Our standards

Because every document is different, and aimed at different readers, we cannot give precise standards. The important questions we ask are:

	is the language appropriate for the intended readers, and as clear as it can be?
	is the design and layout of the document as clear as possible?

To help you reach our standards you may find it useful to follow the guidelines below.

Put yourself in your reader's shoes and use:

	everyday words wherever possible, and explain any technical terms you have to use
	a glossary to explain terms that are used often, or where the explanation would take up too much room in the main text
	'you' and 'we' instead of 'the applicant', 'the borrower', 'the bank', 'the company' and so on
	short sentences. Stick to one or two ideas in a sentence, and aim for an average sentence length of 15 to 20 words
	active verbs, rather than passive verbs. In other words, write 'We will pay this into your account when we get your letter telling us.....' rather than 'Payment will be made when your letter is received.....'
	plenty of 'signposts' to help your reader find what they are looking for. These include contents lists, headings and sub-headings, and lists of key features (like this one)
	a line length of between 45 and 60 characters, depending on the type size
	a type face that your readers can read easily, bearing in mind their age and likely reading ability.

Finally

Don't forget that we do not charge for appraising your documents. So you've nothing to lose by sending them in. If you have several documents that you feel may need editing, send them all in at once. We will give you a lower estimate 'per page' if you do.

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