plain-languagelisted

# Plain Language Accessibility Skill > **Canonical source**: `examples/PLAIN_LANGUAGE_ACCESSIBILITY_BEST_PRACTICES.md` in `mgifford/ACCESSIBILITY.md` > This skill is derived from that file. When in doubt, the example is authoritative. Apply these rules when writing, editing, or reviewing web content. **Only load this skill if the project involves content creation or editing.** This skill complements `content-design/SKILL.md` — load both for content work. Plain language is the deeper implementation; content design is the structural pattern. --- ## Core Mandate Plain language means writing so that people can find what they need, understand it, and act on it the first time they read it. It is not about dumbing content down — it is about respecting the reader's time and removing unnecessary barriers. Plain language is the primary accessibility strategy for: - Users with cognitive disabilities, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities - Users with low literacy or whose first language is not the page language - Users who are stressed, fatigued, or in crisis - Users accessing content via screen reader, where re-reading is slow - Users in reader mode or using text-to-speech, where complex syntax breaks down WCAG 3.1.5 Reading Level (AAA) targets Grade 8 or lower for general audiences. Plain language is also an Opquast requirement (rules 5, 7) and aligns with the [Web Sustainability Guidelines](https://www.w3.org/TR/web-sustainability-guidelines/) — concise content