Readable vs. understandable: the importance of context
Unravel the nuanced difference between readability and understandability, and discover how context plays a pivotal role in shaping this distinction. Delve into the significance of context in communication, and its impact on the clarity and comprehension of written content.
ust because something is readable, doesn’t mean it’s understandable
Context is an important part of understanding what you read
- It’s especially important for user experience (UX) copy
- Users may not understand jargon, idioms, or other figurative language
- Translation tools like Google Translate are often literal
A little bit of lagniappe
Captions and subtitles are very similar
- They appear as text on the bottom of the screen
- Subtitles provide a translation for a dialogue on a video
- Closed captions supplement for dialogue
- In terms of accessibility, it is important to note the difference in the audience
- The next time you see something like this and laugh, remember that the closed captioner is making the video more accessible for all of us
There’s a lot of jargon and idioms
What does “bairn” or “heart sang” mean?
- Bairn means child
- The idiom is familiar to many English speakers, but it’s figurative speech that doesn’t translate directly into other languages.
How to Add More Context to Your Writing
Expand acronyms and abbreviations when they first appear
- Provide a glossary for context, if required
- Avoid using idiomatic language that can be exclusive
- Use consistent words, terms, and phrases
- Aim for three nouns in a string or fewer
- If something’s ambiguous, change it