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. Choose your words carefully and be consistent in your writing style. On the six cards below, learn. It helps readers access and use the content without confusion, frustration, or extra. We believe that using plain language saves government agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. The Plain Language Act aims to make democracy more inclusive, especially for people with disabilities and those with lower levels of education. The Clarity Journal is distributed free to. Plain language also has the secondary benefit of potentially saving courts time and money. Plain language movements originated in the 1970s in several countries, including the UK, US and Canada. Plain language is grammatically correct language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. gov. 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. Write for your reader, not yourself. Words to avoid. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. 8-11-2020 workshop and 9-10-2020 workshop. For more than forty years, I’ve studied the documents that public companies file. Mysterious in form and expression, it is larded with law-Latin and Norman-French, heavily dependent on the past, and unashamedly archaic. Plain Writing and Clear Communications. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. This is the 11th time the Center for Plain Language has issued a yearly Report Card evaluating how well agencies follow the Plain Writing Act. Christian Miller said that, internally, the plain language description of ProPublica resonated. Plain language lists can help spot problem words and consider alternatives, but keep in mind that plain language is more than just a list of words to avoid—it’s a way of writing. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper—or keystroke to keyboard. Use even more lists than on paper. O. Review plain language guidelines for using verbs, nouns, and pronouns. • Developed a Plain Language Matrix to document related tasks and steps to begin operationalizing our plain language. It aims to improve the effectiveness and accountability of the public service by requiring communications to be clear and accessible to the public. Take train-the-trainer bootcamp through plainlanguage. Plain Language at NIH. Before. • Met with representatives from other agencies to discuss plain language procedures and best practices. Plain language, according to NIMS, is the use of common terms and definitions that can be understood by individuals from all responder disciplines. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. That doesn’t mean that you should put your letter in passive voice. During the 1970s, some practitioners began to employ usability testing. Professor Joseph Kimble (2006), a noted scholar on legal writing, warns that we should avoid words and formalisms that give legal writing its musty smell. O. 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. Designing for reading is an important part of developing effective communications. Documents that must use plain language. Pointing words – including this, that, these, those, and the – refer directly to something already mentioned. Writing that is clear and to the point helps improve communication and takes less time to read and understand. It is intended to make government communications. (the person, group or thing that the action is done to). 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 at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) are committed to improving our service to you by writing in plain language. ”. It makes writing easy to read for more people. Readers call less often for explanations. readability statistics. They point to an antecedent. On August 24, 2022, the Plain Language Community of Practice (CoP) will bring together federal employees to highlight plain language successes in many federal agencies at all stages of the communications journey. Write in active voice. Replace verb-noun phrases and wordy phrases with more precise words. These are valuable to a range of readers, including patients, patient advocates, the general public, non-specialist clinicians, research scientists, decision-makers. On June 1, 1998, President Clinton issued an executive memo. 5: Plain Language. (the person, group or thing doing the action); (the action itself); and. Many you have never heard before, and many you may have heard but don’t know their correct definition, spelling, or pronunciation. Use plain words Don't use jargon or specialized language that your reader might not understand. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) through Digital. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN. In Australia, plain language has become a commercial success. It is language that avoids obscurity, inflated vocabulary and convoluted sentence construction. In fact, organizations such as Plain Language Association InterNational, Clarity International, and the Plain Language Ac -For most journals, Research Articles are allowed to be up to 25 publication units (PU), where 1 PU is 500 words or 1 display element (figure or table). Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and. webpage . They also didn't have a negative reaction to the simplified content. Here are some examples, both historical and current. Plain Language in Sweden, the Results After 30 Years. Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. One of the types of technical writing is legal writing. You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. According to the International Plain Language Federation, “Communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended readers can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. Yes, you did. Plain Language Act 2022 — New Zealand Legislation. 3. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. You can also watch the 28-minute, 13-second video on YouTube. Reports and brochures. In business, a message is only effective when it is understood. See individual courses for textbook details. This book is as helpful as it is entertaining. 54 MB, 34 pages) from Laura Rabuck’s 2022 Federal Plain Language Summit presentation. Federal Plain Language Guidelines, March 2011, Rev. It is communication your audience can understand the first time they encounter it. clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious. 