Before You Start Writing. Let’s look at two. 10 Tips to Write in Plain Language. Today, it has given way to active, clear, concise writing, sometimes known as “plain English” (Bailey, 2008). This handbook and Chairman Levitt’s whole drive to encourage “plain English” in disclosure documents, are good news for me. Use this checklist to see if your document meets plain language standards. § Research tells us that most readability formulas are. Plain Language at NIH. Word choice is an important part of. gov. 3. Learn the definition, guidelines, purposes, and examples of plain language. determine if such treaties are becoming easier to read or if improvements are still needed. Resources. Plain Language Tips & Examples Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand your message. Some of that spilled over to Twitter: We also published this story in more accessible plain-language English, audio & Spanish. Our five-step checklist will guide you through the plain language process and help you develop content that’s right for your organization. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. Share your thoughts and challenges. The Plain Language Act applies to content in English that is intended for the general public. Write for your reader, not yourself. You know what you are trying to say – make sure the reader does, too. Plain Language Summaries. You may have been toiling away for years to change wordy. (the person, group or thing doing the action); (the action itself); and. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. Great if you need to explain the importance of plain language to your boss. Apocrypha. But as these pages discuss, we still have a long. Plain-language advocates often trumpet this utility by demonstrating that doc - uments written in plain language are easier to use than docu-ments that feature jargon, convoluted paragraphs, and crowded visual design. [table striped="true" responsive="true"] Is the tone appropriate for the audience?Plain language is communication that is clear and easy to understand for your target audience, regardless of the medium used to deliver it. Like: Do not use like as a conjunction when writing; use it as a preposition. 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. Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. Rather, by choosing straightforward vocabulary and sentence structures and by organizing and presenting your material. Specifically, writing in plain language increases the ability for people with cognitive or intellectual disabilities to access your programming. Plain language strategy #1: We make shorter paragraphs. The Plain Language Thesaurus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers plain language equivalents to medical terms and phrases. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. プレイン・ランゲージ(英語: plain language 、「平易な言語」の意)は、読み手が必要な情報を簡単に見つけ、見つけた情報を容易に理解し使えるようにするために、的確に言葉を選び、文章の構成やデザインを行っているコミュニケーション様式の総称で. Plain language is useful for everyone, and crucial for users with language barriers and cognitive challenges. For the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card, the judges focused on the main Coronavirus pages and the main Freedom of. The aim is that anyone looking for information about the key points of a Cochrane Review can read and understand them. It has 5 general areas to consider: audience and purpose, structure, design, expression, and. They concluded that the organization did not have a true process or standard for. Split topics up into logical sections separated by informative. Plain language is a way of writing and presenting information that is clear, concise, and easy to understand by your intended audience. Page 5. Cochrane Plain language summaries are freely available on cochrane. Documents that must use plain language. For regulations and other complex documents, create a comprehensive table of contents. We continue toOLYMPIA, Wash. Readers call less often for explanations. Readability is a strong ally in the quest for plain language—the more common and less complex a word, phrase, or. In Australia, plain language has become a commercial success. You can see how shorter paragraphs improve your readability score. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Take your audience’s current level of knowledge into account. Avoid PDF overload. plain talk. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Plain English is clear and direct speech or writing in English. 6 What documents must use plain language. The Plain Language community is a group of government employees and contractors dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government. Plain language is not. Every thought can be expressed in many different ways and the variety comes from the individual way we approach an idea or. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements. In this 4-week online training, you will: complete 4 modules (1 module each week) be assigned to a small group. Explain what plain language is and is not. 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. Prefer a simpler word whenever you can. 1. We must use plain language in any document that. Plain Language is a clear way of writing and sharing information so that people can understand it the first time they read or hear it. We hope you enjoy this post. This article is structured as follows. The Plain Writing Act of 2010. Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information. The purpose of a plain-language approach in written communication is to convey information easily and unambiguously. Short Definition of Plain Language. Apart from fractions, the slash has almost no good uses. Our five-step checklist will guide you through the plain language process and help you develop content that’s right for your organization. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. 6. Compare the following examples to get the idea of the plain language. It’s especially important in letters to engage the reader by using pronouns. There will be two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute break for lunch. That makes their writing ambiguous. [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. PLAIN LANGUAGE •Kyra is autistic and deaf. Avoid the third person when the second person works. To celebrate, we’re putting together a collection of 30 of the people who have kept the campaign thriving. . Building and sustaining a culture of plain language – Hennepin County, Minnesota. Contains guidelines for creating plain language materials, as well as an overview of the plain language movement and tools for trainers. 