Plain Language services
Clear information is an operational feature, not a tone of voice.
DEMA rewrites complex content so readers can find what they need, understand it and use it. The service is guided by the principles reflected in ISO 24495-1:2023 and can be applied to web, forms, education, health, internal and customer-facing information.
ISO 24495-1:2023 principles
Relevant
Findable
Understandable
Usable
Plain Language improves the primary version of information so readers can find what they need, understand it and use it.
Four principles
Plain Language is more than using shorter words.
Plain language follows the four principles of the international standard ISO 24495-1: relevant, findable, understandable and usable. They shape content structure, headings, sentence design and the order in which information is presented.
R
Relevant
Readers get the information they actually need for the task or decision in front of them.
F
Findable
Headings, order and visual structure help readers locate the right information quickly.
U
Understandable
Sentences, terminology and explanations reduce unnecessary cognitive effort.
U
Usable
The reader can act on the information without needing someone else to interpret what it means.
What we change
Complexity often sits in structure before it sits in vocabulary.
Content architecture
Reorder information around reader questions and tasks.
•
Put important information first
•
Use descriptive headings
•
Group related actions
Sentence design
Make relationships explicit.
•
Shorter idea units
•
Active, direct constructions where appropriate
•
Clear references and conditions
Terminology
Remove avoidable jargon without deleting necessary specialist meaning.
•
Explain required technical terms
•
Prefer familiar alternatives
•
Use terminology consistently
Where Plain Language helps
Useful wherever readers lose time interpreting the organisation rather than using the information.
Web communications
Educational material
Health information
Forms
Brochures
Websites
Customer instructions
Internal procedures
Policies
Service communications
Plain Language vs Easy-to-Read
Choose based on the audience and the level of adaptation.
Plain Language usually aims to improve the main version for a broad audience. Easy-to-Read may create a separate version with substantially reduced complexity and supportive visual structure for people who need a stronger adaptation.
Plain Language
Keep the necessary information, but organise and express it so the intended audience can use it efficiently.
Easy-to-Read
Create a more deliberately adapted version when conventional information remains too difficult even after plain-language improvement.
Explore Easy-to-Read →Both can be multilingual
The principles need to be recreated in each target language; clarity cannot be assumed to survive literal translation.
Events and insights
Sharing our accessibility expertise with the industry.
Our team speaks at conferences, writes for industry media and runs workshops on plain language, accessibility and inclusion.
Article · MultiLingual magazine, April 2026Influencing the Industry
In the April 2026 issue, Milena Spelta Parenti is featured among language industry influencers, explaining why accessible and inclusive language is about removing barriers.
Read the article ↗
Workshop · Torino Film Festival 2025Lo spettacolo per tutti: inclusione e innovazione sul palco e sullo schermo
Milena Spelta Parenti took part in this workshop on making theatre and film accessible to every audience, with inclusive and innovative approaches on stage and on screen.
View the programme ↗
Conference talk · GALA 2024 ValenciaPlain and Easy Language: ensuring accessible communication for all
Milena Spelta Parenti and Jovana Maravic share how we simplify language for specific audiences, drawing on the plain and easy language projects of the Spanish company DEMA acquired in 2022.
Watch the talk ↗
The DEMA process
Clarity is reviewed in context, not sentence by sentence.
01
Identify reader tasks
Define what readers need to know or do and which parts of the source make that difficult.
02
Restructure
Move information into a reader-centred order with headings and navigation that match likely questions.
03
Rewrite
Simplify language, explain necessary terminology and remove avoidable abstraction or redundancy.
04
Check usability
Review whether readers can find key points, understand conditions and identify the next action.
05
Localise if multilingual
Recreate the plain-language result in each target language rather than translating surface wording mechanically.
Client voices
Long-term partners, in their own words.
Manufacturers, agencies and specialist firms across Europe rely on us for documentation that has to be right in every market.
“
We have been working with DEMA for a few years now on the translation of manuals: they are a great partner – professional, fast, and efficient, with a team of helpful and kind people. Our native-speaking dealers have also praised the quality and accuracy of the translations.
Michela R.
FMB S.r.l. · Italy
“
The advertising agency that follows us called me to tell me that the layout of the brochures that DEMA SOLUTIONS translated was perfect, he added that the translations never come this way, neither from us nor from their other clients. They were very satisfied.
Fernanda B.
Bonino S.r.l. · Italy
“
DEMA Solutions is a dynamic service provider that responds to our needs and thus puts its customers first. The cooperation with the staff is a pleasure and leads to success.
Tomislav M.
