Readability
Writing content in plain language.
Readable website content
Website content should be written in plain language, accessible to a wide-ranging audience, generally not exceeding a lower secondary level of reading.
Front load content with the most important information at the beginning, following with increasingly detailed content.
Be clear, concise, and direct with the writing style. Avoid jargon (unless immediately defined) and use the active voice whenever possible. If the website content is geared towards a specific audience (e.g. academics) with specialized terms, then the language can be at a more complex reading level.
According to the Official Languages Act, all publications must be available in both official languages and must be professionally translated.
Refer to the Canada.ca Content Style Guide (see Resources) for formatting and punctuation guidelines.