User:Archer7/Core article process/Simplify

The first thing to look at when simplifying an article is the vocabulary. Ideally, our articles would just contain words from our wordlists. However, in a lot of articles that just isn't possible. There are lots of technical terms to describe things that cannot be replaced or missed out. All words like this are fine in an article if they can't be avoided, but if possible try to accompany them with an explanation.

To do: Add script to look up words in wordlists

Next, look at sentence structure. Sentences should be relatively short, but not so short that the article is boring. Try to vary the length of the sentences.

Good sentences (from Dog): It has been domesticated by humans for a long time. It can be a pet, because it is usually friendly to humans. They are sometimes called "canines" from the Latin word for dog - canis. Sometimes people also use "dog" to refer to other canids, such as wolves.

Complex sentence (from Dietary mineral): Dietary minerals are the chemical elements that living things need to have be part of what they eat, other than the four elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen which are already very common in living things.

Very short sentences: Paris is the capital city of France. France is a country in Europe. France is famous for wine. It is also famous for the Eiffel Tower.

A readability analysis tool can also be useful when simplifying an article.

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