According to plainlanguage. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to train staff to use plain language when they communicate with. 1. Looking aheadThe Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Using plain language [3] helps agencies do this more. Accusatory use of you. The use of plain language is spreading in many areas of American culture. It’s not simplified language; it’s direct language that doesn’t contain any flair or fluff. ) Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communication from government. Plain language is useful for everyone, and crucial for users with language barriers and cognitive challenges. There are a variety of books, articles, videos, and journals that provide different perspectives on the value of plain language in areas as diverse as science, government regulation, and law. Explain the Federal Plain Language Guidelines. I do think there’s an obligation to recognize that if your goal is to inform the. CDC’s work aligns with the goals and strategies of the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy, CDC’s Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy and the federal Plain Writing Act. But they don’t want to take the time to decide which they mean, so they push the job off on the audience. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (PWA) [2] and Executive Order 13,563 [3] require agencies to use plain language in various public-facing documents. Writing that is legible and well-organized is far easier to understand than more traditional styles. 3. 2. Communicators must translate technical information into messages non-expert audiences can understand. ”. The law requires that federal agencies use clear government communication that the public can understand and use. Keep the reader in mind as you make decisions about organizing and formatting your health information. (the person, group or thing doing the action); (the action itself); and. A Plain Language Summary is an incredibly effective science communication tool that allows researchers to reach a wider audience by summarizing their work in terms that are accessible to people outside of a specific scientific circle. Your main goal is to convey your ideas with the greatest possible clarity. Plain Language. 420. He includes the following words in. Word choice is an important part of. Plain language works with. The Clarity Journal. Plain Language Tips & Examples Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand your message. uses “you” and other pronouns to speak to the reader. Reports and brochures. and compelling as any other type of language. Overview. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an online health literacy training for health professionals. A Plain Language Summary (also referred to as a lay summary in some subject areas) communicates the significance of scholarly and scientific research evidence to wide audiences in clear, jargon-free language. In short, you should always aim for clarity, readability, and brevity. PLAIN offers a variety of introductory classes on plain language. Learn how to use plain language in federal communications and access official writing guidelines, training materials, and examples. Short Definition of Plain Language. gov. One legal scholar calls abbreviations a “menace to prose” (Kimble, 2006). Plain language is clear, concise, and easily understood the first time someone reads or hears it. U. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: know what the audience wants and needs. Plain language works with whatever style you follow. A discipline that might eventually become known as ‘plain language studies’ is beginning to emerge through the collaboration of individual plain language proponents (plainers for short). This comprehensive plain language writing guide includes a definition, when to use it, tips for using it, and 10 examples of how to write in plain language. Plain-language documents are accessible and present information in a way that is easy to absorb. Use lists to help your user focus on important material. Plain-language summary (PLS) is a synopsis of research findings written in an easily understandable way, so that even lay audience would grasp the content. People think I can teach them style. Tommy Thompson, George W. Break documents into separate topics. Plain Language. Plain language summaries (PLS) are typically short synopses of peer-reviewed journal publications that simplify the complex. Using plain language on government websites is one of the best ways to reach your target audience. Established by the Secretary of Homeland Security, NIMS only requires plain language for mutual aid scenarios, though it strongly encourages the use of plain language during day-to-Plain language legal writing refers to legal writing that is well thought-out, well organized, and understandable to the client without interpretation: the language is clear, the legal concepts are explained and the technical terms are defined. In addition. You can see it in action right here! plain language. What is plain language? Communication with clear wording, structure, and design for the intended audience to easily: – find what they need. Writing in short, simple words doesn’t mean you are ‘dumbing down’ the message. Buffett from the SEC’s Plain English Handbook, 1998. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. It’s robust and direct—the opposite of gaudy, pretentious language. They are the most basic building blocks of written and spoken communication. If you have trouble understanding any documents or material on our websites, please contact PlainLanguage@hhs. Agencies earned grades between A and F for both. Words matter. We’ll train your managers as well. Pointing words – including this, that, these, those, and the – refer directly to something already mentioned. In 2008, the two main international umbrella organizations (Clarity and PLAIN) and the Center for Plain Language in the United States set up a. Plain Language Tips & Examples Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand your message. Thanks to internet sorcery, we can even take advantage of free tools to quickly gauge the reading level of our writing. This book shows you how to write for customers and clients in language that's easy to understand. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 into law on. But as these pages discuss, we still have a long. The Plain Language Act aims to make democracy more inclusive, especially for people with disabilities and those with lower levels of education. 10 Tips to Write in Plain Language. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Use Microsoft Word’s Readability Statistics feature—part of the Spelling & Grammar check—to measure your progress as you write and edit copy. It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. We offer free, half-day training classes for federal agencies. Find out about the Plain. gov for more guidance on using plain language. How to Apply Plain Language Techniques in Technical Documents. The American Bar Association passed this resolution advising federal agencies to write regulations in plain language. Use short lists and bullets to organize information. