Content

  • Reviewers need to be able to quickly appreciate the importance of the topic that is being proposed e.g. there is a need or a deficiency in current treatment/technology.
  • Focus on the relevance, the application or the benefits, of your proposed research. Why is the work important?
  • The lay summary should try to outline what the research project is aiming to do. This ideally should include a summary of aims, background, design/ methods and dissemination (check with funding stream guidance on what is expected)

Style

  • Those reviewing your application in a peer review process are not necessarily experts in your topic area; it’s not only lay members of the panel that will find your lay summary useful.
  • Write simply and directly, think about the structure. The structure should assist in making the lay summary easy to read (e.g. bullet points, short paragraphs)
  • Avoid technical and scientific terms (or explain them in simple language)
  • Avoid acronyms and jargon. If you do use one of them explain it.
  • Avoid nominalizations e.g. change instances of ‘utilisation’ to ‘using’. Use Anglo Saxon words, rather than Latin derived words.
  • Don’t turn verbs into nouns. ‘She was engaged in the construction and installation of instruments.’ She built and installed instruments.
  • Short, simple sentences. Sentences should be less than 25 words long.
  • Don’t use a long word where a short one will do. Examples: endeavour… try, facilitate… help, consequently… so, advantageous… helpful.
  • Write as you would speak. Keep your language punchy, clear and colourful. (Imagine you are explaining your work to a stranger with no science background. Write down exactly what you would say and tidy up the punctuation later.)
  • Find someone who isn’t in your field to read over the summary. Get feedback on your draft from colleagues, supervisors, and at least one non‐specialist friend. See what questions they have and ask them to explain back to you what they thought you were communicating.

We provide a review service that gives researchers the opportunity to involve members of the public in the development of their plain English summary. The fast-track review service is made up of a panel of 14 lay reviewers who review drafts of plain English summaries. Each summary is seen by two lay reviewers who provide feedback (via email) within 7 days. Ask your RDS general adviser if you are interested in using the service. If you do not have an adviser you will need to submit a request for support form to be assigned one.