You shouldn’t need a PhD to understand science

Everyone needs to understand science. Understanding science means evidence-based decision making for individuals, organisations and governments. But sometimes it feels like we need a PhD to understand it. This is because science communication is often dense and highly specialised. The International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) solution? A plain language standard for science writing.

The standard guides science writers to communicate clearly

The latest ISO standard for plain language has ‘guidelines to help authors make scientific information accessible and useful to wide and varied groups of readers’.

According to the standard, the guidelines will help writers:

• make science communication accessible without losing accuracy or precision
• boost scientific literacy
• encourage more people to engage with science
• create documents that open conversations about current scientific issues
• promote responsible and ethical science communication.

The standard benefits individuals, organisations and governments

The standard benefits everyone, not just people who contribute to science, communicate science and read about science. For example, better science communication means:

• parents can choose the most effective care for their children
• organisations can develop technology strategies based on relevant research
• policymakers can build services where the data says they are most needed.

And if you need a scientific study to convince you to communicate science in plain language, we have one for you!

Research from Ohio State University found that science writing that used jargon made readers less interested in science than people who read about the same topics minus the jargon.

The same study found that the participants reading the jargon-filled writing:

• were less likely to think they were good at science
• felt less informed about science
• felt less qualified to discuss science topics.

This was the case even when researchers defined the jargon.

And if you communicate with science experts and still aren’t convinced, we’ve got Nielsen Norman Group’s research for you. The study showed that experts in science, technology and medicine prefer plain language.

While recent research found that most people trust scientists, clear science communication that everyday people can understand means fewer opportunities for disinformation, misinformation and distrust to spread.

The science says to communicate clearly and concisely

Not ready to buy and apply ISO 24495-3:2023? If we could summarise the standard, we’d suggest thinking about what your reader needs from you so they can:

• find the information they need
• understand that information
• act on it.

Start small with these research-backed tips:

• avoid jargon
• prefer the active voice
• use short words and sentences.

This advice transforms dense and highly specialised science writing into content most readers can understand, as Cassie Sedgwick et al’s example shows us.

Original: ‘The association of antiseizure medication (ASM) and bone density abnormalities has long been recognized, however, there remains a lack of consensus on efficacy and optimal vitamin D dosing in patients receiving enzyme inducing and non-inducing ASMs’.

Edit: ‘Patients who use seizure medications are more likely to have weaker bones than other people. Vitamin D helps the body build and keep strong bones. Giving patients more vitamin D can help prevent bone loss. Health professionals disagree on how well vitamin D supplements prevent bone loss in people with epilepsy [and] about the dose of vitamin D that patients should take.’

So what now?

• Get free, ISO-aligned design advice.
• Check out the other industries with a plain language standard.
• Read about the plain language standard part 1: governing principles and guidelines.
• Follow us on LinkedIn to know when the next ISO plain language standard is ready.
• Contact us for help using the standard or boosting your communication skills.