ask vera easy read dictionary

1

Full of the Jargon you shouldn‟t use....

And the easy words you should use instead!

2

Abuse

Abuse is when someone treats you badly. This might be by hurting

you, or making you do something you don‟t want to do.

The person doing this to you might be someone who is

meant to care for you.

Types of Abuse

When someone hits you or hurts you, it is Physical abuse.

They might punch you, kick you or hurt you in another way.

Emotional abuse is when someone talks to you in a

horrible way, for example they might make fun of

you, swear at you, shout at you and make you feel

really bad.

It can also be when you are forced to do something

you do not want to do.

3

Accommodation: Somewhere you can stay. For

example it can be a hotel or somewhere you go

on holiday.

Or it can be somewhere you live in for longer. If

you pay rent for where you live, you are living in

rented accommodation.

Easier words: a place to stay, a place to sleep, somewhere to

live, your home

Acknowledge - This means when you let someone

know that they have been listened to. For example, if

you send a job application and they send you a letter

telling you they‟ve got it, this is called an acknowledgement.

Easier words: Letting someone know, thanking

someone, listening to someone

Acute Hospital – This is a hospital where they

have to treat people with a really serious illness

or disability.

If this term is used, it should be explained!

4

Advocacy - It means when you stand up for

someone or something you believe in.

Easier words: supporting someone, active support,

strong beliefs, and defending someone.

Agenda - This is when you write up a

plan for what you want to do. For

example an agenda for a meeting has a

list of what people will talk about.

Easier words: plan, listing something, list of things to do/talk

about, list of items, memo

Annual - An event that happens every year or once a

year.

Easier words: yearly event, this year‟s event, once a year

Attend - This means when someone goes to or turns up at an

event. For example when you attend an

interview or a meeting.

Easier words: going to something, turning up to

something,

5

Banquet this means when a lot of food is made

for a lot of people. This is usually for a big party

or event.

Easier words feast, big meal, lots of food, big party, spread

Beginning – the start of something. For

example a story has a beginning, middle and

an end.

Easier words start, first part, opening, introduction.

6

Benefit - This means when there is something that is

good for you.

For example a benefit of using Easy Read

information is that you could get more customers.

Benefit can also mean money that people get from

the government to help them.

One example is the Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disabled people can get this benefit if they need

help with personal care or have walking

difficulties.

Easier words: improve something, give you a better chance, help

you

7

Bereavement this means when someone is sad

after they lose something that is important to

them.

For example if a person has a friend or family

member who has died, they are suffering

bereavement

Easier words upset, sad, suffering, break down, missing

someone who‟s gone

Breach this means when you break or

separate from something. It can also mean

when you break a promise or break the law.

For example if somebody gave out information

that you wanted to keep secret this is called

breach of confidentiality.

Easier words break, separate, not keeping a promise

8

Commission - This means when someone is

chosen to do a certain job.

It can also mean work that you only get every so

often, instead of full-time.

Easier words: duty, an important job, in charge of something,

hiring someone, work placement

Commitment - This means making a promise

that you will definitely do something.

For example, a surgery would tell you they have a

commitment to provide you with the best medical

care and a high standard of service.

Easier words: making a promise, helping someone

9

Communicate - This means when you talk to

someone or get in touch with them. This could be

face-to-face, on the telephone, by email, or another way.

Easier words: get in touch with someone, talk, speak, contact,

pass on information

Complaint - This means when you have

something bad to say or something has happened

that you don‟t like.

For example if you bought a computer that did

not work, you could complain to the shop you got

it from.

Easier words: let someone know you‟re unhappy, telling

someone what you don‟t like, trying to take action when

something bad happens

10

Compliment - This means when you have

something good or positive to say about

something.

It is the opposite of a complaint.

For example, if you told a restaurant how good their

food was, you are giving them a compliment.

Easier words: let someone know you‟re happy, telling

someone what you like, showing respect, admiring

something, and saying how good something is.

Consent - This means giving permission,

someone has to agree to something.

For example if a doctor wants to give treatment to a

patient, they need the patient‟s consent.

Easier words: agreeing to something, saying something is

OK.

11

Consultation: A group of people get together

to talk about things and say what they think.

Easier words: asking people questions,

finding out things, researching

12

Discharge - This means when you are

well enough to leave the hospital.

If this term is used, it should be

explained!

Discrimination this means when someone is treated

badly or not treated fairly because they are different in

some way.

For example people with disabilities often suffer

discrimination.

People are also treated badly because of their religion.

