How to Improve the Readability pf Health Science Articles

Writers can improve the readability of health science articles by using clear language, simple sentences, visual aids, active voice, and proper structuring.

Improving the readability of health science articles makes it easy to provide clear, valuable information to your audience. Readable health science articles also helps build research material for future research and boosts access to knowledge.

In this article, we’ll see the major steps health science researchers can take to improve the readability of articles for publishing. You can also take advantage of the tips and recommended tools in this guide to communicate your findings effectively to a wider audience.

How to Improve the Readability of Health Science Articles

1.  Know your audience

You must understand your target audience to boost the readability of your health science articles. Most common readers of health science articles include:

-       Policymakers in the healthcare industry,

-       Healthcare practitioners,

-       Researchers,

-       Patients, and other members of the public

Knowing the audience will help you assess their knowledge level and know how to structure sentences in your article. It will also help in the spread of information about the health sciences to more people.

2.  Simplify technical language

Most health science topics will require few technical terms that may be too difficult for some non-expert readers to understand. You should try to explain what such terms mean at least after its first mention in your article.

Providing clear explanations makes it easy for everyone to understand the context in which technical terms appear in your article. You can also include a glossary at the end of your article clearly describing what all technical terms used mean in simple language.

3.  Use clear and concise language

Writing in clear language is the best way to improve your article’s readability. Try to avoid unnecessary or excessive use of jargon, complex sentences, or terms with multiple meanings. Write your sentences in clear grammar and concisely present all ideas or messages without confusing your readers.

4.  Structure and organization

Structuring your articles makes it easy for a wider audience to read and understand your message. You should structure your articles by:

-       Using appropriate headings,

-       Including subheadings to break down long sections,

-       Using bullet points to segment complex information into bits

Adopting this process makes it easy for readers to navigate your article and understand multiple sections with ease.

5.  Use visual aids

Visual aids come in handy to make your article readable and enjoyable for non-expert readers. You should consider including tables, figures, and graphs in your article wherever possible. Adding visual aids to your article helps you boost the representation of information and makes complex details easier to read.

You should use correct labelling throughout all visual aids to make every add-on easier to understand.

6.  Use active voice

Writing your health science articles in passive voice can destroy the readability of such research. Active voice; however, promotes engagement and makes your work easier to read while promoting clarity. Writing in active voice also eliminates convoluted sentences, expressing your ideas clearly.

You can consider replacing long phrases in your text to promote conciseness while writing in active voice. Combining sentence brevity and active voice promotes easier understanding of every idea conveyed in your article.

7.  Employ plain language techniques

Complex sentences can reduce reader interest and limit the spread of vital information about health science topics. You can use sentences writing in plain language to attract reader interest and convey your messages directly. Writers can adopt plain language writing when they:

-       Reduce wordy sentences in articles,

-       Convey the main message early in sentences, and

-       Link scientific terms with simple words to help non-expert readers understand concepts

8.  Consider readability tools

Several automated readability tools exist to help authors improve the quality of articles before publishing. Many of these tools are designed to analyze:

-       Word complexity,

-       Readability percentage,

-       Sentence length, etc.

You can take advantage of these tools to assess and improve the readability of your articles, making it easy for wider audiences to read and understand your research.

9.  Seek feedback and peer review

Expert feedback from colleagues, mentors, and even likely readers can be vital to improve the readability of your health science article. You can rely on peer reviews to identify specific parts of your article where comprehension needs enhancement. Take note of suggestions from your peers and refine your article to deliver clearer ideas in each sentence to readers.

Main Readability Tools to Improve the Readability of Health Science Articles

Dozens of tools and tests exist to assess and improve the readability of your health science articles. See ten (10) of the most popular tools and tests listed below:

1.     Readable.io – online readability checking tool

2.     Hemingway Editor – online voice, sentence complexity, and grammar checking tool

3.     Grammarly – grammar, readability, and plagiarism checker

4.     Yoast SEO – sentence length and structure checker

5.     Plain Language Summarizer – online sentence complexity tool

6.     Flesch-Kincaid Readability Tests – standard readability test

7.     Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) – jargon indicator

8.     Automated Readability Index (ARI) – readability indicator

9.     Microsoft Word Readability Statistics – document complexity and readability indicator

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Improving the Readability of Health Science Articles

Writers of health science articles usually makes these common mistakes that affect their articles’ readability:

-       Neglecting the target audience

-       Overusing technical jargon

-       Ignoring sentence structure and complexity

-       Lack of organization and structure

-       Neglecting visual aids

-       Inadequate proofreading and editing

-       Disregarding plain language principles

-       Lack of readability testing and feedback

-       Insufficient consideration of formatting and typography

-       Neglecting the revision process

Final Word

Authors who pay much attention to the readability of their articles usually get more readership than others do. You should employ the right strategies like simplifying languages and using visual aids to improve your articles’ readability. Take note of the tips and tools listed in this guide to help you boost readability on your articles with ease.