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Plain Language Resources. complete group discussion assignments (usually due Tuesdays and Fridays) spend about 2 hours per week on coursework. That's likely why readers across a wide variety of audiences prefer it, but plain style also has other benefits, like making documents more cost-effective and easier. Many of your high-level managers and. Plain language summaries (PLS) are summaries of scientific articles and congress abstracts written in easy-to-read, non-technical language . Learn how to apply plain language principles and best practices to your VA website content, and find resources and tools to help you write for your audience. Gains Momentum: 1940-2015,” Karen Schriver outlines the following: “Between 1940 and 1970, plain language focused mainly on readability. These summaries are intended for a broad and inclusive audience that encompasses. You can flip the cards. State your major point(s) first before going into details. Provides information about any federal government benefit or service. A word about “plain English. Making information less complex and more concise How we knew we needed a plain language program In 2010,. Join 1,990 Plain Language community members. The ability to communicate and explain research in plain language is a critical skill. gov. . $350–$930/course, not including textbooks. Plain language is good customer service and makes life easier for the public. You may use any of the. As Justice Clarence Thomas once said, the “beauty is not to write a five cent idea in a ten dollar sentence” but rather “to put a ten dollar idea in a five cent sentence. Jargon Madness is a plain language conversation starter that cuts across the organizational chart. Plain Language &. L. Join the national plain language movement. Many you have never heard before, and many you may have heard but don’t know their correct definition, spelling, or pronunciation. Write for your reader, not yourself. Even with regulations and the limits of publishing in the Code of Federal Regulations, you can use design elements to help users read and understand the information. In business, a message is only effective when it is understood. [10]Plain language, according to NIMS, is the use of common terms and definitions that can be understood by individuals from all responder disciplines. An old adage. S. It saves people and government time and money and improves the accessibility of your content. Plain language is writing that the intended audience can understand and act upon the first time they read it. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements. When you’re going to meet a friend at the airport, do you say, “If you fail to arrive by 5:00, I cannot pick you up,” or do. Plain English is clear, straightforward expression, using only as many words as are necessary. Plain Language Day is celebrated on 13 October each year. Originally called the Plain English Network, PLAIN has been meeting informally since the mid 1990s. Government has embraced plain language, and government agencies are revising written materials and websites to comply with plain language standards. It is important for scientists to use plain language not only to reach the public; but also to reach one another. Plain language guidelines and tips. Plain Language: Getting Started or Brushing Up. Learn more about the government’s plain language standard and find a checklist to help you in your projects. The National Library of Medicine provides bibliographies, sorted by year, citing many documents about health literacy. Writing in plain English and legal writing have the same goal: communicating complex ideas in a digestible and manageable form. Other areas where we see a push toward plain language include the sciences and the legal profession. . When we write in the negative, we place another stumbling block in audience’s way and make it more difficult for them to understand us. But plain language, which is often used interchangeably for plain English or plain writing, is not just best practice or common sense, it is also the law. Regulations. This. org and in the Cochrane Library in a range of languages. Plain Language Writing Act of 2010 The purpose of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 is “to improve the effectiveness and accountability of federal agencies to the public by promoting clear government communication that the public can understand and use. If your customers don’t understand your documents, you may have to: Answer phone calls. Plain language can be useful in an academic setting. ) written for the average reader. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. PLS concisely summarize technical content in simple, jargon-free language for ease of reading and improved understanding. Explain what plain language is and is not. If you have an update, please let us know at info@plainlanguage. Use plain words Don't use jargon or specialized language that your reader might not understand. For other groups, such as people living with dementia, learning new terms is not. Step 1: Identify and describe the target. But plain language, which is often used interchangeably for plain English or plain writing, is not just best practice or common sense, it is also the law. *You work through modules independently, but you must submit group. ” The phrase certainly shouldn’t connote drab and dreary language. Use even shorter paragraphs than on paper. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. The plain language version has found an audience outside the disability community, too. Being direct and plainspoken is not talking down. (2006). What is plain language? Plain language is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand communication. O. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. But they don’t want to take the time to decide which they mean, so they push the job off on the audience. O. Here are some examples of how using plain language can help clear up clarity problems caused by ambiguous wording. (If you’re writing for the web, here’s the web checklist . Making information less complex and more concise How we knew we needed a plain language program In 2010, most of our day-to-day communications with county residents were lengthy, overly complex, The Center for Plain Language is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit. This timeline is an abbreviated and updated version of A History of Plain Language in the Government by Joanne Locke. Plain language discharge letters written for real patients in the context of experience-based learning improved in quality, providing students with skills to work effectively in an environment where poor health literacy is prevalent. Demand. Refer to the reader as you, but not if it sounds accusatory or insulting. In others, such as when you’re writing a blog, you’ll soundMake a commitment. Communicators must translate technical information into messages non-expert audiences can understand. Plain language means just that: speaking in language that is clear and easy to understand. Plain Language in Sweden, the Results After 30 Years. organized to serve the reader’s needs. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Readers call less often for explanations. 71 Plain . For the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card, the judges focused on the main Coronavirus pages and the main Freedom of. This book is as helpful as it is entertaining. Executive Order 23-02 directs agencies to prioritize their most-viewed, public-facing materials. Plain Language Day is celebrated on 13 October each year. What stuff it all is!Help your readers quickly find what they need with these web writing tips: Less is more! Be concise. 1. org and in the Cochrane Library in a range of languages. That makes their writing ambiguous. Write for your reader, not yourself. To celebrate, we’re putting together a collection of 30 of the people who have kept the campaign thriving. Our Plain Language Partners. Use informative headings and subheadings if the document is lengthy? Use white space for easy scanning? Use lists and tables to simplify complex material? Download the PDF Use this checklist to see if your document meets plain language standards. Our biannual journal, The Clarity Journal, is the leading source of plain language news and research from across the globe. ”. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. is Peter (he is doing the watching); We will consider this matter shortly. PLAIN is dedicated to helping federal agencies train their staff to communicate clearly and develop their own plain language programs. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. If a document does not use people-first language, send it back to the writer and ask them to edit it to comply with the style guide. In 2021, the Civil Rights Division (CRT) provided Plain Language training both to the Civil Rights Division and to the Department at large. has useful headings. Plain language summaries are designed to be readily understood by anyone who is interested in the content of peer-reviewed research articles, be they specialists or non-specialists Citation 5, Citation 6. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Lists highlight a series of steps, requirements, or pieces of information in a visually clear way. Our first guest is Lynda Harris from New Zealand. Do your research. Plain Language has been a stylistic goal for all Federal Government communication since at least 2010, with passage of the The Plain Language Act. The second event will take place May 11-13, 2021 . Plain Language Act’s Objectives. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. Trump also intends to circumvent the 14th Amendment so that he can end birthright citizenship for the children of unauthorized immigrants. Plain Language at NIH. Christian Miller said that, internally, the plain language description of ProPublica resonated. Speakers address debunking myths, meeting varying audience’s needs,. Plain Language in Spoken Communication. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Writing and reference tools. If you have to use a specialized term, explain briefly what it means, in parentheses. Plain language, according to NIMS, is the use of common terms and definitions that can be understood by individuals from all responder disciplines. Readability is a strong ally in the quest for plain language—the more common and less complex a word, phrase, or. Target an 8th - 9th grade reading level. “And/or” is a classic example. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 promotes clear government communication that the public can understand and use. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. gov held two online workshops to explain how to write in plain language. All of these help users connect to the text and cue the user better than nouns do. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. Use this checklist to see if your document meets plain language standards. It . President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] on October 13, 2010. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. ”. If your preceding paragraph describes the process of strip mining, and your next paragraph begins with “this process causes…,” the word this makes a clear connection between paragraphs. ”The legal community is moving to a strong preference for “must” as the clearest way to express a requirement or obligation. Is necessary for obtaining any federal government benefit or service or filing taxes. 2 Crafting your materials with plain language principles. But in the process, he wasted at least 30 minutes of two senior executives’ time, not to mention subordinates’ and a consultant’s time. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 defines plain language as: Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. Too often, I’ve been unable to decipher just what is. This blog post is the first in a series of three—Plain Language Past and Present—that will showcase early efforts, including Gobbledygook Has Gotta Go, a 1996 pioneering book by Bureau of Land Management employee John O’Hayre. Testing your writing to make sure it’s clear to. everything plain language “p”. Replacing complex words with simpler words whenever possible lets your readers concentrate on your ideas and information. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of "dumbing down" or "talking down" to the reader. ClearMark Awards: The Center for Plain Language sets a high standard for clarity and simplicity in the documents created by North American companies, governments, and organizations. Sign up for our weekly health literacy updates. Indeed, scientific information conveyed in plain language invariable reaches. Writing Plain Language for Law (PLNL510) Plain Language in Health Literacy (PLNL520) Technical Writing and Editing (TCOM120) Copy Editing (EDIT210) Learning materials. It is also called plain English or plain writing. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. – use that information. While the Act does not cover regulations, three separate Executive Orders emphasize the need for plain language: E. determine if such treaties are becoming easier to read or if improvements are still needed. Legal Writing Institute Awards: Joe Kimble is chair of the Outreach Committee for the Legal Writing Institute’s Golden Pen Award. Learn how to use plain language in federal communications and access official writing guidelines, training materials, and examples. Magistrate Judge Allison Claire, a federal judge based in Sacramento, California, in a case called Muniz v. We need trainers to help us provide plain language training to government agencies. Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a plain language standard: ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines. As Justice Clarence Thomas once said, the “beauty is not to write a five cent idea in a ten dollar sentence” but rather “to put a ten dollar idea in a five cent sentence. Readers can do without archaic jargon such as “hereafter,” “heretofore,” and “therewith. Here are some examples, both historical and current. gov’s presentations and handouts after you become a trainer to create your own plain language training class and/or make your own educational materials based on your training materials and NIH’s plain language resources. First, lawyers regularly misuse it to mean something other than “has a duty to. Federal Plain Language Guidelines, March 2011, Rev. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communication from government. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. Some of that spilled over to Twitter: We also published this story in more accessible plain-language English, audio & Spanish. For regulations and other complex documents, create a comprehensive table of contents. We continue toOLYMPIA, Wash. Plain language is a more complex version of English and baby talk. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. ” Plain Talk makes it easier for people to read, understand, and use your communications or educational materials. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. Relax and be natural (but not too informal). You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. We aim to bring you timely information about the work of CDC and other organizations to improve health literacy. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of "dumbing down" or "talking down" to the reader. “And/or” is a classic example. Many SAGE journals now accept PLS and some have made them mandatory for all. PLAIN LANGUAGE •Kyra is autistic and deaf. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) brings together plain language supporters and practitioners from around the world. As an editor of technical, statistical reports, I see authors making a number of mistakes in approach, execution and English. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. 2. (2) WEBSITE. Plain language is a way of writing and presenting information that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. 5. What are Plain Language Summaries (PLS)? PLS sit after the academic abstract. ” Writing in plain. This guidance sets out the steps agencies should take to comply with the Plain Language Act 2022. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of "dumbing down" or "talking down" to the reader. The material available about plain language is. Plain language is a movement that started by simplifying unintelligible legal documents, and has now been embraced by governments and businesses around the world. Writing in Plain Language. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper—or keystroke to keyboard. What is plain language? Nowadays, we have a (fairly) robust understanding of what makes writing readable. It improves reading comprehension, accessibility, and ethical action. You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. gov. Here are five of my agency’s most common arguments for not writing in plain language: I got an A on these kinds of papers in graduate school. You achieve plain English when you use the simplest, most straightforward way of expressing an idea. Plain Writing and Clear Communications. Plain language also has the secondary benefit of potentially saving courts time and money. It’s especially important in letters to engage the reader by using pronouns. Learn what plain language is and how to write in plain language with best practices and examples. Ask if one of our experienced trainers is available for your agency. • Met with representatives from other agencies to discuss plain language procedures and best practices. By the mid-1980s, there was a widespread sense that plain-language advocates. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] on October 13, 2010. They point to an antecedent. 10 Plain Language While there was a time when many business documents were written in the third person to give them the impression of objectivity, this formal style was often passive and wordy. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. No. Plain language is a clear way of sharing information that people can understand the first time they read or hear it. Our mission PLAIN is the. clear or distinct to the eye or ear. choices at a 6th grade. According to the government's Plain Language. i. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. ”you get your message across more often, more easily and in a friendlier way. Plain language should be easy to read, understand and use. About 79% of users scan new pages they come across; only 16% read word-by-word. Plain language does not mean simplifying or dumbing down. The Plain Language Summary (PLS) should convey the same information as the Abstract but in a completely different language and tone. Pointing words – including this, that, these, those, and the – refer directly to something already mentioned. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communication from government. We have edited this list. Whether you call such writing the opposite of gobbledygook or legalese, or just sloppy work, you know. Ambiguous Wording Rewritten. Resources. This incident shows what an unnecessary time-waster non-plain language can be. It has 5 general areas to consider: audience and purpose, structure, design, expression, and. Complex topics can be clearly communicated with plain language without losing substance. They make fewer errors filling out forms. you get your message across more often, more easily and in a friendlier way. Take train-the-trainer bootcamp through plainlanguage. ”. Agencies are required to take steps to support their people to use plain language. Find out the benefits of plain language for different audiences and purposes, and explore the sources and resources on plain language from various. Cochrane Plain language summaries are freely available on cochrane. You can help us to meet our plain language goals by letting us know when we fall short. [9] For instance, the Plain Writing Act 2010 requires US federal agencies to use simple English in their documents so that they can be understood by everyone. These new website pages apply the task-focused approach and Plain Writing guidelines to encourage skimming, scanning, and selecting. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. And you were writing for a professor as your only reader. In 2008, the two main international umbrella organizations (Clarity and PLAIN) and the Center for Plain Language in the United States set up a. Here are 10 simple ways, with examples, to be plain. Author: Londell Buckson. Many famous writers, politicians, and others have commented over the centuries on the importance of writing clearly and briefly.