Exercise eleven: evaluating sample text
Last updated on September 10, 2020Here is some sample text for review:
Effective June 1, 2017, in response to client feedback, hiring managers are no longer required to submit competition documentation to the BC Public Service Agency to confirm a hire.
Eliminating the requirement to submit competition documentation to complete a hire does not remove the requirement for hiring managers to retain competition documentation. Hiring managers are still responsible for documenting and retaining all competition files, as they currently do, for a minimum of two years.
Instructions:
- Copy the text into Microsoft Word.
- Use the spell checker to obtain a Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level for the page. Aim for a grade 6-8 reading level.
- Use what you have learned in this course and the Plain Language Checklist (PDF, 42.5KB) to edit the text. Simplify, clarify, and improve the content.
- Use Hemingway App to review the page content for additional tips.
When you're done, continue to Exercise Eleven Takeaways
Hemingwayapp.com - Before Edits
Here is what the exercise text looks like on Hemingwayapp.com before any editing has been done (click to expand).
Notice the following:
- Hard-to-read sentences are highlighted
- Phrases that can be easily simplified are highlighted
- If the passage contained passive voice or unnecessary adverbs, those would also be highlighlighted
- A readability score has been provided - it is currently too high at grade 14
- There is a word count - currently 74