plain-language-design

Q: How do I install plain-language-design?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/owl-listener/inclusive-design-skills --skill plain-language-design in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/plain-language-design/ (personal) or .claude/skills/plain-language-design/ (project).

by owl-listenerMarketing & SEO

Write and review content for plain language accessibility. Use when writing interface copy, error messages, instructions, onboarding text, help content, legal or medical information, forms, or any user-facing text. Triggers on: plain language, reading level, simplify text, jargon, hard to understand, nobody reads this, unclear copy, rewrite, too complicated, ESL, literacy, readability.

Installs: 97
Last 24h: —
Trending rank: —
Security: Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/owl-listener/inclusive-design-skills --skill plain-language-design

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads plain-language-design automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Plain Language Design

Write and evaluate content so that people with cognitive disabilities, low literacy, non-native language skills, or high stress can understand it on the first read.

Plain language is not dumbed-down language. It is clear language. It respects the reader's time and cognitive resources.

The Tests

5-Second Test

Can someone read this sentence and understand it in 5 seconds? If not, rewrite.

Jargon Test

Would someone outside your industry understand every word? If not, replace the word or define it inline.

Action Test

For any instruction or button: is the next step completely unambiguous? "Save and continue" beats "Next". "Delete this item" beats "Remove".

Passive Voice Test

Passive voice hides who does what. "Your application has been rejected" → "We could not approve your application. Here's what to do next."

Sentence Length Test

Aim for 15–20 words per sentence maximum
One idea per sentence
One instruction per paragraph

Common Replacements

Instead of	Use
utilise	use
facilitate	help
implement	set up / start
terminate	end / stop
prior to	before
in order to	to
at this point in time	now
in the event that	if
with regard to	about
commence	start
sufficient	enough
subsequent	next
indicate	show / tell
modify	change

Readability Benchmarks

General public: grade 6–8 reading level
Specialist audience: define terms, short sentences
Critical content (medical, legal, financial): plain language summary alongside the full text
Buttons, labels, error messages: grade 4–6 always

How to Review

Read every piece of text aloud — stumbles reveal complexity
Check sentence length (count words — flag any over 25)
Identify jargon, acronyms, and idioms
Verify every instruction has a clear, single action
Check that error messages say: what happened + why + what to do

Output Format

When reviewing: present a table of flagged text with the original, the issue, and a rewritten version. When writing: produce plain language content with a note on the target reading level achieved.

FAQ

What does the plain-language-design skill do?

How do I install plain-language-design?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/owl-listener/inclusive-design-skills --skill plain-language-design in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/plain-language-design/ (personal) or .claude/skills/plain-language-design/ (project).

Which AI agents can use plain-language-design?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is plain-language-design safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains plain-language-design?

It is published by owl-listener in owl-listener/inclusive-design-skills. It has 97 recorded installs.