourselves to legal or political language, we limit the number of perspectives that can engage with our work.
Disabled and neurodivergent. Our audiences include people who use screen readers, have various learning or developmental disabilities and who can be enabled through language and commitment to increasing the accessibility of our work. </aside>

structure for accessibility

When we read or listen to a sentence – especially one with subordinate clauses, just like this one, which add information on to the main part of the sentence, but can’t stand alone – we use working memory to remember how the sentence started, and hold that information in mind. Phew. –Ettie Bailey-King

In short: keep it simple. Our audiences are busy making change, so let's respect their time. Make it easy for them to digest and use the information.