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. The following Executive Orders emphasize the need for plain language in regulations:Since 2011, the Center for Plain Language has issued a yearly report card to show how well federal agencies follow the Plain Writing Act. Your Reader is a Person. It is. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. Links. You achieve plain English when you use the simplest, most straightforward way of expressing an idea. Plain language is a way of writing and presenting information that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. While the Act does not cover regulations, three separate Executive Orders emphasize the need for plain language: E. Hold informal trainings such as brown bag lunches, one-on-one conversations, and phone calls. Author: Londell Buckson. Think through the questions your users likely have and then organize the material in a logical order. Keep it Short. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. If you have trouble understanding any documents or material on our websites, please contact PlainLanguage@hhs. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. It is important for scientists to use plain language not only to reach the public; but also to reach one another. Lists are useful because they: Highlight levels of importance. You may use any of the. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. Plain language is clear, concise, and easily understood the first time someone reads or hears it. When you communicate with the public and other partners, it is best practice to use Plain Language or “Plain Talk. Find out about the Plain Writing Act, policy memos, and executive orders that require agencies to use plain language. Learn what plain language is and how to write in plain language with best practices and examples. It is simple and direct but not simplistic or patronizing. If your customers don’t understand your documents, you. In her literature review “ Plain Language in the U. Plain language checklist. Words to avoid. Describes why plain language is a promising strategy for clearly communicating health information and improving health literacy. Understanding what users are trying to do when visiting your website or reading your communications will help you write clearly and focus on their needs. This construction makes clear to the reader who is to. Our biannual journal, The Clarity Journal, is the leading source of plain language news and research from across the globe. 5. But in the process, he wasted at least 30 minutes of two senior executives’ time, not to mention subordinates’ and a consultant’s time. Use language your audience understands and feels comfortable with. gov. Sometimes verb phrases would make good headings for procedural sections of rules. Choose your words carefully. Resist the urge to sound formal. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. ”. Outline other rules related to word. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. As a communication strategy, it can save time, money, and effort. She has trouble seeing, hearing, eating, and sleeping. Word choice is an important part of. Plain Language is a style of copywriting that makes your content easy to understand because it reaches audiences with various reading levels and cognitive abilities. Using plain and clear language helps your audience read, understand and use the information you are giving them. Utilize technology tools. In the past, Trump has. 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. Minimize abbreviations. In 2021, the Civil Rights Division (CRT) provided Plain Language training both to the Civil Rights Division and to the Department at large. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Half-day presentations. The plain language Community of Practice is a network of communications professionals that work to help public servants communicate in plain language to their audience. Hosted by Digital. 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 Summaries (PLS) provide a summary of an article in non-technical, jargon-free language that is understandable to non-specialist audiences. (Active) The police stopped the riot. (If you’re writing for the web, here’s the web checklist . Writing in Plain Language. The Plain Language Bill is a Member’s bill in the name of Rachel Boyack MP. It offers. They also allow audience members to skim chunks of text to easily gather. $75 program application fee. Learn how they used plain language in COVID-19 agency responses, and how they combined plain language, accessibility, and user experience. The opposite of plain English goes by various names: bureaucratese, doublespeak, gibberish, gobbledygook, skotison. Don’t write for an 8th-grade class if your audience is composed of PhD candidates, small business owners, working parents, or immigrants. gov. This chapter will introduce you to the principles of plain language and allow you to practise them. Plain Language Tips & Examples Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand your 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. It is clear communication. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon. Buffett from the SEC’s Plain English Handbook, 1998. By itself, plain language could not have completely alleviated the. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper — or keystroke to keyboard. uses “you” and other pronouns to speak to the reader. Learn the definition, guidelines, purposes, and examples of plain language. Agency programs and contacts. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: know what the audience wants and needs. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. 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. All of these help users connect to the text and cue the user better than nouns do. Don’t complicate things by using jargon, technical terms, or abbreviations that people won’t understand. Limit each paragraph to one idea and keep it short. Plain language does not mean simplifying or dumbing down. everything plain language “p”. feedback form posted on the page. The Plain Language Act applies to content in English that is intended for the general public. Train-the-trainer bootcamp. 2. Plain Language Resources. Resources for using plain language. Plain Language Act 2022: Guidance for agencies — Te Kawa Mataaho. It is also called plain English or plain writing. org and in the Cochrane Library in a range of languages. Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. Gains Momentum: 1940-2015,” Karen Schriver outlines the following: “Between 1940 and 1970, plain language focused mainly on readability. As an author, you should. 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. Plain language means just that: speaking in language that is clear and easy to understand. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. 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. Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information. 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. Whether you call such writing the opposite of gobbledygook or legalese, or just sloppy work, you know. that’s understandable and direct. A great deal of research connected to the Center for Civic Design has well established the design/plain language relationship through effective voting ballots. The law requires that federal agencies use clear government communication that the public can understand and use. Writing in plain English and legal writing have the same goal: communicating complex ideas in a digestible and manageable form. When people understand messages quickly and fully, there will usually be less confusion, less need for re-explanation, and fewer mistakes. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. (2) WEBSITE. The American Bar Association passed this resolution advising federal agencies to write regulations in plain language. What is plain language? Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Plain language is a way of writing and presenting information that is clear, concise, and easy to understand by your intended audience. The point is that the process is reversible. By the mid-1980s, there was a widespread sense that plain-language advocates. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. The Plain Writing Act of 2010. Tommy Thompson, George W. Source: International Plain Language Federation. That makes their writing ambiguous. 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. Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information. Steps to success 1. Plain Language. Our Plain Language Liaisons report on what staff in their units are doing to review and revise documents — view before/after examples. All of our classes are based on the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and involve interactive writing exercises. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. It has 5 general areas to consider: audience and purpose, structure, design, expression, and. After. Plain. [10]Plain language, according to NIMS, is the use of common terms and definitions that can be understood by individuals from all responder disciplines. 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. You’ll also develop a sensitivity to the issues of literacy and work toward. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Yes, you did. Plain language is one of our best tools for improving scientific literacy and encouraging wise decision-making by the public on science-based issues. 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. Use plain language in any new or substantially revised document . We have edited this list. 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. She was born early. ) written for the average reader. Rather, by choosing straightforward vocabulary and sentence structures and by organizing and presenting your material. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of "dumbing down" or "talking down" to the reader. In this 4-week online training, you will: complete 4 modules (1 module each week) be assigned to a small group. Plain Language Tips & Examples Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand your message. Use pronouns when you can. The IRB has compiled a document entitled Consent Library which includes Plain Language descriptions of procedures and corresponding risk information. . They concluded that the organization did not have a true process or standard for. gov, plain language helps the reader: Find what they. It’s not simplified language; it’s direct language that doesn’t contain any flair or fluff. He includes the following words in. PLAIN LANGUAGE definition: language that is clear and easy to understand , with no ambiguity or unnecessarily. Keep the reader in mind as you make decisions about organizing and formatting your health information. It is also called plain English or plain writing. The English language allows many ways to. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. Plain language Definitions "A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended readers can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. 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. (2) WEBSITE. It has become so corrupted by misuse that it has no firm meaning. 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. plain talk. Testing Your Document’s Readability. We’ll use plenty of before-and-after examples. The plain language Community of Practice is a network of communications professionals that work to help public servants communicate in plain language to their audience. clear or distinct to the eye or ear. is Peter (he is doing the watching); We will consider this matter shortly. The first plain language regulation was a FCC regulation on operating ham radios. Apocrypha. Learn what plain language is and how to write in plain language with best practices and examples. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. 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. Many SAGE journals now accept PLS and some have made them mandatory for all. We’re a nonprofit organization run entirely on a volunteer basis. reading level or below. It’s not just about the words you choose, but your overall ability to. We offer free, half-day training classes for federal agencies. English is the richest language, often having five words for a concept, while many have two. Once a sentence approaches 40 words, consider splitting it into two. The Plain Language and Multilingual communities share a goal of achieving more effective communication. Join the national plain language movement. In some situations, such as when you’re writing a Congressional letter or summarizing a regulation, you’ll sound more formal. If in Microsoft Word, a. Organize your writing so it’s easy to follow along. In a user’s manual, people are trying to do tasks—actions. