Plain language editing Copy

Plain language editing

Content that communicates in a voice your audience understands

Creating clear health information people can understand and trust

You want your content to reach the people who need it most. But more than just reach them, you need it to be understood too.

I help health organisations, researchers and charities turn complex information into clear, accessible content for their audiences.

What plain language editing involves

Plain language editing focuses on making content easy to find, understand and use. Guided by health literacy principles, it's particularly valuable for health content intended for patients, caregivers or the general public.

I deliver clear, audience-focused health editing guided by plain language and health literacy best practice.

Get in touch to discuss your project

The process

A plain language edit typically includes a review of:

Beyond public-facing content

Plain language isn't only for patient and public-facing materials. It can also improve clarity and consistency within professional communication to support safer, more effective teamwork.

This includes:

clinical guidelines
training materials
internal communications
documents with highly specialised terminology

Audience focus: shaping content around what readers need to know and how they’ll use the information.

Structure: organising information in a clear, logical order.

Language: replacing medical terminology and complex phrasing with plain, direct language.

Sentence length: breaking up long or dense sentences for easier reading.

Purpose: making key messages easy to find and understand.

Accessibility: improving readability for non-specialist and mixed audiences.

The result is content that reduces confusion and helps people act on the information they're given.

Types of content I work with

Research summaries for wider audiences
Patient information leaflets and guides
Public health resources
Educational materials for patients and caregivers
Website content for health services
Reports or guidance adapted for the public

View my portfolio

After the edit

Following a plain language edit, you’ll typically receive:

a revised document with tracked changes and margin comments
one round of follow-up queries or clarification

Additional review rounds can be arranged depending on project scope.

My work is aligned with health literacy principles and I'm familiar with NHS and Patient Information Forum guidelines.

I keep my knowledge of plain language and health literacy best practice up to date through training with eLearning for Healthcare, the Patient Information Forum, the Plain Language Commission and the Plain English Campaign.

I'm also a professionally trained editor and a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

I handle all NHS and healthcare content securely and confidentially, following UK GDPR and data protection best practice.