Tanner AG · Germany
“
Our collaboration with Dema has made it possible for us to look at the ‘translation issue’ as nothing more than a formality. Giardina Group is an engineering company that specializes in the design and production of innovative surface finishing and coating technologies. We export 90% of our production, and our ability to communicate with our customers in their own language – by providing clear, precise and professional documents – is a significant competitive advantage and an essential part of the high-quality service for which we are known. Our collaboration with Dema has proven to be of immense value: they are an attentive, reliable partner who responds quickly to our needs, even in ‘emergency’ situations.
Luca R.
Giardina Group · Italy
“
We have had a fruitful long-term cooperation with Link-Up. Over the years, we have put in a lot of hard work and have really made a name for ourselves as an international player in the clothing industry. It has been a non-stop journey, and the quality of multilingual communication in different contexts and for different services has been and continues to be a key strategic factor. Let’s keep up the good work together!
Matteo L.
Teddy Group · Italy
Link-Up is a DEMA Solutions company
“
Translations of outstanding quality, always delivered on time, with professionalism and great availability. As a company operating in many countries worldwide, it is crucial for us to have a reliable and competent translation service provider we can depend on. The specific language requirements of the sector in which we operate are always met.
Elisa C.
TricoBiotos S.p.A. · Italy
“
Lilly and Claudio are first of all friends, but they are also highly professional partners in the field of translation services. Always available and punctual, they have been our go-to for over 25 years for our international customers, who always praise the quality of our work. Translation is about more than just switching from one language to another, it’s about capturing the essence of the product and tailoring it to the target audience. Thank you Link-Up!!
Vincenzo C.
Promos S.n.c. · Italy
Link-Up is a DEMA Solutions company
“
For several years now, we have relied on LINK-UP for the translation of texts for the websites we create and for writing copy for advertising campaigns. The staff and owners of LINK-UP are always very kind and professional. A guarantee of quality.
Denis V.
Adriaweb Strategie Digitali · Italy
Link-Up is a DEMA Solutions company
“
When I first came into contact with REM Traduzioni more than 10 years ago, our roles were reversed. They were our client and commissioned us to develop their company website. We soon began to involve Elisabetta and Gloria in the projects we manage for our customers. Our collaboration has blossomed over time, thanks to their ability to deliver a consistently high-quality, professional service in every situation. REM Traduzioni has always been the partner of choice for us when it comes to multilingual communication.
Giacomo D.
Advertendo Srl · Italy
REM Traduzioni is a DEMA Solutions company
“
I got to know REM Traduzioni a few years ago when I joined the Ferretto Group. Elisabetta and Gloria were already trusted suppliers to the Ferretto Group and after the first few days I knew I would not be disappointed. The quality of the translations provided, the professionalism of the team, and their willingness to take on even the most urgent and complex projects make REM Traduzioni an invaluable partner on which we can rely to develop all our communication projects.
Annachiara B.
Ferretto Group SpA · Italy
REM Traduzioni is a DEMA Solutions company
“
I think I can say that REM Traduzioni has grown with us. We were one of their first customers over 30 years ago, and our ongoing relationship, built on complete trust and mutual respect, has evolved into a true partnership. Elisabetta and Gloria are our trusted translation service providers that we rely on for all of our translation needs and we consider them an integral part of our team.
Alessandro B.
Ufficio Veneto Brevetti · Italy
REM Traduzioni is a DEMA Solutions company
“
REM Traduzioni is our firm’s partner of choice in the field of language services. We rely on REM for some of our most sensitive and important projects and they always deliver on time and with professionalism.
Alessandro C.
Partner – BTLAWS · Italy
REM Traduzioni is a DEMA Solutions company
“
We are happy with your service, which we consider professional and fast
Antonella T.
Rossi & Rivieri · Italy
Questions
Plain Language is especially useful before translation.
Can Plain Language reduce translation complexity?
Often yes. A clearer, more consistent source can reduce ambiguity and make multilingual production easier to control.
Does Plain Language mean removing technical terminology?
Not automatically. Necessary specialist terms can remain, but they should be explained or placed in a structure that helps the intended audience use them.
Is Plain Language only for accessibility?
No. It supports accessibility, but it also improves usability for any audience dealing with complex information, forms, instructions or policies.
Can DEMA translate the Plain Language version too?
Yes. For multilingual projects, the rewrite and translation workflows can be coordinated so clarity is protected in each target language.
Make the information easier to use before you make it multilingual.
Share the document and the reader task. We can identify whether the problem is language, structure, accessibility, or a combination, then define the appropriate rewrite and localisation workflow.
Talk to DEMAHow can we help?
Tell us what you need and we’ll get back to you with the solutions.
Insights
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