Writing guides

According to the Swedish Language Act from 2009, the language used in the the public sector - including SLU - is required to be 'cultivated, simple and comprehensible'.

Make sure your writing is simple and comprehensible by adapting it to your intended readers and applying the principles of plain language. For cultivated language, follow the rules and recommendations in the SLU style guide.

The SLU style guide

A consistent style is important. It facilitates communication and ensures that we speak with 'one voice' when we write. Just like we have a visual identity, described in the brand manual, that specifies which colours and fonts to use, we have a style guide that describes what choices to make when it comes to style.

• SLU style guide for English
• SLU style guide for Swedish

Other resources

• EASE Guidelines for Authors and Translators of Scientific Articles to Be Published in English, guidelines on everything from ambiguity to simplicity from the European Association of Science Editors.
  
  
• Writing science in plain English, 30-minute video on 12 plain language rules for science writers. From Conservation Evidence at the University of Cambridge.
  
  
• Elements of Style by William Strunk, a classic reference book for writers.

Readability indices

When you calculate the readability index of a text, you estimate how difficult it is to read. You do this by measuring attributes such as word length, sentence length and syllable count to determine its complexity.

A readability index is a blunt tool; it doesn’t assess whether the content meets the reader’s needs, the layout is effective, or the tone is appropriate. However, a low score suggests potential issues with the content.

There are several indices using slightly different formulas. If you want to test your text, this page calculates the readability index of your text using six different formulas.