Plain language

Plain languageDepartment of Veterans Affairs (mmr)2024-02-05T12:56:17-05:00

Designing VA Websites

Plain language is not just a recommendation or preference, but the law, however, unlike Section 508, there is no penalty if we fail to uphold the Plain Writing Act.

There will be training, audits, reports, and citizen feedback on the clarity of our language. In other words, we will be held accountable. As Web content people, we should enforce plain writing as we enforce any other best practice.

There is no need to make plain writing complicated.

Resources

Date last updated February 5, 2024

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20420
1-800-698-2411

VA Web Governance

An official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Accessibility

Ensuring that users have equal access to information and functionality regardless of ability, disability or the type of computer technology used. Creating accessible content is integral to web design philosophy, and accessibility features must be incorporated into all aspects of the design process. See VA’s Section 508 page for more information.

Accessibility-508 Compliance

Meeting all mandates required by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Public Law 93-112, codified as amended at 29 U.S.C. 794d to ensure that all web pages are accessible to disabled persons. See VA’s Section 508 page for more information.

Alternate Text

Information included in hypertext markup language (HTML) tags to describe graphics a visually impaired person or screen reader can use to help interpret the graphic.

Alternative Formats

Web file formats that are not universally accessible but are available to the public via specific software or plug-ins. These formats include, but are not limited to: PDF, WordPerfect, Microsoft (MS) Word, MS PowerPoint, and statistical data files, such as SAS, SPSS, SQL, and MS Excel. See VA Viewer Software.

Artificial Intelligence

Computer programs used to replace human tasks or decision-making (sometimes including Machine Learning to allow the AI to improve over time either on its own or from user feedback). Some examples are: autocorrect, maps that offer a best route to drive as they analyze traffic, systems serving as virtual assistants (Microsoft’s Cortana, Apple’s Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.), systems for marketing or advertising to offer a user content they are expected to be interested in due to who or what they “follow” on social media and their previous browser activity, searches, and time spent on content, financial service applications which monitor purchases and send alerts for unusual activity, “bots” used in chats for self-help which appear as if they’re people you are chatting with but are retrieving information from a knowledge base.

Authoritative Source

Official source. An authority is a person or institution having the final say on a particular matter. The authority decides what is right or wrong and others follow suit. While this word may be used to refer to government or supervisory institutions, authority can also be a source of information.

Blog

Discussion or informational website comprised of postings in reverse chronological order. Blogs allow readers to respond and comment on the original content posted. See VA’s official blog (VA News).

Branding

Items that help identify a website. Branding can be accomplished by using approved logos and templates. As part of the enterprise-wide Digital Modernization initiative, VA is consolidating and simplifying VA web pages, applications and services into a single, consistent, and unified experience on VA websites. (See VA.gov design guide)

Browser

A software application used for retrieving and presenting information on the web. VA web pages must be “browser neutral” to the maximum extent possible. Browsers provide users the ability to choose the language they would like to view content in for full access to information in their primary language.

Caching

Is a technique that stores a copy of a given resource and serves it back when requested. When a web cache has a requested resource in its store, it intercepts the request and returns a copy of the stored resource instead of re-downloading the resource from the originating server, which speeds up opening the page.

Cascading Style Sheets

A style sheet language used for describing web page presentation (look and formatting). CSS defines how different elements, such as headers, links, and text will appear such as defining fonts, colors, and paragraph spacing.

Cloud Services

Network of servers that provide remote data storage or processing services via the internet, which are owned and maintained internally or externally. (see also Infrastructure as a Service, Low-Code No-Code, Platform as a Service, Software as a Service)