Guide to fostering the readability of legislative texts

Table of Contents

• I. Introduction
  • A. Readability is a natural outcome of legislative drafting
  • B. The purpose of this guide
  • C. Two notes on this guide
    • 1. The intended readers of this guide
    • 2. For whom are legislative texts to be readable?
• II. Some keys to readability
  • A. Write for the readers
  • B. Give overall context
    • 1. An appropriate title
    • 2. The preamble
    • 3. The purpose provision
  • C. Organize the text well
  • D. Show the high-level organization of the text
  • E. Help readers find the information they are looking for
    • 1. Give readers points of reference
    • 2. If possible, help readers with related text
  • F. Give readers the key structural elements of each legislative sentence early in the sentence
  • G. Create a logical flow from sentence to sentence
  • H. Use paragraphing when numerous elements of a legislative sentence lend themselves to a list
  • I. Keep the language as simple as possible
    • 1. Avoid Latin expressions
    • 2. Use simple expressions when possible; avoid couplets or triplets
    • 3. Use definitions only when they are helpful
    • 4. Ensure that the defined expression corresponds with the assigned meaning
    • 5. A note on vocabulary and readership
• III. Conclusion
  • Annex 1 – Examples of preambles
  • Annex 2 – Conventional order for legislative provisions