Write Plain English for Non-Native Readers
Added 2026-11-01
Short sentences, active voice, no idioms — so readers worldwide get it on the first pass.
Here is my English paragraph, or Chinese to turn into English. Rewrite it so a non-native reader understands it on the first pass: 1) average sentence length under 18 words; 2) prefer active voice that names who does what; 3) remove idioms, slang and abbreviations, or spell them out on first use; 4) turn noun stacks into verb sentences; 5) list three expressions most likely to confuse a non-native reader and explain why. Do not simplify away information.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
面向全球读者，短句和主动语态比高级词汇更有用。
Try tweaking it
- Ask for three openings in different tones, then pick one.
- Replace "make it better" with concrete limits: length, reader, facts to keep.
What you should get
- A publishable draft, not an outline
- A short changelog: what changed and why
Common mistakes
- Letting it guess the facts, so plausible-looking sources get invented.
- Dumping the whole text with just "polish it" — the result still has no point.
How to check the output
- The conclusion comes first; deleting the opening paragraph does not break it.
- Every fact, number and quote traces back to the source text.
Where it works
- Good for: turning a rambling draft into a conclusion-first, shorter version.
- Watch out: keep sources and figures verbatim — do not let it invent citations.
Good for
- Help pages, docs or release notes for a global audience where most readers are not native English speakers.
- A translation reads fine to you, but overseas users say they cannot tell what the main point is.
Not for
- Technical docs for native-speaker specialists — over-simplifying removes needed precision.
- Clauses that need legal force or exact wording — accuracy first, plain language only as an annotation.
Example
Input
The utilization of our platform facilitates the optimization of workflows, thereby enabling teams to achieve enhanced efficiency.
What you get
Rewrite: Our platform helps teams streamline workflows and finish work faster. Explain the problem: nominalisations (utilization, facilitation), abstract verbs (enable, achieve) and no actor (who becomes more efficient). Then three rules: one idea per sentence, active voice, spell out abbreviations on first use. Warn against dropping qualifiers for brevity.
Common mistakes
- Chopping every long sentence: logic breaks and the text gets harder to follow.
- Swapping jargon for simpler words without explaining the concept: readers still do not understand.
Try tweaking it like this
- For non-native experts: keep terms and add one-line explanations.
- For complete beginners: open with an analogy, then give the formal definition.