1, May 2011 i Introduction The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government. If your customers don’t understand your documents, you. ”. gov. The Summit will begin at 10:00 am, ET, and conclude at 3:45 pm, ET. Letters and notices. Communicators must translate technical information into messages non-expert audiences can understand. The material available about plain language is. ” The phrase certainly shouldn’t connote drab and dreary language. Find useful writing tips and fresh points of view from today’s plain language innovators. People are more likely to trust and act on information they understand. Please feel free to use these terms in place of medical jargon, wherever you feel they might be better understood. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. The law requires that federal agencies use clear government communication that the public can understand and use. Plain language is a way of writing that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. ”. The aim of a plain-language standard is to provide — for writers everywhere who are working on any type of document, from a letter to legislation — a tool with: The credibility of ISO, its 165 national-standards body members, and more than 22,500 standards. 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. This book shows you how to write for customers and clients in language that's easy to understand. All of these help users connect to the text and cue the user better than nouns do. It makes writing easy to read for more people. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Write for the reader, not for yourself. Watch on. The loosely organized campaign to encourage legal writers and business writers to write clearly and concisely – without legalese – while preserving. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. This timeline is an abbreviated and updated version of A History of Plain Language in the Government by Joanne Locke. 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. 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. Download the 2021 Report Card. plain language movement. This. , the Plain Writing Act of 2010 took effect in October 2011 (see below). Handbooks and manuals. View the Jargon Madness slides (PowerPoint presentation, 1. Plain Language Act 2022 — New Zealand Legislation. 1 This tool aims to support a systematic review of your material. 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. One of the types of technical writing is legal writing. This clear writing approach is ideal for public sector employees who write to and for King County taxpayers, ratepayers and other clients and customers. Virtual Event, 13 October 2020. (Active)National Archives staff are continually informed about plain writing through internal newsletter articles, an internal web page, and blog posts on plain writing. PLAIN is joining together with Clarity International and the Center for Plain Language to co-host an international online conference with 2 exciting events. It helps Veterans and their families access and use VA services and benefits. Choose your words carefully. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. When people understand messages quickly and fully, there will usually be less confusion, less need for re-explanation, and fewer mistakes. Making information less complex and more concise How we knew we needed a plain language program In 2010,. ”. 15, to require state agencies to adopt a plain language policy to ensure that information is easy to understand and. In 2008, the two main international umbrella organizations (Clarity and PLAIN) and the Center for Plain Language in the United States set up a. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. In most cases, writers mean either “or” or “and. Additional plain language history is covered in Plain Language in the U. What is plain language? Nowadays, we have a (fairly) robust understanding of what makes writing readable. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. 5. 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. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. State your major point(s) first before going into details. Three days virtual conference dedicated to using plain language to break down barriers in society. vivid. Our growing network includes members from over 30 countries working in clear communication in at least 15 languages. Plain language can be useful in an academic setting. Help the reader understand the order in which things happen. We continue toListen as they highlight plain language successes. While plain language won’t solve every public health communication challenge, all health communications can be made more efective by communicating plainly. 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. Plain English is clear and direct speech or writing in English. Being direct and plainspoken is not talking down. to explain the importance of the Plain Writing Act and outline CMS’ commitment to full compliance with the Act. is Peter (he is doing the watching); We will consider this matter shortly. 5. Write in the active voice. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examplesPlain language is the best option, because it gets your message across in the most efficient way possible. Plain language avoids unnecessarily complicated or obtuse technical language in favor. A study of how users with lower literacy skills read and navigate on the web, for example, found that even users with. • Developed a Plain Language Matrix to document related tasks and steps to begin operationalizing our plain language. ETGAR may serve as a model for learning written communication skills during clinical years, using the. It is communication your audience can understand the first time they encounter it. After. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. Writing and reference tools. 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. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. 