Plain Language Checklist

Area	Activity	Completed?
Audience	Who are my readers	[ ]
.	What do my readers already know	[ ]
.	Why will they read this	[ ]
.	What do my readers need to know	[ ]
Organization	Is the information presented logically	[ ]
.	Do they understand what they are about to read	[ ]
.	Do they know how the document is organized	[ ]
.	Do they know what its purpose is	[ ]
.	Is the most important information first	[ ]
.	Can the reader quickly and easily find what they are looking for	[ ]
.	Have I guided my reader through the text	[ ]
.	Have I used headings and subheadings	[ ]
Words	Have I written directly to my readers	[ ]
.	Did I use words that my readers would when talking about this subject	[ ]
.	Have I explained unfamiliar terms and acronyms	[ ]
.	Have I used verbs to describe action	[ ]
.	Have I used words my readers know	[ ]
.	Have I used words with clear meanings	[ ]
.	Have I used appropriate examples	[ ]
.	Have I used bias free language	[ ]
.	Have I avoided using nominalizations	[ ]
.	Have I avoided using jargon	[ ]
.	Have I avoided using words from foreign languages	[ ]
Sentences	Have a written sentences with only one idea	[ ]
.	Have I written sentences with an average length of 15 to 25 words	[ ]
.	Have I used the active rather than passive voice	[ ]
.	Have I written clearly, concisely without surplus words	[ ]
.	Have I avoided using unnecessary preambles	[ ]
.	Have I avoided using double negatives	[ ]
.	Have I avoided using prepositional phrases	[ ]
.	Have I used point form and tabulation lists where appropriate	[ ]
Paragraphs	Have I used paragraphs with only one topic	[ ]
.	Have I used paragraphs with sentences that relate to each other	[ ]
.	Have I used paragraphs with appropriate transitions	[ ]
Design	Have I used a serif typeface and a type size of 10 or 12 points	[ ]
.	Do my headings and subheadings stand out	[ ]
.	Have I used visual images appropriately	[ ]
.	Have I used a justified left margin and a ragged right margin	[ ]
.	Have I used plenty of white space	[ ]
Testing	Have I decided what variables I am testing for	[ ]
.	Have I analyzed my audience	[ ]
.	How many people should I include in the test groups	[ ]
.	How much time and money will testing cost	[ ]
.	Whom will I choose to read my document for informal testing	[ ]
.	How will I evaluate the results of my testing	[ ]
.	What changes will I make as a result of the testing	[ ]