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1885 improve the language on selected help pages with poor readability #1892

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1885 improve the language on selected help pages with poor readability #1892

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0df5766
language changes to improve readability from fairly difficult to plai…
HelenWDTK May 31, 2024
7f2d9a9
Update house_rules.html.erb
HelenWDTK Jun 11, 2024
158a344
Update requesting.html.erb
HelenWDTK Jun 16, 2024
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143 changes: 45 additions & 98 deletions lib/views/help/about.html.erb
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,119 +1,91 @@
<% @title = "About" %>
<%= render :partial => 'sidebar' %>
<%= render partial: 'sidebar' %>

<div id="left_column_flip" class="left_column_flip">
<h1 id="introduction">Introduction to WhatDoTheyKnow <a href="#introduction">#</a> </h1>
<h1 id="introduction">Introduction to WhatDoTheyKnow <a href="#introduction">#</a></h1>
<dl>
<dt id="purpose">
What is WhatDoTheyKnow for?
<a href="#purpose">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
<p>
Under the Freedom of Information Act, it’s everyone’s right to request
information from the UK Government and other UK public bodies.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, everyone has the right to request information from the UK Government and other UK public bodies.
</p>
<p>
WhatDoTheyKnow shows you how to make a Freedom of Information request and
access information about central government, local government, Parliament,
the NHS, the armed forces, state-funded schools and universities and other
public authorities.
WhatDoTheyKnow shows you how to make a Freedom of Information request. You can access information about central government, local government, Parliament, the NHS, the armed forces, state-funded schools and universities, and other public authorities.
</p>
<p>
You can also use the site to find out information that regulators hold
about businesses, charities and other organisations.
You can also use the site to find information that regulators hold about businesses, charities, and other organisations.
</p>
</dd>
<dt id="premise">How does the site work? <a href="#premise">#</a> </dt>
<dt id="premise">
How does the site work?
<a href="#premise">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
You choose the public authority that you would like information from, then
write a brief note describing what you want to know. We will then send your
request to the public authority. Both your request, and any response
received, are automatically published on the website for you and anyone
else to find and read.
Choose the public authority you want information from, then write a brief note describing what you want to know. We will send your request to the public authority. Your request and any response are automatically published on the website for anyone to find and read.
</dd>
<dt id="does_it_cost_money">Does it cost money to get an account on the site? <a href="#does_it_cost_money">#</a> </dt>
<dt id="does_it_cost_money">
Does it cost money to get an account on the site?
<a href="#does_it_cost_money">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
<p>No. You can create an account on the site for free. Once you have an account,
you can make up to ten freedom of information requests free of charge each day.
The ten a day limit is more than enough for almost all of our users.</p>
<p>We do offer a paid service for journalists and others who may need to make
a higher number of requests or have other special requirements.
The paid services is called <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/pro">WhatDoTheyKnow Pro</a>.</p>
<p>
No. You can create a free account on the site. Once you have an account, you can make up to ten free Freedom of Information requests each day. The ten-per-day limit is more than enough for almost all of our users.
</p>
<p>
We offer a paid service called <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/pro">WhatDoTheyKnow Pro</a> for journalists and others who may need to make more requests or have special requirements.
</p>
</dd>
<dt id="whybother_me">
Why would I bother to do this?
<a href="#whybother_me">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
<p>
Public bodies are funded by the public purse: you pay taxes, and then
government funds its activities with your money: all sorts of things
that affect your life, from health care through to national defence.
Some it does well, some it does badly.
Public bodies are funded using public money. Since it's your money that public bodies are spending, you might want to check that they are running efficiently, making good decisions, and doing their job.
</p>
<p>
Since it’s your money that public bodies are spending, you might be
interested to check that they are running efficiently, making good
decisions, and doing the job they are supposed to do.
</p>
<p>
The more we find out about how government works, the better able we are
to make suggestions to celebrate the things that are done well, and
improve the things that are done badly. Some people and organisations
use the site for research; others for journalism, campaigning or
awareness-raising. Some are simply curious.
The more we find out about how government works, the better we can suggest ways to improve things that are done badly and celebrate things done well. Some people use the site for research, journalism, campaigning, or raising awareness. Others are simply curious.
</p>
</dd>
<dt id="whybother_them">
Why would the public authority bother to reply?
<a href="#whybother_them">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
Under Freedom of Information (FOI) law, or sometimes other access to
information laws, public authorities have to respond. The response will
either contain the information you want, or give a legal reason why it
has not been provided.
Under Freedom of Information and other access to information laws, public authorities have to respond. The response will either contain the information you want or give a legal reason why it hasn't been provided.
</dd>
<dt id="useful">
Does useful information get released through the site?
<a href="#useful">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
Yes. Thousands of documents have been released through the site.
See also: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/20/freedom-of-information-foi">366
Interesting things that we know because of WhatDoTheyKnow</a>.
Yes. Thousands of documents have been released through the site. See also: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/20/freedom-of-information-foi">366 Interesting things that we know because of WhatDoTheyKnow</a>.
</dd>
<dt id="reporting">
What if I see a request I feel to be inappropriate?
