Evaluating the Impact of Plain Language Reform on Citizen Comprehension of Legal Documents: Evidence from Tenancy, Employment, and Social Benefit Texts

Abstract

Complex legal language often limits citizens' ability to understand their rights, responsibilities, and available public services, creating barriers to informed decision-making and equitable access to justice. This study evaluates the effects of plain language (PL) reform on citizen comprehension of three common legal document types: tenancy agreements, employment contracts, and benefit entitlement notices. The research compares original legally drafted documents with plain language rewrites developed in accordance with the Plain English Campaign standards to determine whether linguistic simplification improves comprehension and decision-making. A total of 180 adult participants, stratified by education level, were recruited, with 60 participants assigned to each document type. Participants read either the original or the plain language version of a document before completing a standardized comprehension assessment and a decision-accuracy task measuring their ability to apply the information correctly in practical scenarios. Quantitative analyses revealed that plain language documents produced significantly higher comprehension scores across all document categories, with large effect sizes (d = 0.73–0.91). Similarly, participants reading the rewritten documents demonstrated significantly greater decision accuracy (d = 0.58–0.82), indicating that improved readability translated into more accurate interpretation of legal rights and obligations. The greatest benefits were observed among participants with secondary-level education or below, highlighting the role of plain language in reducing educational inequalities in legal comprehension. Linguistic analysis further confirmed that the rewritten documents contained significantly shorter sentences, lower Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level scores, reduced nominalization density, and more frequent use of active voice, all of which contributed to enhanced readability. These findings provide strong empirical support for the practical effectiveness of plain language reform in improving public understanding of legal documents. The study contributes to research on legal linguistics, language policy, and access to justice by demonstrating that carefully designed linguistic simplification can substantially improve comprehension without compromising the essential legal content of official documents. The findings also support broader policy initiatives promoting accessible legal communication and citizen-centered public administration.