Plain language – one of the foundations of democracy and part of our responsibility

Writing texts so that everyone can understand them is not always an easy task. Texts written by government agencies can be heavy-going and hard to understand. But writing in plain language so that everyone can read and understand the content is fundamental to our democracy. It is part of our responsibility as a government agency.

Many Swedes have difficulties reading and writing. For some, this can be because they have always struggled, while others have suffered injuries that affect their ability to read. There are also many people in the country whose first language is not Swedish. People who are born deaf and have never heard spoken Swedish may also have difficulty using their voices and with speech. Sign languages are also different from spoken languages. There is no international sign language.

By writing in plain language, we make life easier for the deaf, as well as others, such as those born abroad. In addition, Uppsala University is a bilingual university. This means that our Swedish texts are translated into English as far as possible.

By writing clearly, we make it easier for everyone to absorb the content of a text. It’s never wrong to express yourself clearly as a writer if your aim is to make an impact with your text.

A few quick and easy writing tips:

  • Use gender-neutral nouns in Swedish such as lärare, skådespelare and riksdagsledamot instead of lärarinna, skådespelerska and riksdagskvinna, for example.
  • Do not use punctuation unnecessarily. For instance, there is no need to use a comma before ‘och’ in Swedish.
  • Avoid complex words and long sentences if possible.
  • Simplify your text with shorter words and expressions. Use the shorter, simpler word “om” rather than “beträffande/gällande/angående”. Likewise, use “för” instead of “rörande” in sentences such as “Ett tillståndsbevis för rätten att ha...”
  • Compound word or not? We are seeing more and more texts where compound words are written incorrectly. If you are unsure, check a dictionary. But remember that Swedish words such as “ihop” and “isär” should be compounds with no space in the middle.

Ulrika Hurtig

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There are more recommendations for writing clearly and styles rules, and our University’s style guide, available on the Staff Portal.

There are also links to other online sites where you can get advice on language issues. The Language Council of Sweden’s question toolbox at is a handy site where you can find tips and also ask questions about language and writing.

The online thesaurus in Swedish can be a great tool for finding simpler and better alternatives to difficult and complex words.

The Swedish Academy’s dictionary l can help you with spelling, compound words, etc.

Staff Portal article “Plain language makes life easier for everyone” (June 2021)

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