Language and Information Selection Testing

Given the nature of the CMA's role and responsibilities, our external communications are often very technical in content, making extensive use of economic, financial and legal terminology and phrasing. However, our communications are not intended to 'speak' only to expert and "big business" audiences; they also need to engage a wider range of 'lay' audiences across the UK such as members of the public (in their capacity as consumers of goods and services) and micro and small businessess (in their capacity as the providers of goods and services). This can result in a tension for our communications work between using language that lay audiences will perhaps find easier to understand and more engaging, whilst still ensuring that legal and other requirements are fully observed for the wider range of our stakeholders.