Make it clear who does or should do what and use the auxiliary verb become as little as possible. For example, "We will consider your request" instead of "Your request will be considered."

Also avoid other auxiliary verbs, such as want, can and will, such as "We will process your request."

Do not make sentences longer than 12 words on average. Do not write sentences longer than 25 words. Do you have a long sentence? Turn it into two shorter sentences.

Put signal words and structure indicators at the beginning of a sentence. This helps readers quickly understand the structure of a text. For example, first, second, moreover, because, briefly, so, step 1, step 2. See Signal Words Types and Examples.

Start items in bullet points with different words. This makes it easier to scan the items quickly. For example, "information for:

• employees;
• students;
• alumni."

Instead of: 

• "information for employees;
• information for students;
• information for alumni."

Avoid pincer constructions and references that require the reader to read back and forth too much within or between sentences:

• For example, "Sometimes a teacher goes on leave for an extended period of time. The examination board may then appoint a substitute" instead of "The examination board may appoint a substitute for a reviewer who goes on leave for an extended period of time" (pincer construction).
• For example, "The examiner is doing legal sociological research on discrimination and asylum law. She is also writing a book on asylum law" rather than "The researcher is doing legal sociological research on discrimination and asylum law. She is also writing a book on the latter" (reference).

Simple language is not just for people who cannot read well. Even educated readers find it more pleasant to read easy language. For example, simple language is nice when you are in a hurry, stressed or trying to do several things at once. 

• Avoid jargon, but explain understanding.
• Avoid imagery, such as metaphors. These are difficult to understand, especially for people for whom Dutch is not their first language.
• Use common or colloquial language. Find simple alternatives on the website Word List B1.
• Do not use formal or weighty language.

In a text, use one word for one concept. If you want to name a synonym because that word is also used, do so as follows: [A], also known as [B], ... . In the rest of the text, use the word [A].

Write out abbreviations as much as possible. For example, "for example" instead of "eg" and "etcetera" instead of "etc." If you want to abbreviate a term in your text, write the term in full the first time and put the abbreviation after it in parentheses, for example, "Binding Study Advice (BSA)."  Only if the abbreviation is better known than the full term, then you may use the abbreviation, for example, "AM/PM" or "VAT."

Whenever possible, use "the" followed by a verb, such as "giving" or "the expansion. For example, "Teaching is one of our objectives" instead of "Teaching is among the objectives" or "The refectory is being expanded" instead of "The expansion of the refectory."

The word "not" is often overlooked, causing the content to be misunderstood. In addition, it comes across more positively to write without negations. For example, "Give up on time" instead of "Don't give up on time."