plain language on medical consent forms

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090708153242.htm

The Toolkit is based on plain language—a communication style centered on the audience's needs and abilities. Researchers can see how to use plain language in study materials through the Toolkit's many concrete examples, including an alternative word list. Here's a brief excerpt:

* Instead of Abdomen, try Stomach, tummy, belly
* instead of Abrasion, try Scrape, scratch
* Instead of Absorb, try Take in fluids, soak up
* Instead of Abstain from, try Don't, don't use, don't have, go without
* Instead of Accomplish, try Carry out, do
* Instead of Accrue, try Add, build up, collect, gather
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D: sometimes the plain language is either imprecise or requires multiword lexemes.
But sometimes it works just fine.
English suffers from massively redundant vocabulary.

See my entry on sofas, couches, and chesterfields.

I once needed to explain "celibate" as "can't get none" in one of my factory placements, LOL!