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). However, abbreviations have proliferated so much in government writing that they constantly require the reader to look back to earlier pages, or to consult an. We at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) are committed to improving our service to you by writing in plain language. Cost. The dissatisfaction with legalese sparked the Plain Language Movement in. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. Words to avoid. A great deal of research connected to the Center for Civic Design has well established the design/plain language relationship through effective voting ballots. Simple words help you express your message clearly. Write explanatory letters. Think through the questions your users likely have and then organize the material in a logical order. " The January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government also highlights the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. It has become so corrupted by misuse that it has no firm meaning. Businesses such as banks, insurance companies, law firms, legal services and IT companies use plain language to communicate with customers. When people understand what they read, they need fewer explanations and make fewer mistakes. Executive Order 23-02 directs agencies to prioritize their most-viewed, public-facing materials. Direct, accessible language is often called plain language. Try to make your reading ease number go up and. The Plain Language and Multilingual communities share a goal of achieving more effective communication. Use plain words Don't use jargon or specialized language that your reader might not understand. You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. PLAIN is dedicated to helping federal agencies train their staff to communicate clearly and develop their own plain language programs. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information. Top 10 Principles for Plain Language. Verb phrases are the best headings for sections that relate to procedures. Abbreviations were once intended to serve the audience by shortening long phrases. Plain Language Act’s Objectives. The IRB has compiled a document entitled Consent Library which includes Plain Language descriptions of procedures and corresponding risk information. 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. Provides information about any federal government benefit or service. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] on October 13, 2010. When users do not understand court forms, they either complete the forms incorrectly or call the court for more information. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) website was launched in 1994; regular meetings began in 1995. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Author: Barbro Ehrenberg-Sundin. Plain Language. Writing in Plain Language . Cochrane Plain language summaries are freely available on cochrane. The Nielsen Norman Group has done multiple studies on PDFs and has consistently found. 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. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. gov. It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. During the 1970s, some practitioners began to employ usability testing. Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. Writing in plain English and legal writing have the same goal: communicating complex ideas in a digestible and manageable form. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. How to Use this Guide In this guide. While plain language became law for government agencies, it was also used across different industries to improve communication. ) written for the average reader. This can be hard in healthcare where medical terminology and acronyms prevail. The law requires federal agencies to. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 was signed on October 13, 2010. Gains Momentum: 1940-2015,” Karen Schriver outlines the following: “Between 1940 and 1970, plain language focused mainly on readability. 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). Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. English is the richest language, often having five words for a concept, while many have two. 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 makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. gov and the Plain Language Community of Practice. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. Using plain language can help workplaces communicate. Help readers skim and scan. She was born early. Plain Language in Spoken Communication. ”A clear, simple summary written in plain language helps people to understand complex health evidence. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a plain language standard: ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines. Plain Language Day is celebrated on 13 October each year. 5. 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. Pointing words. 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. Using plain and clear language helps your audience read, understand and use the information you are giving them. We at the Department of Health and Human Services are committed to writing all of our new documents in plain language, starting. You can flip the cards. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. Plain language is a way of writing that makes the message easy to read, understand, and act upon by the intended audience. And best practices for a patient audience include keeping content between a 6. Resources. . It aims to improve the effectiveness and accountability of the public service by requiring communications to be clear and accessible to the public. 2020-2021 Access for All: Plain Language is a Civil Right. gov held two online workshops to explain how to write in plain language. In healthcare writing, patients are often the intended audience. Write it into contracts to require any vendors and contractors to follow the plain language, people-first style. The Plain Language Act aims to make democracy more inclusive, especially for people with disabilities and those with lower levels of education. Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand and use government communications. 6 . He includes the following words in. Additionally, Guiding Principles recommends the use of plain language principles along with the use of health equity concepts and the language necessary to accurately and equitably represent all people. For other groups, such as people living with dementia, learning new terms is not. Use summaries to present key information before going into detail. 