Writing for the disadvantaged reader

Electrical engineers usually write professionally for both other engineers and the general public. Within both of these groups are disadvantaged readers. Disadvantaged readers include natives of countries where the primary language is other than English, prelingually deaf persons, and persons with alexia, aphasia, dyslexia and schizophrenia. This paper briefly reviews the syntax of English and recommends that subjects and verbs be kept in close proximity, that the number of clauses and words in sentences be limited, that optional words (that are often omitted) be included, and that words be placed in logical order. It further recommends that engineering writers use simple words rather than more complex ones, explain words in text, avoid slang, metaphors and jargon, and nominalization verbs