There's now an ISO standard for plain language science writing

There's a new ISO standard for plain language science writing. As someone who once had to translate hydraulic fracturing science for a Northern Territory government inquiry, under pressure, on deadline, with a stack of expert reports that read like they were written for other expert reports, I can tell you: this would have been very, very useful.

Let me explain.

ISO 24495-3: what is the new plain language science writing standard?

The International Organization for Standardization has just published ISO 24495-3 Plain language — Part 3: Science released (12 May 2026).

It's not a style guide. It's not a government memo. It's a global, evidence-based benchmark that defines what plain language science released looks like and how to achieve it.

It builds on Part 1, which sets out general principles and guidelines. Part 3 adds content specifically relevant for authors creating science information. Other parts in development include one on document design and one that organisations can use to get ISO certified.

Plain language science writing released: what I learned

In 2018, I was seconded into strategic communications for the Hydraulic Fracturing Inquiry in the Northern Territory. The inquiry examined whether onshore shale gas development should go ahead in the NT. High stakes. Intense scrutiny. A public that deserved clear answers.

The science was complex. The experts were brilliant. The released? Dense, jargon-heavy, and about as accessible as a bore hole.

My job was to bridge that gap: to take technically rigorous findings and turn them into communications that real people could read, understand and trust. I was doing it largely on instinct, professional experience, and a healthy obsession with plain English - where possible. 

A clear, internationally agreed standard for plain language science released would have made life easier. 

Who developed the ISO 24495-3 plain language standard?

This is where I want to pause and say something important.

Congratulations to the entire working group’s around the world. And a particular shoutout to my peers (and now friends) from the Australian Working Group and Gael Spivak and Stephen Bernhardt, who chaired the drafting committee for the science standard.

The standard was drafted by an international team of experts in science communication and plain language. They came from different countries and different disciplines.They drew on research into how people understand written language. They identified common criteria for plain science communication and did the hard work so the rest of us don't have to argue about it anymore.

That kind of collaboration, across borders, disciplines, and languages, is genuinely impressive. And genuinely needed. Read the media release. 

I am proud to play a small part in this work. I am a member of Standards Australia's Plain Language Working Group (CS-117-00-02), contributing to the development of ISO 24495-1:2023, and a member of the Localisation and Implementation Committee, established by the International Plain Language Federation. Working alongside these experts and the broader committee has shaped how I think and practise plain language.

Get in touch with our team

Why plain language science communication matters for public trust

Science released affects all of us. Water bills. Climate reports. Public health guidance. Environmental impact statements. Infrastructure assessments. When that writing is unclear, people disengage, distrust make decisions based on misunderstanding. Or, even worse - get left behind. 

As Stephen put it, the emphasis on clarity will help increase science literacy among the broader public, helping science authors enhance people's engagement with science-based information and building public trust through transparency.

Plain language science released isn't about dumbing things down. It's about respecting your reader enough to meet them where they are. It’s opening content up! 

How ISO 24495-3 helps science communicators write for real people

The standard benefits both sides of the science communication equation.

For science authors, it helps transfer knowledge to wider audiences, improving comprehension and accessibility without sacrificing scientific accuracy.

For the public, it makes scientific information easier to find, understand, and use. Research shows that communicating science in plain language helps people make better decisions based on evidence. And as Gael notes, because readers will have a wide range of backgrounds in science, authors need to adapt scientific language so they provide their intended readers with relevant information they can easily find, understand, and use.

Accurate, clear scientific information also helps combat misinformation. That alone should be enough reason to take this standard seriously.

Beyond readability scores: what the standard actually changed for me

One of the most valuable shifts this work brought me was moving away from readability scores as the primary measure of plain language success. Scores like Flesch-Kincaid are useful, but they only tell part of the story.

The standard pushed me to focus on something more meaningful: can the reader actually complete their task? Can they find the information they need, understand it, and use it to do something? That shift from readability to user task is fundamental, and it has changed how I approach every project.

I wrote more about this in Beyond Readability: How Plain Language Delivers Business Results.

Where to find the ISO plain language science writing released standard

ISO 24495-3 is based on research about how people understand written language and the experience of experts in plain science language.

You can read the International Plain Language Federation press release for full details, also available in French, Italian, and Spanish.

Get your copy of ISO 24495-3: Plain language — Part 3: Science released today.

Tom Davis is a plain language practitioner and communications strategist. He is the founder of Black Sheep Communications.

Tom is a member of Standards Australia's Plain Language Working Group (CS-117-00-02), contributing to the development of ISO 24495-1:2023. He is also a member of the Localisation and Implementation Committee, established by the International Plain Language Federation.