13

People are also treated badly sometimes because of

their skin colour or the country they are from.

It can also be about if someone is a man or

woman, or how old they are.

It can also be because of something

someone believes in, or how someone

chooses to live their life.

Easier words bullying, being treated badly, not being respected,

leaving people out.

Discuss - This means when you talk

about something in detail.

Easier words: talking, speaking, letting someone know what

you think.

14

Dissatisfied - This means when you are not

happy with something. It is the opposite of

satisfied.

Easier words: not happy, unhappy, sad, upset, not pleased

Duplication: Is when you make another copy of

something. For example when you photocopy

something.

Easier words: making a copy of something,

making more than one of something.

15

Eligibility - This means whether you are able

to do something or not.

For example you might not be eligible for Disability

Benefit if you have a full time job.

Easier words: if you can do something, if you‟re allowed to do

something, if you‟re the right person

Enhance - This means when you make something

better.

Easier words: improve, make something better, increase

quality, and add to

16

Equality - This means when everyone is

treated the same.

For example it should not matter if a person has a

disability. If they are treated fairly this is Equality.

If someone with a disability is treated badly, this is

Inequality.

If these terms are used, they should be explained!

Establish - This means when

something is created or set up. For

example when a company first starts up,

they are being established. It can also mean when a fact or

statement is proven as right.

Easier words: set up, start up, open, build up, confirm.

17

Evaluation - This means looking over

something and trying to find out how

successful it has been.

Easier words: summing things up, judge, conclude, wrap

things up, reaching a decision

18

Facilitate - This means when a person starts up

something or is in charge of it, and tries to make it

easy.

For example if you facilitate something, you are

setting it in motion, and getting it started.

In the NHS, the term „Facilitator‟ is used for

someone who sorts out a patient‟s healthcare

and gives them treatment.

Easier words: make easy, help with, getting things started,

setting things in motion

19

Facsimile This is another word for sending a fax.

If this word is used it should be explained!

Favourable this means something

that‟s sounds really good or really

promising.

For example if it is a sunny day the weather is

favourable.

Or if you treat someone favourably it means you

might be treating them better than someone else.

Easier words good, promising, in your favour,

something that sounds good

20

GP (General Practitioner) – This is another name

for a Doctor.


Grievance This when someone feels they have been treated

wrongly. They might have a problem with something and want

to make a complaint.

To find out what complaint means go to page 9.

Easier words being treated unfairly, having a problem, having a

concern.

21

Head-hunting (business term) -

This means when a company is trying to find new

people to work for them. They want to find people

with lots of skills and who would be good for the

company.

Easier words: recruiting, searching, employing people

Hierarchy – This means when people are put into

some kind of order. For example the boss of a

company is at the top of the hierarchy.

The person at the top of the hierarchy is the one in

charge and is the most important.


22

Inclusion - This means being part of something,

to be included.

Easier words: taking part, to be allowed into a group, be a

part of something

“In confidence” - This means that when

someone is told something, they have to

promise not to tell anyone else.

For example, a doctor might not be allowed to say something

about a patient.

Easier words: keeping a secret, not telling anybody.

23

Independent – This means doing things for

yourself with not much help, and living your own

life.

Easier words: being in control, doing things by yourself,

happy, proud.

Initiate this means setting up something

or getting something started.

For example when a project has been

initiated, it means that it has just started.

Easier words setting up, getting things

ready, planning something, getting things

off the ground.

24

Integrate - This means to put something into

place. For example companies will sometimes

integrate new computer systems.

Easier words: put in place, set up, include

25

Jargon – This is something you should not use!

Also known as:

Gibberish

Gobbledygook

Mumbo jumbo

Drivel

Nonsense

Waffle

Difficult words

Hard to understand

Too many documents and letters use jargon.

26

This means they use words that are too long or too

complicated.

Use Easier Words instead!

This dictionary has examples.

If you use Easier Words, more people will be able to

understand!

27

Keynote – A „keynote‟ is the main part, or

the most important part of something.

This can be in a document, book or speech.

For example when a politician makes a keynote

speech, they will say what their main ideas are.

Easier words: main point, important part, main idea

28

Liaison - This means when different people or

groups are in contact with each other or work

together.

Easier words: working together, sharing ideas, talking

over things.

Literacy - This means the ability to read and

write.


explained!

29

Mandatory - This means something you have to

do or something that has to be done-you don‟t get a

choice.

For example if staff training is “mandatory”, you have to do it.

