The rules of English are slowly changing with our speech patterns. I am of
the belief that if breaking a rule makes the content easier to understand,
then I consider breaking the rule. It doesn't mean I'll do it, but I do
consider it and in that consideration, look for an alternative way to phrase
what I'm trying to say.

In addition, I think as writers we need to consider the multitude of factors
involved in a particular situation, i.e., the audience, the culture, the
education level, the patient's need for specific information, the readers'
literacy levels, the medium of distribution, etc.

Kristina

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kristina Anderson
EasyRead Copywriting, LLC
Office: 505-345-3258
Cell: 505-715-1070




> From: Julie McKinney <julie_mcKinney at worlded.org>

> Reply-To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

> Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 11:57:55 -0400

> To: <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1990] Wednesday Question: Writing how we talk: better

> or worse?

> 

> I agree with Kristina that writing "the way we talk" is usually clearer,

> even if it is technically grammatically incorrect. It's an interesting

> concept that well educated people talk in a certain way, which is

> grammatically correct, but may be more confusing to people with literacy

> or English challenges. And this way is usually how we are "supposed" to

> write.

> 

> The gender question that we've been discussing is one example of that,

> but there are many others. For example, the rule that no sentence can

> end with a preposition. Which is clearer:

> 

> Your dominant hand is the one you write with.

> or

> Your dominant hand is the one with which you write.

> 

> (I know we could say ..."the one you use to write", but sometimes, the

> sentence structures abobe seem to be the only choices.)

> 

> What do the plain language folks think about this? And others? Can we

> write more colloquially, and is it clearer or not?

> 

> All the best,

> Julie

> 

> 

> 

> Julie McKinney

> Health Literacy List Moderator

> World Education

> jmckinney at worlded.org

>>>> Kristina Anderson <kristina at easyreadcopywriting.com> 05/15/08 11:30

> AM >>>

> It's my experience that using "their" does not confuse patients at all

> because it is how we talk. I have tested low lit materials using "their"

> when "he/she" would have been grammatically correct. No one expressed

> confusion. I have also read, although I can't remember where, that this

> usage is no longer considered incorrect grammar. The only people who

> question it are the well educated.

> 

> Our language is changing, and this is an example of that.

> 

> Kristina 

> 

> 

>> From: "Davies, Nicola" <NDavies at dthr.ab.ca>

>> Reply-To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List

> <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

>> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:40:07 -0600

>> To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

>> Conversation: [HealthLiteracy 1977] Fw: Guidance on remaining gender

> neurtral

>> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1979] Re: Fw: Guidance on remaining gender

> neurtral

>> 

>> wherever possible I use second person: you

>> 

>> So often I see examples like, "patients are encouraged to wash his or

> her

>> hands" instead of "please wash your hands"

>> 

>> A lot of writers use "their" but that implies plural.

>> 

>> Nicola

>> -----Original Message-----

>> From: healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov

>> [mailto:healthliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov]On Behalf Of

>> Terri.Ades at cancer.org

>> Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 9:51 AM

>> To: healthliteracy at nifl.gov

>> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1977] Fw: Guidance on remaining gender

> neurtral

>> 

>> 

>> 

>> Our style guidelines require that we remain gender neutral. However,

> my

>> sense is that when writing for an audience with very limited literacy

>> skills, using "he or she" is not easily understood.  Suggestions would

> be

>> greatly appreciated?

>> 

>> Terri Ades, MS, FNP-BC, AOCN

>> Director, Cancer Information

>> Health Promotions

>> American Cancer Society

>> 250 Williams Street

>> Atlanta, GA 30303-1002

>> 404-329-7785

>> tades at cancer.org

>> 

>> ----------------------------------------------------

>> National Institute for Literacy

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>> Email delivered to ndavies at dthr.ab.ca

>> 

>> ----------------------------------------------------

>> National Institute for Literacy

>> Health and Literacy mailing list

>> HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov

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> 

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Health and Literacy mailing list

> HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

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> Email delivered to julie_mckinney at worlded.org

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

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> Health and Literacy mailing list

> HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

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> Email delivered to kristina at easyreadcopywriting.com