Easy to read, easy to understand and easy to use, plain language—plain English— lands your organization in the users’ world. (If you’re writing for the web, here’s the web checklist . As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Read more to see how plain language can be as . gov. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. Avoid Overly Complicated Language. We’re accustomed to thinking and speaking positively. For the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card, the judges focused on the main Coronavirus pages and the main Freedom of. – understand what they find. Use plain language in any new or substantially revised document . The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. " The January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government also highlights the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Too many complex words are like hurdles in a race, barriers to understanding which slows readers down. T. Use lists. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. English is the richest language, often having five words for a concept, while many have two. What federal law requires of us We must use plain language so you can understand: Our benefits and services and how to get them How to file taxes when you receive our benefits or services How to comply with our. During the 1970s, some practitioners began to employ usability testing. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper — or keystroke to keyboard. Write in the active voice. To provide an opportunity for public feedback, we created the CMS Plain Language . plain talk. 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. Outline other rules related to word. 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. 3. Our biannual journal, The Clarity Journal, is the leading source of plain language news and research from across the globe. Communicators must translate technical information into messages non-expert audiences can understand. $75 program application fee. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step toward political. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. a plain trail to the river. Identify their top tasks. choices at a 6th grade. In general. People think I can teach them style. 111-274) defines plain writing as: “writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field. 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. It’s especially important in letters to engage the reader by using pronouns. Readers call less often for explanations. org and in the Cochrane Library in a range of languages. Learn what plain language is and how to write in plain language with best practices and examples. The Plain Language Bill is a Member’s bill in the name of Rachel Boyack MP. Tommy Thompson, George W. For regulations and other complex documents, create a comprehensive table of contents. Chunked content: Don’t try to pack everything into long paragraphs. The Plain English Campaign is an independent pressure group fighting for public information to be written in plain English. Since legalese takes longer to draft, read, and understand, it often falls short of the drafter’s primary goal of precision. The first rule of plain language is: write for your audience. Keep it Short. The legal community is moving to a strong preference for “must” as the clearest way to express a requirement or obligation. Like: Do not use like as a conjunction when writing; use it as a preposition. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information. In the past, Trump has. Rule begins with a useful overview that orients the reader to this complex but well-organized material. The journal features the latest plain language research, practical advice, before-and-after examples, success stories, campaign strategies and much more. This is crucial. In the U. Our growing network includes members from over 30 countries working in clear communication in at least 15 languages. Write annual compliance reports and post these reports on its plain language web page. • the importance of using plain language; • best practices and helpful tips; • leadership’s interest in and support of plain writing; and • training opportunities (within and outside of the Department). This guidance sets out the steps agencies should take to comply with the Plain Language Act 2022. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. It is. ) written for the average reader. gov. Use this checklist to see if your document meets plain language standards. Businesses such as banks, insurance companies, law firms, legal services and IT companies use plain language to communicate with customers. Complex and Abstract Words. Plain language is the key to effective communication, allowing you to get the most important information to the right people as clearly and as effectively as possible. Plain Language Materials & Resources. Help the reader understand the order in which things happen. Be prepared to educate and learn along the way. But they don’t want to take the time to decide which they mean, so they push the job off on the audience. Documents that must use plain language. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Plain Language Training Resources . The point is that the process is reversible. It often needs an extra verb to make sense. Checklist for Plain Language. (link is external) Everyday Words for Public Health Communication. Testing your writing to make sure it’s clear to. Your professor was likely smarter than you were. Tip: Where possible, choose a simple word or phrase over a complex one. We at the Department of Health and Human Services are committed to writing all of our new documents in plain language, starting. They are the most basic building blocks of written and spoken communication. 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 is specifically relevant in stories that are about disability or intellectual disability, but I think that it should happen in other stories too because people with intellectual disabilities have interests in things that aren’t just disabilities. While plain language won’t solve every public health communication challenge, all health communications can be made more efective by communicating plainly. You’ll also develop a sensitivity to the issues of literacy and work toward. Plain Language. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. A great deal of research connected to the Center for Civic Design has well established the design/plain language relationship through effective voting ballots. A word about “plain English. Using plain language can advance health literacy, build trust in your organization as a source of information, and promote overall community health. Try to make your reading ease number go up and. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. It . 1. All of our classes are based on the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and involve interactive writing exercises. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. In a user’s manual, people are trying to do tasks—actions. