The Plain English Campaign has just released a JavaScript-based application called Drivel Defence.

The authors of the application allege that it will help authors assess their writing for Plain English as part of a general effort to improve accessibility. The idea is that you cut and paste your ‘drivel’ from a Word document or web site into the applet and you will get an analysis of words per sentence, average sentence length and the longest sentence.

There are two options for download:

Drivel Defence for Text. This allows you to check text by copying it from any software or document. It’s ideal for letters or reports.

Drivel Defence for Web. This is a tool specifically to help website developers check whether the content of web pages is in plain English.

Right – so where shall I start? I think maybe the HMRC website is as good a place as any. I may at last be able to have a version of the self-assesment form that I can understand!