<a href="#reporting">#</a></dt>
What if I see a request I feel is inappropriate?
<a href="#reporting">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
<p>
Requests for personal information and vexatious requests are not
considered valid for FOI purposes. See our <a href="<%=
help_house_rules_path %>">House Rules</a> for more
information on how we expect people to use this site.
Requests for personal information and vexatious requests are not considered valid for FOI purposes. See our <a href="<%= help_house_rules_path %>">House Rules</a> for more on how we expect people to use this site.
</p>
<p>
If you believe a request is not suitable, you can report it for
attention by the site administrators.
If you believe a request is not suitable, you can report it for attention by the site administrators.
</p>
</dd>
<dt id="reporting_unavailable">
Why are there some requests I can’t report?
Why are there some requests I can't report?
<a href="#reporting_unavailable">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
<p>
If a request has already been reported to the site administrators, you
can’t report it a second time - this is to prevent the administrators
being notified multiple times about the same issue before they’ve had
a chance to conduct a review.
If a request has already been reported to the site administrators, you can't report it a second time. This prevents the administrators from being notified multiple times about the same issue before they've had a chance to review it.
</p>
<p>
Where a request that you think should be taken down has been previously
reported, but a decision has been made not to remove it from public
view, you can use the form in the sidebar of the request page to contact
the administrators.
If you think a request that's been previously reported should be taken down, but a decision has been made not to remove it from public view, you can use the form in the sidebar of the request page to contact the administrators.
</p>
</dd>
<dt id="how_many">
Expand All @@ -122,66 +94,41 @@
</dt>
<dd>
<p>
We have over <%= number_with_delimiter(User.count.round(-4), :locale => @locale) %>
registered users and around 15% to 20% of requests to UK Central
Government are made through WhatDoTheyKnow.
We have over <%= number_with_delimiter(User.count.round(-4), locale: @locale) %> registered users. Around 15% to 20% of requests to UK Central Government are made through WhatDoTheyKnow.
</p>
<p>
But that’s just the people who request information. Most visitors to our
website don’t make requests themselves, but benefit from being able to
access information that’s held in the requests and responses of others.
Around six million people per year visit the site.
But that's just the people who request information. Most visitors to our site don't make requests themselves. They benefit from being able to access information in the requests and responses of others. Around six million people per year visit the site.
</p>
</dd>
<dt id="who">Who makes WhatDoTheyKnow? <a href="#who">#</a> </dt>
<dt id="who">
Who makes WhatDoTheyKnow?
<a href="#who">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
<p>
WhatDoTheyKnow is run and maintained by
<a href="http://www.mysociety.org/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link">mySociety</a>.
mySociety is a registered charity in England and Wales (no.
<a href="https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3078648">
1076346</a>).
mySociety is also a limited company registered in England and Wales (no.
<a href="http://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/03277032">03277032</a>)
and a registered data controller (no.
<a href="https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Entry/Z9602302">Z9602302</a>).
The <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/structure-and-governance/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link">
mySociety trustees</a> form the governing body of the charity
and are ultimately responsible for controlling the management and
administration of the charity. mySociety’s registered
office is mySociety, 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4BS.
<a href="http://www.mysociety.org/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link">mySociety</a> runs and maintains WhatDoTheyKnow. mySociety is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. <a href="https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3078648">1076346</a>). mySociety is also a limited company registered in England and Wales (no. <a href="http://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/03277032">03277032</a>) and a registered data controller (no. <a href="https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Entry/Z9602302">Z9602302</a>). The <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/structure-and-governance/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link">mySociety trustees</a> form the governing body of the charity and are ultimately responsible for controlling the management and administration of the charity. mySociety's registered office is mySociety, 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4BS.
</p>
<p>
mySociety is not a public body.
</p>
<p>
The site was initially
<a href="http://www.mysociety.org/2006/12/06/funding-for-freedom-of-information/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link">
funded by the JRSST Charitable Trust</a>.
The <a href="http://www.mysociety.org/2006/12/06/funding-for-freedom-of-information/?utm_source=whatdotheyknow.com&utm_medium=link">JRSST Charitable Trust initially funded the site</a>.
</p>
<p>
If you like what we’re doing, then you can
<%= link_to 'make a donation', donation_url(
utm_campaign: 'wdtk-help', utm_content: 'about-who-makes-wdtk'
) %>.
If you like what we're doing, you can <%= link_to 'make a donation', donation_url(utm_campaign: 'wdtk-help', utm_content: 'about-who-makes-wdtk') %>.
</p>
</dd>
<dt id="updates">
How can I keep up with news about WhatDoTheyKnow?
<a href="#updates">#</a>
</dt>
<dd>
We have a <a href="<%= blog_path %>">blog</a> and we’re on
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/whatdotheyknowcom/">Facebook</a> and
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/whatdotheyknow">Twitter</a> too.
We have a <a href="<%= blog_path %>">blog</a> and we're on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whatdotheyknowcom/">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/whatdotheyknow">Twitter</a> too.
</dd>
</dl>
<p>
<strong>Next</strong>, read about
<a href="<%= help_requesting_path %>">making requests</a> --&gt;
<strong>Next</strong>, read about <a href="<%= help_requesting_path %>">making requests</a> --&gt;
</p>

<%= render partial: 'history' %>

<div id="hash_link_padding"></div>
</div>
</div>
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