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of "dumbing down" or "talking down" to the reader. Our five-step checklist will guide you through the plain language process and help you develop content that’s right for your organization. This definition of plain language is ‘reader-based’ and not [a] ‘text-based’ analysis of a writing style. (the person, group or thing that the action is done to). Plain language should be easy to read, understand and use. The bill would create plain language requirements including:Tuesday, October 27, 2020 10:00 AM – 4:15 PM ET. Learn the definition, guidelines, purposes, and examples of plain language. Use short sentences: aim for an average word count of 20. Since legalese takes longer to draft, read, and understand, it often falls short of the drafter’s primary goal of precision. 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. 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. The title, authors, affiliations, key points, keywords, text in tables (but not captions) and references are excluded from word counts. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. Replacing complex words with simpler words whenever possible lets your readers concentrate on your ideas and information. Plain language is useful for everyone, and crucial for users with language barriers and cognitive challenges. Join 1,990 Plain Language community members. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. We’ll use plenty of before-and-after examples. 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. To celebrate, we’re putting together a collection of 30 of the people who have kept the campaign thriving. Plain language can be useful in an academic setting. The Plain Language and Multilingual communities share a goal of achieving more effective communication. Right of use means any authorization issued under this part that allows use of Outer Continental Shelf lands. Guidelines for writing PLSs have been developed and empirical research on PLSs has been conducted, but terminology and research approaches in this comparatively young field vary considerably. A guide for plain language technical writing. Plain language is clear, concise, and easily understood the first time someone reads or hears it. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. In this 4-week online training, you will: complete 4 modules (1 module each week) be assigned to a small group. Select the most appropriate. The analysis outlined above is the first step before creating programs and platforms forA clear, simple summary written in plain language helps people to understand complex health evidence. Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a plain language standard: ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines. And best practices for a patient audience include keeping content between a 6. 5. Thompson illustrates just how helpful they can be. Communicating Research Intent and Value in NIH Applications. Relax and be natural (but not too informal). 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. How to Apply Plain Language Techniques in Technical Documents. 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. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Although NIMS guidance only requires plain language use in mutual aid events, the wayThe Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires agencies to train their staff in plain language. A study of how users with lower literacy skills read and navigate on the web, for example, found that even users with graduate degrees completed tasks faster when language was simplified. Legalese versus plain language by Peter Butt Legal English has traditionally been a special variety of English. The Act does not cover regulations. They are emerging as a valuable addition to scientific publications because they have the potential to increase the understanding of scientific data, by making complex information more accessible to wider. We hope you enjoy this post. § Plain language has evolved significantly over the past 75 years—from a focus on crafting clear sentences to creating effective multimedia, electronic, or paper communications. Author: Londell Buckson. Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized. We offer free, half-day training classes for federal agencies. Explain what plain language is and is not. In her literature review “ Plain Language in the U. Agency programs and contacts. The plain language definition states, at its core, that plain language is easily and quickly understandable. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. The Definitive Plain Language Writing Guide. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Just because someone can read instructions written at a grade 14 level doesn’t mean they. Using plain and clear language helps your audience read, understand and use the information you are giving them. It is also called plain English or plain writing. S. Use short lists and bullets to organize information. Pointing words – including this, that, these, those, and the – refer directly to something already mentioned. Writing in short, simple words doesn’t mean you are ‘dumbing down’ the message. Readers can do without archaic jargon such as “hereafter,” “heretofore,” and “therewith. What’s plain language? Plain language is a writing technique that prioritizes simple words and straightforward sentence structures. gov explains how to write in plain language. Plain Language. Thanks to internet sorcery, we can even take advantage of free tools to quickly gauge the reading level of our writing. USA. Rep. How to Use this Guide In this guide. Sign up for our weekly health literacy updates. In “The Effectiveness of Plain Language” study, readers judged the plain language samples as “well-written” 64% of the time and “well-organized” 66% of the time (compared to 48% and 49. Take train-the-trainer bootcamp through plainlanguage. 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. Readers call less often for explanations. This book is as helpful as it is entertaining. 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. Help readers skim and scan. The English language allows many ways to. Support for plain-writing is growing in the legal professions, which bring us some of our best and most varied examples of plain-writing. In 2021, the Civil Rights Division (CRT) provided Plain Language training both to the Civil Rights Division and to the Department at large. Agency programs and contacts. (Active)Using plain and clear language helps your audience read, understand and use the information you are giving them. Put the most important information at the top and the background at the bottom. feedback form posted on the page. The Act was signed in October 2010, but some federal agencies have been promoting the use of plain language for years. The law requires federal agencies to. You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. Pointing words. This page describes how to write in plain language, in these areas: Replace verb-noun phrases and wordy phrases with more precise words; Choose the best word (synonym) with a thesaurus; Use pronouns correctly. For this 10th anniversary, we evaluated 21 Executive Branch agencies, including all 15 cabinet-level departments. 