Published on: 10/03/2025 · Last updated on: 10/03/2025
Introduction
Language in higher education can be complex due to the need for specific and technical vocabulary. Also, academic publications often have stylistic conventions that can be new and challenging for students. While it’s important to model and expose students to academic writing, it’s equally important to avoid making the language overly complicated.
Clear writing improves the experience for everyone and is crucial for digital accessibility, as unclear language can create extra barriers for some students. This guidance provides ways to improve your writing and remove unnecessary obstacles for students.
Students Explain Digital Accessibility: Language, created by LX. lab
Why do it?
- Using simple and concise language frees up cognitive resources to focus on the content, which can help users with dyslexia, dyspraxia and other processing impairments.
- Clear and simple language can make it easier to process, which can help users where English is not their first language.
- Reading something that is concise and simply stated is easier than language that is complex and long, which helps everyone.
What should I do?
- Use simple and short sentences.
- Use paragraphs, lists and subheadings to organise content and break up large chunks of text.
- Avoid colloquial language.
- Where specialist language is needed, make sure these are defined on first use or create a glossary for the unit.
How can I make my writing clearer?
- Avoid using unnecessarily complex words and phrases.
- Avoid overly long sentences and complicated sentence structures.
- Expand acronyms on first use. For example, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
- Consider using images, illustrations, video, audio, and symbols to help support meaning.
- Consider Generative AI tools (e.g. Microsoft CoPilot, ChatGPT etc) to suggest simplifying your wording.
How can I spot these issues?
- Take time to organise and plan your writing in advance to focus on the key points.
- Proofread: use either yourself, a colleague, student or Generative AI feedback to help identify where your writing could be clearer.
- Microsoft Editor (available for Word and as a browser extension) runs automated checks against clarity, conciseness and other criteria.