easytounderstand

Easy to understand, or easytounderstand as a coined term, refers to content and communication crafted to be accessible to a broad audience. In practice, it emphasizes plain language, clear structure, and appropriate media to reduce cognitive load and ambiguity. The term is used as an evaluative label for texts, interfaces, and instructional materials that aim to convey information without unnecessary jargon or complexity.

Origin and usage: easytounderstand is a neologism that has circulated in educational and design communities online. It is not associated with a single author or organization but describes a design philosophy or editorial standard adopted by educators, developers, and reporters. It is commonly applied to software documentation, policy briefs, manuals, tutorials, and news explainers.

Principles: central ideas include identifying the audience, using plain language and active voice, breaking information into small chunks, using concrete examples, and supporting text with visuals. Consistent terminology, clear headings, and progressive disclosure help users find what they need quickly. Accessibility considerations, such as readability levels and alternative formats, are often integral.

Applications: in formal education, government communications, health information, product documentation, and media explainers. Practitioners may test materials with target users and iterate based on feedback to improve understandability.

Reception: critics note that the term can be vague and that striving for simplicity should not erase precision or nuance. Proponents argue that clear communication is a foundational skill that benefits diverse audiences.

See also: plain language, information design, readability, instructional design.