420. Principles of Plain Language (PPTX), our original plain language class; Plain Language and Writing for the Web (PPTX), based on Principles, but with a web focusPfizer began sharing study results in plain language with the general public in May 2021, and people can expect to see more and more of it in the future. Provides information about any federal government benefit or service. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Plain language is a clear way of sharing information that people can understand the first time they read or hear it. Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and. To learn more about plain language, read the 12 Plain Language tips accessible only on the Government of Canada network) and contact the Plain Language Community of. 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. . ”the Plain Language Movement, legal language, and rhetoric, and 3. Steps to success 1. It’s robust and direct—the opposite of gaudy, pretentious language. Write it into contracts to require any vendors and contractors to follow the plain language, people-first style. Visit plainlanguage. It aims to improve the effectiveness and accountability of the public service by requiring communications to be clear and accessible to the public. It makes writing easy to read for more people. Plain language is a communication that is clear, simple, and easy to understand. Rather, by choosing straightforward vocabulary and sentence structures and by organizing and presenting your material. That doesn’t mean that you should put your letter in passive voice. “It’s not easily understood. Review plain language guidelines for using verbs, nouns, and pronouns. Hosted by Digital. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. Follow established web-writing guidelines to maximize readability. But as these pages discuss, we still have a long. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 was signed on October 13, 2010. uses short sections and short sentences. Think through the questions your users likely have and then organize the material in a logical order. We continue toListen as they highlight plain language successes. Here are some examples of how using plain language can help clear up clarity problems caused by ambiguous wording. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: know what the audience wants and needs. Word choice is an important part of. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. When people understand messages quickly and fully, there will usually be less confusion, less need for re-explanation, and fewer mistakes. ) Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. Unfortunately, posting too many PDFs can work against your goal of retaining users. 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. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. 1 This tool aims to support a systematic review of your material to ensure it follows plain language guidance and meets the needs Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. They concluded that the organization did not have a true process or standard for communication, and as a result implemented plain language as the standard. to explain the importance of the Plain Writing Act and outline CMS’ commitment to full compliance with the Act. Christian Miller said that, internally, the plain language description of ProPublica resonated. Write explanatory letters. A challenge in writing plain language summaries is to avoid oversimplifying terms or concepts, which can lead to content that is misleading or inaccurate, or that. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. – use that information. Originally called the Plain English Network, PLAIN has been meeting informally since the mid 1990s. Whether or not there is a government-wide mandate to use plain language as government leaders come and go, the initiative has taken hold. Following a successful presentation to STC Phoenix on Plain Language and Simplified Technical English, NAU Senior Lecturer Erika Konrad and alumna Karen Field Carroll joined TechWhirl for a Fast 5 discussion on what’s happening with these two global trends, and how they can impact tech comm and other content professionals. Download the 2021 Report Card. Using Plain language: In general, keep language. [10]Plain language, according to NIMS, is the use of common terms and definitions that can be understood by individuals from all responder disciplines. Plain Language Summaries. in writing programs to identify reading level. Although plain language is a familiar idea, many organizations don’t use it as often as they should. 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 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. agenda (unless you’re talking about a meeting) advancing; collaborate (use working with) combating (use working against or fighting) Plain language can be understood the first time it is read or heard. Why Use Plain Language? Download Why Use Plain Language? [PDF - 12. to make one's meaning plain. The National Library of Medicine provides bibliographies, sorted by year, citing many documents about health literacy. gov and the Plain Language Community of Practice. Plain language is a more complex version of English and baby talk. Plain Language Tips & Examples Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand your message. Abstract. Write for your reader, not yourself. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper—or keystroke to keyboard. Plain language is a way of writing that makes the message easy to read, understand, and act upon by the intended audience. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to write "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: know what the audience wants and needs. Plain Language Day is celebrated on 13 October each year. It offers. Resist the urge to sound formal. Executive Order 23-02 directs agencies to prioritize their most-viewed, public-facing materials. Additional plain language history is covered in Plain Language in the U. that’s understandable and direct. Plain language allows the reader to locate, understand, and act on the information presented. Plain language also has the secondary benefit of potentially saving courts time and money. 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. (the person, group or thing that the action is done to). The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. This book shows you how to write for customers and clients in language that's easy to understand. Plain English writing style. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Agencies earned grades between A and F for both organizational compliance. The Plain Language Action and Information Network defines plain language, also called plain writing or plain English as “communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN. They concluded that the organization did not have a true process or standard for. Actually, plain English is typically quite interesting to read. § Research tells us that most readability formulas are. According to plainlanguage. Plain language movements originated in the 1970s in several countries, including the UK, US and Canada. