How to proofread your content

How to check that your content is user-focused and accessible before it’s published.

All website content should:

• use familiar easy to understand English – avoid acronyms or jargon

• use inclusive, gender-neutral language

• make it easy for people to understand what they need to know or do

• has a clear process or call-to-action for users.

Use an active voice (change the nouns to verbs)

Using an active voice in your writing means the subject of the sentence comes first and performs the action the rest of the sentence describes.

For example, say 'we manage the program' and 'we analyse data' not 'management of the program is undertaken by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.'

Check the content reading level

• Use the Hemingway Editor to check the reading level, pick up complex sentences and common errors.

• Aim for year 8 reading level.

Write concisely

• Make each word work for its place in the sentence. Sentence structure is clearer if each word plays a necessary role.​

• Clear sentences improve readability. ​

• Remove all the words except the subject, verb and object (if applicable). ​