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. Use language your audience understands and feels comfortable with. In others, such as when you’re writing a blog, you’ll soundMake a commitment. 4. Yes, you did. Like: Do not use like as a conjunction when writing; use it as a preposition. Federal Plain Language Guidelines, March 2011, Rev. First, I situate the development of plain legal language use by Dutch courts in the broader context of the plain language movement, relating this development to two different views of language: language as representation and language as activity (section 2). uses short sections and short sentences. Published: 2004. A plain language standard provides all sectors, in nearly all languages, with a set of guidelines and strategies to make information more accessible and effective. 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. As: Use as, as if, as though, or other similar expressions as a conjunction in written documents. 8 to 8. The journal features the latest plain language research, practical advice, before-and-after examples, success stories, campaign strategies and much more. If in Microsoft Word, a. People come to government websites and services with a specific task in mind. Then, agencies will simplify and review the content on a regular basis to ensure these documents follow plain language writing and design. Right of use means any authorization issued under this part that allows use of Outer Continental Shelf lands. Plain language is personal. Easy to read, easy to understand and easy to use, plain language—plain English— lands your organization in the users’ world. Hosted by Digital. This is crucial. Just because someone can read instructions written at a grade 14 level doesn’t mean they. 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. is Peter (he is doing the watching); We will consider this matter shortly. Sometimes verb phrases would make good headings for procedural sections of rules. – understand what they find. The Act was signed in October 2010, but some federal agencies have been promoting the use of plain language for years. 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. . You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. The Plain Language Commission accredits public documents and websites with the Clear English Standard logo and provides training in 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. Jargon Madness is a plain language conversation starter that cuts across the organizational chart. The first plain language regulation was a FCC regulation on operating ham radios. Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and. Choose your words carefully and be consistent in your writing style. Yes, you did. Plain and simple. 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. As an author, you should. Bibliographic resources about health literacy. (If you don’t see your agency’s program listed here, contact us so we can include it. Official description. USA. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements. . Plain Language has been a stylistic goal for all Federal Government communication since at least 2010, with passage of the The Plain Language Act. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. 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. gov. You can help us to meet our plain language goals by letting us know when we fall short. choices at a 6th grade. A word about “plain English. 7. Bush’s former Secretary of Health and Human Services, has this to say about plain language and the federal plain language group. We offer free, half-day training classes for federal agencies. Any paragraph that can be broken up into shorter paragraphs (or into other elements) makes your message more effective. As a communication strategy, it can save time, money, and effort. 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. ”4. Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. Its distinguishing features include the tendency toward excessively complicated grammar and overformality. 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. Federal Plain Language Guidelines. Since legalese takes longer to draft, read, and understand, it often falls short of the drafter’s primary goal of precision. Join 1,990 Plain Language community members. S. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Agencies earned grades between A and F for both. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper—or keystroke to keyboard. 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. Law and requirements. 2. Plain language, according to NIMS, is the use of common terms and definitions that can be understood by individuals from all responder disciplines. Review plain language guidelines for using verbs, nouns, and pronouns. Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please, Joseph Kimble, 2012. 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. It might be science journalists, healthcare practitioners, academic professionals, policymakers or the general public; they need to understand and engage with the research. Readers call less often for explanations. Thanks to internet sorcery, we can even take advantage of free tools to quickly gauge the reading level of our writing. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. 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. clear or distinct to the eye or ear. There is no one ‘right’ way to express an idea. Choose everyday words: the shorter the word, the more likely it will be familiar to the reader. We evaluated 21 Executive Branch agencies, including all 15 cabinet-level departments. Whether you call such writing the opposite of gobbledygook or legalese, or just sloppy work, you know. In either case, court staff may spend time explaining theAbstract. The Plain Language Summary (PLS) should convey the same information as the Abstract but in a completely different language and tone. in writing programs to identify reading level. Overview. And you were writing for a professor as your only reader. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Several months after FCC issued the regulation, the questions had fallen off so far that all. ) written for the average reader.