Four rewrites of basic.* API pages in simple English.

docs/reference/basic/show-animation.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Show Animation
 
-Show a series of image frames on the [LED screen](/device/screen), pausing the specified time after each frame.
+Show a group of image frames (pictures) one after another on the [LED screen](/device/screen). It pauses the amount of time you tell it after each frame.
 
 ```sig
 basic.showAnimation(`
@@ -14,10 +14,14 @@ basic.showAnimation(`
 
 ### Parameters
 
-* `leds` - [String](/reference/types/string); a series of LED on/off states
-* `interval` - [Number](/reference/types/number); the number of milliseconds to pause after each image frame
+* `leds` is a [String](/reference/types/string) that shows which LEDs are on and off, in groups one after another.
+* `interval` is an optional [Number](/reference/types/number). It means the number of milliseconds to pause after each image frame.
 
-### Show a series of image frames
+### Example: Animating a group of image frames
+
+In this animation, each row is 15 spaces wide because
+there are three frames in the animation, and each frame is
+five spaces wide, just like the screen on the BBC micro:bit.
 
 ```
 basic.showAnimation(`
@@ -31,13 +35,17 @@ basic.showAnimation(`
 
 ### ~hint 
 
-If the series of images appear too fast, increase the value of the *interval* parameter.
+If the animation is too fast, make `interval` bigger.
 
 ### ~
 
-### Example: animating frames
+### Example: animating frames with a pause
 
-The following example creates an image with six frames and then shows each frame o the screen, pausing 500 milliseconds after each frame:
+This example shows six frames on the screen, pausing 500 milliseconds after each frame.
+
+In this animation, each row is 30 spaces wide because
+there are six frames in the animation, and each frame is
+five spaces wide, just like the screen.
 
 ```
 basic.showAnimation(`
@@ -51,7 +59,7 @@ basic.showAnimation(`
 
 ### ~hint 
 
-Use [forever](/reference/basic/forever) to continually repeat an animation
+Use [forever](/reference/basic/forever) to show an animation over and over.
 
 ### ~
 

docs/reference/basic/show-leds.md

@@ -15,12 +15,13 @@ basic.showLeds(`
 
 ### Parameters
 
-* ``leds`` - a series of LED on/off states that form an image (see steps below)
-* (optional) ``ms`` - [Number](/reference/types/number) - time to wait after displaying image. In blocks, ``ms`` is 400 by default.
+* `leds` is a [String](/reference/types/string) that shows which LEDs are on and off.
+* `ms` is an optional [Number](/reference/types/number) that shows how many milliseconds to wait after showing a picture.
+If you are programming with blocks, `ms` starts out as 400 milliseconds.
 
-### Example - Block Editor
+### Example
 
-1. Open the `basic` category and select the `show leds` blocks.
+Open the `basic` card in the Block Editor and select the `show leds` blocks.
 
 ```blocks
 basic.showLeds(`
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ basic.showLeds(`
 )
 ```
 
-In JavaScript, the led off is represented by a `.` and the led on by a `#` character.
+If you are programming in JavaScript, `#` means an LED that is turned on and `.` means an LED that is turned off.
 
 ### Lessons
 

docs/reference/basic/show-number.md

@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ basic.showNumber(2, 150)
 
 ### Parameters
 
-* **value** is a [Number](/reference/types/number).
-* **interval (ms)** is an optional [Number](/reference/types/number). It means the number of milliseconds before sliding the **value** left by one LED each time. Bigger intervals make the sliding slower.
+* `value` is a [Number](/reference/types/number).
+* `interval` is an optional [Number](/reference/types/number). It means the number of milliseconds before sliding the `value` left by one LED each time. Bigger intervals make the sliding slower.
 
 ### Examples:
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ To show the number 10:
 basic.showNumber(10)
 ~~~~
 
-To show the number stored in the `x` variable:
+To show the number stored in a variable:
 
 ~~~~blocks
 let x = 1
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
 
 ### Other show functions
 
-* use [show string](/reference/basic/show-string) to show a [String](/reference/types/string) with letters on the screen
-* use [show animation](/reference/basic/show-animation) to show a group of pictures on the screen, one after another
+* Use [show string](/reference/basic/show-string) to show a [String](/reference/types/string) with letters on the screen.
+* Use [show animation](/reference/basic/show-animation) to show a group of pictures on the screen, one after another.
 
 ### Lessons
 

docs/reference/basic/show-string.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Show String
 
-Show a string on the [LED screen](/device/screen) one character at a time (scrolling from left to right).
+Show a number on the [LED screen](/device/screen). It will slide left if it is bigger than the screen.
 
 ```sig
 basic.showString("Hello!")
@@ -8,18 +8,18 @@ basic.showString("Hello!")
 
 ### Parameters
 
-* `text` - a [String](/reference/types/string)
-* (optional) `ms` - [Number](/reference/types/number); the time (in milliseconds) before scrolling left by one LED; the larger the number, the slower the scroll
+* `text` is a [String](/reference/types/string). It can contain letters, numbers, and punctuation.
+* `ms` is an optional [Number](/reference/types/number). It means the number of milliseconds before sliding the [String](/reference/types/string) left by one LED each time. Bigger intervals make the sliding slower.
 
 ### Examples:
 
-To display Hello:
+To show the word **Hello**:
 
 ```blocks
 basic.showString("Hello")
 ```
 
-To display the content of a string variable:
+To show what is stored in a [String](/reference/types/string) variable:
 
 ```blocks
 let s = "Hi"
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ basic.showString(s)
 
 ### Other show functions
 
-* use [show number](/reference/basic/show-number) to show a number on the screen
-* use [show animation](/reference/basic/show-animation) to show a series of images on the screen
+* Use [show number](/reference/basic/show-number) to show a number on the [LED screen](/device/screen).
+* Use [show animation](/reference/basic/show-animation) to show a group of pictures on the screen, one after another.
 
 ### Lessons