Well written information can help readers understand ideas and content, even complex or unusual ones. Writing style needs to match the audience and the form of presentation or publication. For example, writing for an academic journal is different to writing an article for a magazine [1] and posters use different wording and layout to a slide presentation.
Regardless of whether you are writing for health professionals or consumers, the exact wording you choose is important. It can influence the likelihood that the information is understood and acted on. It does this by influencing comprehension, recall, planning and behaviour. Guidelines, for example, should specify the crucial elements precisely: what, who, when, where and how. [2]
A readability tool can help you check that the language of your document or product targets the right reading age level for your intended audience. [3] For example, Microsoft Word offers two readability tools alongside its spell checking function; the Flesch Reading Ease scale and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade level scale. Other tools such as G Harry McLaughlin's SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) calculator are available online.
Asking some of your target users to read through materials may help you to make sure your message will be understood in the ways in which you intend. Even the design and layout of a page or resource will affect how people respond to it and how they read the information.
There is a wide variety of resources that can help when writing and presenting materials.
Finding out more
Primary Health Care Research and Information Service website InfoBytes
National Institutes of Health (US) Publishing and Presenting resources
Related CareSearch pages
Communicating Evidence
References
- McIntyre E, Eckermann SL, Keane M, Magarey A, Roeger L. Publishing in peer review journals-criteria for success. Aust Fam Physician. 2007 Jul;36(7):561-2.
- Michie S, Johnston M Changing clinical behaviour by making guidelines specific BMJ 2004 328(7435): 343-346.
- Children Youth and Women's Health Service Making your health information clear and readable December 2006.
This page was created on 14 May 2008 and is due for review in May 2010