Plain Language ISO 24495 Standard (2026 Guide)
Plain Language ISO 24495 Standard (2026 Guide)
Publication Information
First Published: 13 September 2024
Updated: 26 February 2026
Author: Nathan Boeker, M. A. Certified Plain Language Instructor
To the Point
The ISO 24495 standard is a major milestone in the plain language movement. It provides a clear and authoritative definition of plain language and offers guidance on how to achieve it. By adopting plain language principles, organizations can improve their communication, increase efficiency, and save money. Clear communication benefits everyone, and this new standard is a powerful tool for achieving it.
Table of Contents
ISO 24495-1:2023 helps writers around the world design clear communicate. It is a game-changer for effective communication.
Imagine if you opened a government document or a legal contract and could actually understand it without needing a law degree. That's the power of plain language, and it's now got a global standard thanks to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
ISO 24495 is the first international standard for plain language. The standard gives guidance to help governments and businesses communicate clearly to their audience.
This new standard is a big deal because it's the first internationally accepted definition of plain language from ISO publications. This authoritative standard is a set of guidelines used by plain language practitioners that anyone can use to make their writing easier to understand for their intended readers. Countries that have a plain language act can benefit from these shared standards.
The standard gives technical guidance on four plain language principles:
The information should be directly related to the reader's needs and interests. Plain language documents should be specific and targeted, addressing the reader's questions and concerns. Irrelevant information should be avoided, as it can be distracting and frustrating for the reader.
The information should be easy for the reader to locate. It should be organized in a logical and intuitive way, and it should be clearly labeled and signposted. The reader should not have to spend a lot of time searching for the information they need.
The information should be written in clear and concise language. It should be free of jargon and technical terms that the reader may not be familiar with. The information should also be well-structured, with headings and subheadings to help the reader follow the flow of the text.
The information should be presented in a way that makes it easy for the reader to use. This includes using a readable font and font size, and providing ample white space and margins. The information should also be interactive, allowing the reader to engage with it in a meaningful way.
Plain language is writing that the intended readers can quickly understand and take action on. Plain language improves understanding, increases efficiency, reduces errors, and saves money.
Improved understanding: People can actually understand what they're reading.This is a significant benefit of well-written content. When people can understand what they're reading, they're more likely to be engaged and retain the information. This can lead to improved decision-making, problem-solving, and overall knowledge.
Increased efficiency: People can find the information they need quickly and easily.Well-written content is organized and easy to navigate, so people can quickly find the information they're looking for. This can save time and frustration, especially when people are trying to find specific facts or details.
Reduced errors: People are less likely to make mistakes if they understand the information.When people don't understand what they're reading, they're more likely to make mistakes. This can have serious consequences, especially in situations where accuracy is critical. Well-written content can help to reduce errors by ensuring that people understand the information.
Improved customer satisfaction: People are happier when they can easily interact with businesses and organizations.Well-written content can help to improve customer satisfaction by making it easier for people to interact with businesses and organizations. This can include providing clear instructions, answering common questions, and providing contact information.
Cost savings: Businesses and organizations can save money by reducing the need for customer service calls and clarifying confusing information.Well-written content can help businesses and organizations save money by reducing the need for customer service calls and clarifying confusing information. This can free up customer service representatives to handle more complex issues and can help to improve overall customer satisfaction.
The ISO plain language standard is for anyone who writes ... from government workers to academics to business professionals. It's also useful for technical writing or any technical communicators who need to make complex information easy to understand.
This standard is especially helpful for people who work in government, academia, and business. In government, it's important to be clear and concise when writing so that people can understand and follow policies, laws, and regulations. For academics, the standard helps them write research papers, dissertations, and articles that are easy to read and understand. And in business, it helps professionals communicate clearly and precisely with their teams and clients.
Technical writers and communicators also find this standard useful. They often have to explain complex technical information in a way that everyone can understand. The standard provides guidelines for making complex concepts easier to understand, using simple language, and organizing information in a logical way so that readers can easily grasp the key points.
When writers follow this standard, they benefit from the positive effects of an improved writing style ... they can get their ideas across more clearly, engage their readers more effectively, and help create a society that is more informed and knowledgeable.
Here are some best practices to help you write in plain language:
Use simple words: Avoid jargon and technical terms.
Write short sentences: Break up long sentences into shorter ones.
Use active voice: Instead of saying "The report was written by John," say "John wrote the report."
Organize your information logically: Use headings and subheadings to break up your text.
Use visuals: Charts, graphs, and images can help to illustrate your points.
Test your writing: Ask someone who is not familiar with your topic to read your writing and give you feedback.
The new ISO standard is already starting to make waves. Some countries, like the United States, have had plain language laws in place for years. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to use plain language in their communications. Other countries are now following suit and incorporating plain language requirements into their local legislation.
The standard's adoption will likely be gradual, but it's a significant step towards making information more accessible to everyone. Organizations that embrace plain language will benefit from improved communication, increased efficiency, and cost savings.
The International Organization for Standardization is currently working on two additional standards that are in various phases of development.
This proposed standard aims to improve the clarity and accessibility of legal documents. It provides guidelines for writers to ensure that people can easily understand and use legal information. The standard focuses on making legal language more understandable for everyone, from individuals to businesses and governments. It covers a wide range of legal documents and aims to be adaptable to different languages and legal systems.
Track this standard’s development on the ISO website.
The proposed standard aims to improve the clarity and accessibility of scientific documents for diverse audiences. It builds upon the principles established in ISO/DIS 24495-1, Plain Language — Part 1, while providing additional guidance and techniques specific to scientific writing. The standard focuses on text-based information and complements existing technical guidelines for accessibility in digital documents.
Track this standard’s development here.
You can become ISO 24495 Plain Language certified with ClearWrite training.
International Plain Language Federation: https://www.iplfederation.org/
ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain Language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines: https://www.iso.org/standard/78907.html
Plain Language Action and Information Network: https://plainlanguagenetwork.org/