ISO 24495-1:2023. Plain language - Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines

The document establishes governing principles and guidelines for developing plain language documents.The guidelines detail how the principles are interpreted and applied. The standard useful is for anybody who creates or helps create documents. 

The widest use of plain language is for documents that are intended for the general public. However, it is also applicable, for example, to technical writing, legislative drafting or using controlled languages. The document applies to most, if not all, written languages, but it provides examples only in English. 

While it covers the essential elements of plain language, it has some intentional limits, as follows: It does not cover all types of communication, as it applies only to printed or digital information that is primarily in the form of text; and it does not include existing technical guidance about accessibility and digital documents, although the guidance can apply to both.

It is envisaged to publish two additional parts of the ISO 24495 series: Part 2, on legal communications, and Part 3, on science writing.