Easier words: something you have to do, has to be done.

Maximize -This means to make

something as high or great as possible.

For example if a company is “maximizing” their

profits it means they found a way to make lots

of money.

Easier words: Make something bigger, increase

30

Misconstrue - This means when you make a

mistake and do not understand something

properly.

Easier words: getting something wrong, not understanding

somebody.

Monitoring - This means keeping an eye on

someone or something and keeping track of

what‟s going on.

For example a doctor might have to monitor a person who has a

serious illness.

Easier words: checking over someone, keeping your eye

on them, looking after them

31

Nationality this means the country that you come

from or were born in.

For example people from Britain are of British

nationality.

Easier words country you come from, being a citizen of a

country.

Negative – This means when something is bad

or not very good.

Or if someone is being negative about something they

do not have much hope.

It is the opposite of being positive.

Easier words: bad, not very good, having bad feelings,

saying „no‟ to something

32

Neglect is when the person who is meant to be looking

after you doesn‟t do anything to help you, or leaves you

on your own for a long time.

It can mean they are not feeding you or keeping you

clean.

Easier words not being looked after, being left alone, not

being treated very well.

33

Outcome - This means the result of something that has

happened.

For example if a person makes a complaint the company will do

something about it – this is called an outcome.

Easier words: result, end of something, what happens,

conclusion

34

Participate this means when you take part

or are included in something.

For example if you go to a meeting and say

what you think, you are participating in it.

Easier words taking part, going to something, getting

involved.

Preparation: When you are ready to do something. For

example for when you are moving to a new home or

going on holiday.

Easier words getting ready, sorting things out, planning

35

Preventative - This means stopping

something from happening.

For example you can get “preventative

screening” at hospital that might help stop you

getting a disease or illness.

Easier words: stop, put a stop to, avoid, put off

Priority - This means the most important thing.

For example if someone has a list of things to do

the one that is most important will be their

priority. (It is more important than other things.)

Easier words: main thing, main concern, most important

36

Programme - A big event, it can also be a

big project where companies do research

and try and get information.

Easier words: big event, project

37

Qualitative - This means research about how

good something is, or the quality of it.

Quantitative – This means research about how many people feel, think or act in a certain way-it is about the number of people.

Questionnaire - This means a list of questions that you fill out answers for.

For example if you‟ve used a service they might give you a questionnaire to find out what you think.

If you use these terms, they should be explained!

38

Requirements – This means what someone needs.

For example a person in a wheelchair would

probably require a ramp or someone‟s help

to get into a building.

Easier words: what you need, have need of, expect to be

there

Responsibility – This means something that you have

to do or are expected to do.

For example Nurses have a responsibility to look

after their patients.

Easier words: job, duty, task, have to do, expected to do

39

Service users - These are people who

use a service, i.e. the general public.


explained!

Solution this means what you‟re trying to find

when solving a problem.

For example when you are tired, a good

night sleep is the best solution.

Easier words solve, sort out the problem, finding the answer,

resolve, getting the best result.

40

Statutory - A statutory organisation is one that has to be there,

by law.

Examples would be the Police and County/District/Borough

Councils.


41

Time scale- This means how long something

takes.

Easier words: expected time, how long it will take, period of

time

42

Unlawful this means when someone does

something that is against the law.

For example when someone steals another

person‟s property it is unlawful.

Easier words breaking the law, against the law.

43

Untoward – This means when something happens that is

unexpected or when something bad happens.

For example Councils often refer to:

“Serious Untoward Incidents”

These are incidents where people are attacked

or suffer abuse.


44

Volunteering – This means when

someone chooses to do something by

themselves.

For example voluntary work means working without getting paid.


Vulnerable - A person who might not be safe

and could get hurt. For example people with

disabilities could be vulnerable.

45

A vulnerable person could be:

Someone with a disability or a mental

health problem

Someone who is very ill

Older people

46

Wage earner – This means the person in a

house/family who works and earns money.


explained!

47

Xerography – This means when you

photocopy things.

You can use a photocopier to make more

copies of important documents and other

things.


48

Yardstick – This means how you measure

something, or how you compare things.

Here is an example of how this word is used:

„Test scores are not the only yardstick of academic

achievement‟.

This means that exams are not the only thing that

matter when you are at school or college.

There are other ways of measuring how

well a student is doing.


49

Zenith – This means the highest point of what

someone can achieve. It means the very best

they can do.

Easier words: doing your best, highest point, achieving,

excellence

ask vera easy read dictionary

Documents