Plain language for Cochrane reviews: how to ensure your readers find what they need and understand what they find


In this web clinic, Denise Mitchell covered the general principles of writing in plain language applicable to the whole review, concentrating first on structure, moving on to style, and then, finally, language. The specific requirements of the Plain language summary was also covered. It was of interest to authors and editors.

The session was delivered in April 2024 and below you will find the videos from the webinar, together with the accompanying slides to download [PDF]. Recordings from other Methods Support Unit web clinics are available here

Part 1: Presentation
Part 2: Questions and answers


Presenter Bio

Denise Mitchell is a Senior Production Editor in Cochrane’s Publishing and Technology Directorate. Denise joined Cochrane in 2013 and has been a Cochrane copy editor since 2015. She was a plain language summary writer for the Plain Language Summary Project in 2020 to 2021 and is one of the authors of the plain language summary Guidance and Template in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.


Part 1: Presentation


Part 2: Questions and answers


Additional materials

Download the slides from the webinar [PDF]