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. " SAMHSA. Legal Writing Institute Awards: Joe Kimble is chair of the Outreach Committee for the Legal Writing Institute’s Golden Pen Award. Think through the questions your users likely have and then organize the material in a logical order. 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. By itself, plain language could not have completely alleviated the. Lists are useful because they: Highlight levels of importance. They make fewer errors filling out forms. It should summarize your scientific study, its results, and their broader relevance without using jargon so that it is understandable by scientists from outside of your discipline, as well as science journalists. Building and sustaining a culture of plain language – Hennepin County, Minnesota. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements. Language allows us to communicate our ideas and thoughts. Plain English is clear, straightforward expression, using only as many words as are necessary. When people understand what they read, they need fewer explanations and make fewer mistakes. Lists highlight a series of steps, requirements, or pieces of information in a visually clear way. The dissatisfaction with legalese sparked the Plain Language Movement in. 6. They make fewer errors filling out forms. Next, against the background of the. read more. 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. (the person, group or thing doing the action); (the action itself); and. She was very small when she was born. Adopting plain language in the workplace is sometimes perceived as overly complicated or not really necessary. Federal Plain Language Guidelines, March 2011, Rev. When you communicate with the public and other partners, it is best practice to use Plain Language or “Plain Talk. This page last reviewed on. . Plain language is writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly, easily, and completely as possible. We provide a free half-day introduction to plain language to federal agencies. S. The materials are similar in both. Also called plain language . As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Plain Language in Spoken Communication. 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. Plain-language research also necessarily intersects with design (Mazur, 2000). The opposite of plain English goes by various names: bureaucratese,. Plain Language Summaries (PLS) provide a summary of an article in non-technical, jargon-free language that is understandable to non-specialist audiences. Plain language writing and design ensures information is concise, inclusive and easy to understand. Wednesday, August 24, 2022 10:30 AM – 3:45 PM ET. Plain language is one element of clear communication. Describe how writers should handle multiple audiences. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 defines plain language as: . You may use these materials as the basis of your own class. You can flip the cards. Plain Language. Plain language is a necessary—but not the only—requirement in complex communication situations. Watch on. This timeline is an abbreviated and updated version of A History of Plain Language in the Government by Joanne Locke. The loosely organized campaign to encourage legal writers and business writers to write clearly and concisely – without legalese – while preserving. Plain Language: Getting Started or Brushing Up. Find out about the Plain Writing Act, policy memos, and executive orders that require agencies to use plain language. The plain language version has found an audience outside the disability community, too. “And/or” is a classic example. The Clarity Journal is distributed free to. Plain language is also known as clear language. According to the government's Plain Language. You may use any of the content on this site without. Using plain language can help workplaces communicate. Take train-the-trainer bootcamp through plainlanguage. Plain Writing and Clear Communications. Tip: Where possible, choose a simple word or phrase over a complex one. This handbook and Chairman Levitt’s whole drive to encourage “plain English” in disclosure documents, are good news for me. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. means you are communicating with your audience in a way . Bibliographic resources about health literacy. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Your table of contents should be a reliable roadmap that users can follow to quickly find what they need. We also continue to work to ensure plain writing is used in public communications related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. These principles are based on the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and tailored for regulations. Use this checklist to see if your document meets plain language standards. organized to serve the reader’s needs. It means you are communicating your important and complex ideas. Speech given to 600 high-level Mexican public servants at the launching plain language conference Lenguaje ciudadano on the 5th of October 2004. The second event will take place May 11-13, 2021 . Building and sustaining a culture of plain language – Hennepin County, Minnesota. What is plain language? Nowadays, we have a (fairly) robust understanding of what makes writing readable. This can be hard in healthcare where medical terminology and acronyms prevail. ” Plain language style involves everyday words and. Many famous writers, politicians, and others have commented over the centuries on the importance of writing clearly and briefly. Find out the benefits of plain language for different audiences and purposes, and explore the sources and resources on plain language from various experts and organizations. Before you even begin the writing process, take a step back and make sure you’re aware of what message. WHAT IS PLAIN LANGUAGE? Plain language (also known as plain English) is a way of writing or presenting information so that readers can understand it quickly and easily. Plain language is clearer. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. 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. Plain language is good customer service and makes life easier for the public. The Definitive Plain Language Writing Guide. Don’t complicate things by using jargon, technical terms, or abbreviations that people won’t understand. 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. Use plain language. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an online health literacy training for health professionals. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. 10 Tips to Write in Plain Language. This website consists of five sections and a checklist you can print. Plain language strategy #2: We make shorter. Plain language is information that readers can understand the first time they read it and use easily.