Plain Language Summaries

In recent years, there have been calls to make scholarly articles more accessible to non-specialist audiences. Research has always helped shape the public realm, empowering people across all sectors of society to make informed decisions. Academic or topic-specific jargon can hinder the general understanding and impact of such publications, which is where Plain Language Summaries (PLS) or Plain Language Summaries of Publications (PLS-P) can be very helpful.

Plain Language Summaries (PLS) are extensions to the academic abstract of a scholarly article. They provide a clear summary of the article using non-technical language, making it accessible to a wider network of readers.

Plain Language Summaries of Publications (PLS-Ps) are full, standalone, peer-reviewed articles summarising a previously published article in approachable, non-technical language.
If you are interested in submitting a PLS-P, please get in touch with Hamish McDougall (Hamish.McDougall@sagepub.co.uk) for more information.

Seeking professional support in creating a Plain Language Summary? Learn more about Sage Author Services.