What research actually shows about accessible writing
If you write anything online - a blog post, an email, a website copy - your words either reduce friction or create it. Research in readability and cognitive accessibility proves that the way we write can trully expand understanding. Here are some research-backed ways to make your writing more accessible:
Write below your comfort level.
Multiple readability studies show that most adults read at or below an 8th-grade level, especially online, yet most web content is written far above that.
People need shorter sentences, familiar words, one idea at a time.
Put the main point first.
Research on web usability consistently shows people scan before they read.
Start with the conclusion, then explain. This especially helps people with ADHD, cognitive fatigue, or limited time.
Plain language improves comprehension for everyone.
Text simplification research shows simpler vocabulary and syntax increase understanding across audiences, including highly educated readers.
Idioms and metaphors are cognitive speed bumps.
Phrases like “move the needle” or “boil the ocean” require cultural decoding.
Cognitive accessibility guidelines recommend literal, direct language because figurative phrases increase processing effort, especially for non-native speakers and autistic readers.
Structure reduces mental load.
Research in web readability shows chunked content with lists, headings, clear transitions significantly improves comprehension and retention. For assistive technology users structured lists are announced and counted, making navigation easier.
Make link text meaningful on its own.
Screen reader users often navigate by scanning a list of links.
“Click here” becomes meaningless out of context, while “Download the accessibility checklist (PDF)” works independently.
Reduce pronoun ambiguity.
“When they send it, they review it” - who is they and what is it?
Ambiguity increases cognitive load. So naming the subject clearly (“When the customer submits the form, the support team reviews the form”) removes friction.
Keep sentences shorter.
Research on processing fluency shows that longer, nested sentences increase cognitive strain. If a sentence has multiple commas, dashes, and parentheses - break it.
Avoid unnecessary urgency language.
Phrases like “ASAP” or “immediately” increase anxiety and pressure, especially for neurodivergent readers. Accessibility research emphasizes predictability and clarity.
Design for distracted reading.
People don’t read your content in perfect conditions, they read: on a cracked phone screen, on a noisy train, between the meetings or while tired.
Accessibility research recognizes situational limitations, not just permanent disabilities. Accessible writing works under imperfect conditions.
