Update Clear Language to match subgroup work as of July 10

kfranqueiro · kfranqueiro · commit f86568b2f823 · 2025-07-14T07:54:45.000-04:00
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language.md
@@ -1,21 +1,22 @@
 ---
 children:
-  - summary
-  - unambiguous-numbers
-  - unambiguous-words
-  - uncommon-words
-  - unnecessary-words-or-phrases
-  - visual-aids
-  - dependent-clauses
+  - clear-structure
+  - short-blocks-of-text
+  - sentence-structure
+  - common-words
+  - abbreviations
+  - non-literal-language
+  - verb-tense
   - numerical-supplements
-  - sentence-voice
+  - visual-aids
+  - summaries
   - topic-sentence
+  - unambiguous-numerical-formatting
   - unambiguous-pronunciation
-  - verb-tense
-  - visualization-of-complex-ideas
   - clear-language-review
   - clear-language-style-guide
   - clear-language-training
+  - industry-specific-terms
 status: developing
 ---
 
@@ -41,5 +42,8 @@ The group of five languages includes a wide variety of language features, such a
 - Tonal sounds that affect meaning
 
 This list doesn't include every language, but it helps keep the work manageable while making the guidance more useful for a wide audience.
+We will work with W3C’s Global Inclusion community group, the Internationalization (i18n) task force, and others to review and refine the testing and techniques for these requirements.
 We also plan to create guidance for translating the guidelines into more languages in the future.
+
+The guidelines will also include exceptions for poetic, scriptural, artistic, and other content whose main goal is expressive rather than informative.
 :::
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/abbreviations.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/abbreviations.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+status: developing
+type: foundational
+---
+
+Explanations are available for the first use of abbreviations, acronyms, initialisms, and numeronyms.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/clear-structure.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/clear-structure.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+status: developing
+type: foundational
+---
+
+Content has a meaningful and understandable structure where the purpose of each section is clearly indicated.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/common-words.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/common-words.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+status: developing
+type: foundational
+---
+
+For content intended to inform the general public, common words are used, and definitions are available for uncommon words.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/dependent-clauses.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/dependent-clauses.md
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/industry-specific-terms.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/industry-specific-terms.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+status: developing
+title: Industry-specific terms
+type: assertion
+---
+
+* For content that is intended for a specialized audience rather than the general public, the organization has a documented process for determining which uncommon words or phrases:
+  * Are industry-specific terms that its intended audience is expected to know
+  * Are not industry-specific terms and can be replaced with common words to reduce cognitive load and increase ease of reading, such as replacing “utilize” with “use” and “elucidate” with “make clear.”
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/non-literal-language.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/non-literal-language.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+status: developing
+title: Non-literal language
+type: foundational
+---
+
+Explanations or unambiguous alternatives are available for non-literal language, such as idioms and metaphors.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/numerical-supplements.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/numerical-supplements.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
-type: supplemental
+status: developing
+type: foundational
 ---
 
-Explanations or alternatives are provided to help users who have difficulty understanding numerical information. 
+Alternatives are provided for numbers and numerical concepts.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/sentence-structure.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/sentence-structure.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+status: developing
+type: foundational
+---
+
+Sentences are streamlined to avoid unnecessary words or phrases and complex structures such as clauses within clauses that can make it hard for users to focus on the main point.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/sentence-voice.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/sentence-voice.md
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/short-blocks-of-text.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/short-blocks-of-text.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+status: developing
+type: foundational
+---
+
+Content is organized into short paragraphs or “chunks” to help users understand and remember the information.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/summaries.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/summaries.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+status: developing
+type: foundational
+---
+
+A summary is available for documents and articles that have more than 300 words.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/summary.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/summary.md
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/topic-sentence.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/topic-sentence.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
+status: developing
 type: supplemental
 ---
 
-For text intended to inform the user, each paragraph of text begins with a topic sentence stating the aim or purpose.
+For content intended to inform the user, each paragraph begins with a sentence stating the aim or purpose.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unambiguous-numerical-formatting.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unambiguous-numerical-formatting.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 status: developing
-type: foundational
+type: supplemental
 ---
 
 Numerical information includes sufficient context to avoid confusion when presenting dates, temperatures, time, and Roman numerals.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unambiguous-pronunciation.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unambiguous-pronunciation.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ---
+status: developing
 type: supplemental
 ---
 
-For languages like Arabic and Hebrew, where letters or diacritics needed for phonetic reading are often omitted,
+For Arabic and Hebrew, where letters or diacritics needed for phonetic reading are often omitted,
 an alternative version is provided with these missing elements included.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unambiguous-words.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unambiguous-words.md
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/uncommon-words.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/uncommon-words.md
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unnecessary-words-or-phrases.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/unnecessary-words-or-phrases.md
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/verb-tense.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/verb-tense.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 ---
-type: supplemental
+status: developing
+type: foundational
 ---
 
 The verb tense used is easiest to understand in context.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/visual-aids.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/visual-aids.md
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ status: developing
 type: foundational
 ---
 
-Visual aids provide a meaningful alternative to nearby written content.
+Visual aids are available to provide a meaningful alternative to complex ideas in written content, such as processes, workflows, relationships, or chronological information.
diff --git a/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/visualization-of-complex-ideas.md b/guidelines/groups/text-and-wording/clear-language/visualization-of-complex-ideas.md