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to write "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use. Plain Language. The dissatisfaction with legalese sparked the Plain Language Movement in. Additional plain language history is covered in Plain Language in the U. Email plainwriting@nara. ”. Published: 2002. 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. 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. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. (If you’re writing for the web, here’s the web checklist . Writing that is legible and well-organized is far easier to understand than more traditional styles. This can be hard in healthcare where medical terminology and acronyms prevail. Gains Momentum by Karen A. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. 12866, E. Federal Plain Language Guidelines. uses short sections and short sentences. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. 2 Crafting your materials with plain language principles. Successful plain language projects involve learning and leading from both sides. Writing that is clear and to the point helps improve all communication as it. Plain language makes it easier for everyone to understand and use health information. You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. In either case, court staff may spend time explaining theAbstract. (Active) The police stopped the riot. Verb phrases are the best headings for sections that relate to procedures. In Europe, it’s expected that plain language summaries will. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Plain language is grammatically correct language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. “And/or” is a classic example. What’s plain language? Plain language is a writing technique that prioritizes simple words and straightforward sentence structures. Is necessary for obtaining any federal government benefit or service or filing taxes. Official description. Use plain words Don't use jargon or specialized language that your reader might not understand. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 defines plain language as:. You may have been toiling away for years to change wordy. Plain language is a way of writing that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. It saves people and government time and money and improves the accessibility of your content. ”. Virtual International plain language conference (2020) – Access for all : Plain Language is a Civil Right – Part 1. Plain language helps you better understand your audience and how your audience uses the content you create. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. We continue toOLYMPIA, Wash. ) Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. Communicators must translate technical information into messages non-expert audiences can understand. Governments at all levels, especially the federal government, are using plain language more extensively. 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. Like: Do not use like as a conjunction when writing; use it as a preposition. One legal scholar calls abbreviations a “menace to prose” (Kimble, 2006). Online Plain Language Training. They consist of a plain language title (~50 words) and a clear summary of the article using non-technical language, making it accessible to a wider network of readers (~300 words). Using plain language can advance health literacy, build trust in your organization as a source of information, and promote overall community health. People are more likely to trust and act on information they understand. you get your message across more often, more easily and in a friendlier way. Legalese versus plain language by Peter Butt Legal English has traditionally been a special variety of English. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. It’s especially important to test our assumptions in government, because we’re often writing for thousands or even millions of people. Plain language is writing that the intended audience can understand and act upon the first time they read it. Abbreviations were once intended to serve the audience by shortening long phrases. These new website pages apply the task-focused approach and Plain Writing guidelines to encourage skimming, scanning, and selecting. The Center supports those who use plain language, trains those who should use plain language, and urges people to demand plain language in all the communications they. Plain language should be easy to read, understand and use. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. I do think there’s an obligation to recognize that if your goal is to inform the. Plain language fixes this problem. Maintained Plain Language intranet and internet webpages. Actually, plain English is typically quite interesting to read. In 2008, the two main international umbrella organizations (Clarity and PLAIN) and the Center for Plain Language in the United States set up a. Our first guest is Lynda Harris from New Zealand. ”. Top 10 Principles for Plain Language. Plain language is not. 1. . Bibliographic resources about health literacy. Cost. Provides information about any federal government benefit or service. 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. 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. Its distinguishing features include the tendency toward excessively complicated grammar and overformality. plain language. Style guides are not a plain language issue, except that your style guide should include directions to write in plain language. As: Use as, as if, as though, or other similar expressions as a conjunction in written documents. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 promotes clear government communication that the public can understand and use. Beginning in 2022, Pfizer will be disclosing the results of all global clinical trials—phases 1 through 4—in plain language. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Dictionaries, thesauruses, and grammar sites are excellent tools that can help you clarify your word choice. Today, it has given way to active, clear, concise writing, sometimes known as “plain English. We must use plain language in any document that – is necessary for obtaining any federal government benefit or service or filing taxes provides information about any federal government benefit or service, or explains to the public.