Introduction. Award winners. Steps to success 1. This article is structured as follows. Use plain language. Federal employees speak. We also continue to work to ensure plain writing is used in public communications related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. When people understand messages quickly and fully, there will usually be less confusion, less need for re-explanation, and fewer mistakes. 1 Using plain language enables you to connect directly and clearly with all audiences - from research participants, to the general public, to research colleagues. Pointing words – including this, that, these, those, and the – refer directly to something already mentioned. We commit to write content that is easy to read and understand. Plain language is information that readers can understand the first time they read it and use easily. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. This page last reviewed on. 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. The Plain Language Act aims to make democracy more inclusive, especially for people with disabilities and those with lower levels of education. Plain language can be useful in an academic setting. Stick to your topic. 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. Plain language is a way of writing and presenting information that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Right of use means any authorization under this part to use Outer Continental. This page last reviewed on. A Plain Language Summary (also referred to as a lay summary in some subject areas) communicates the significance of scholarly and scientific research evidence to wide audiences in clear, jargon-free language. 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. organized to serve the reader’s needs. In addition. “Shall” has three strikes against it. As: Use as, as if, as though, or other similar expressions as a conjunction in written documents. —The plain writing section described under paragraph (1)(E) shall— (A) inform the public of agency compliance with the requirements of this Act; and (B) provide a mechanism for the agency to receive and respond to public input on— (i) agency implementation of this Act; and (ii) the agency reports required under section 5. Several months after FCC issued the regulation, the questions had fallen off so far that all. (If you don’t see your agency’s program listed here, contact us so we can include it. Keep in mind that the average U. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] on October 13, 2010. Resources for using plain language. Yes, you did. The Plain Writing Act of 2010. The Working Group appointed 3 luminaries and stalwarts. Bibliographic resources about health literacy. ”4. If you have trouble understanding any documents or material on our websites, please contact PlainLanguage@hhs. Abbreviations were once intended to serve the audience by shortening long phrases. State your major point(s) first before going into details. Communicating Research Intent and Value in NIH Applications. Avoid Overly Complicated Language. To communicate professionally, you need to know when and how to use either active or passive voice. She was very small when she was born. ”the Plain Language Movement, legal language, and rhetoric, and 3. The Clarity Journal is distributed free to. Since legalese takes longer to draft, read, and understand, it often falls short of the drafter’s primary goal of precision. 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. The public can contact CMS and send comments about our plain writing efforts via the . Take train-the-trainer bootcamp through plainlanguage. 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. Accusatory use of you. The Plain Language Commission accredits public documents and websites with the Clear English Standard logo and provides training in plain language. Next, against the background of the. Specifically, writing in plain language increases the ability for people with cognitive or intellectual disabilities to access your programming. Whether you call such writing the opposite of gobbledygook or legalese, or just sloppy work, you know. Rule begins with a useful overview that orients the reader to this complex but well-organized material. Word choice is an important part of. They are the most basic building blocks of written and spoken communication. In 2021, the Civil Rights Division (CRT) provided Plain Language training both to the Civil Rights Division and to the Department at large. gov. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. What is Plain Language? Importance of Plain. ”. Writing that is clear and to the point helps improve all communication as it. 5. Plain. The National Library of Medicine provides bibliographies, sorted by year, citing many documents about health literacy. Hold informal trainings such as brown bag lunches, one-on-one conversations, and phone calls. The Nielsen Norman Group has done multiple studies on PDFs and has consistently found. It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. Readability is a strong ally in the quest for plain language—the more common and less complex a word, phrase, or. “And/or” is a classic example. gov. We must use plain language in any document that. -Governor Jay Inslee signed an Executive Order on Wednesday, Nov. Also called plain language . By using words in. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements. clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious. The plain language version has found an audience outside the disability community, too. Plain Language in Sweden, the Results After 30 Years. 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. Dictionaries, thesauruses, and grammar sites are excellent tools that can help you clarify your word choice. Plain language summaries (PLSs) have been introduced to communicate research in an understandable way to a nonexpert audience. everything plain language “p”. Published: 2002. 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. Letters and notices. Help the reader understand the order in which things happen. 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. Longer papers are assessed an excess length fee. Use pronouns when you can. It is intended to make government communications. It’s not simplified language; it’s direct language that doesn’t contain any flair or fluff. Here are some style guides. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to communicate clearly. [4] Plain writing, as defined by the PWA, is “writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. We continue toOLYMPIA, Wash. Use plain words Don't use jargon or specialized language that your reader might not understand. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN. Write explanatory letters. The second event will take place May 11-13, 2021 . ”. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. . That makes their writing ambiguous. gov and the Plain Language Community of Practice. 6 MB] Our readers are busy. He includes the following words in. 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. ”. Plain language fixes this problem. 6 What documents must use plain language. Magistrate Judge Allison Claire, a federal judge based in Sacramento, California, in a case called Muniz v. 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). The Plain Language Bill is a Member’s bill in the name of Rachel Boyack MP. If you have to use a specialized term, explain briefly what it means, in parentheses. [10]Plain language, according to NIMS, is the use of common terms and definitions that can be understood by individuals from all responder disciplines. Watch on. 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). U. If your preceding paragraph describes the process of strip mining, and your next paragraph begins with “this process causes…,” the word this makes a clear connection between paragraphs. The 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. Identify their top tasks. You’ll also develop a sensitivity to the issues of literacy and work toward. Writing in short, simple words doesn’t mean you are ‘dumbing down’ the message. As an author, you should. It aims to improve the effectiveness and accountability of the public service by requiring communications to be clear and accessible to the public. " Afrikaans Geskrewe kommunikasie is duidelik (in ‘’plain language’’) wanneer die teikengehoor die inligting wat hulle nodig het,. You can see it in action right here! Click the text next to each paragraph to read it in plain language. gov. They are the most basic building blocks of written and spoken communication. The point is that the process is reversible. They also allow audience members to skim chunks of text to easily gather. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. How to Use this Guide In this guide. Plain language should be easy to read, understand and use. Develop a strong plan that is also flexible. Before You Start Writing. Overview. Federal Plain Language Guidelines, March 2011, Rev. This. Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized. For example, “Please make an application for a personal loan” is longer and less clear than “Please apply for a personal loan. People are more likely to trust and act on information they understand. Style guides are not a plain language issue, except that your style guide should include directions to write in plain language. Building and sustaining a culture of plain language – Hennepin County, Minnesota. " The January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government also highlights the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Cost. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. organized to serve the reader’s needs. • 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). choices at a 6th grade. The journal features the latest plain language research, practical advice, before-and-after examples, success stories, campaign strategies and much more. It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. S. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examplesPlain language is the best option, because it gets your message across in the most efficient way possible. Plain language is writing that the intended audience can understand and act upon the first time they read it. In fact, legalese makes lawyers’ writings so incomprehensible that the US Congress regularly introduces ‘plain language’ Bills to regulate them. Keep it Short. 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. In September 2019, the ISO ballot approved the proposal to develop a plain language standard ― that’s when the Working Group was established, and the real work began. S. It is clear communication. “If you think about it, a lot of the communication that we send out to our families flies in the face of this,” said Ogando. Plain language is a way of writing that makes the message easy to read, understand, and act upon by the intended audience. Is necessary for obtaining any federal government benefit or service or filing taxes. (link is external) This page last reviewed on May 15, 2023. Use Plain Language instead of technical terms; Refer to the PRISM Readability Toolkit which contains information about the principles of Plain Language, and examples for improving readability. Also called plain language . You can see it in action right here! plain language. For this 10th anniversary, we evaluated 21 Executive Branch agencies, including all 15 cabinet-level departments. A common myth is that plain language is incompatible with teaching complex subjects. Break documents into separate topics. 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. Many famous writers, politicians, and others have commented over the centuries on the importance of writing clearly and briefly. webpage . . Using plain language can help workplaces communicate. For regulations and other complex documents, create a comprehensive table of contents. Words matter. Write it into contracts to require any vendors and contractors to follow the plain language, people-first style. An old adage. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. [1] The Act applies to public service agencies and Crown agents. 6. You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. Your table of contents should be a reliable roadmap that users can follow to quickly find what they need. 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. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] on October 13, 2010. Outline other rules related to word. In general. 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. Christian Miller said that, internally, the plain language description of ProPublica resonated. It is also called plain English or plain writing. The Act was signed in October 2010, but some federal agencies have been promoting the use of plain language for years. Resources. This plain-language course will: Outline a writer’s obligations under the Plain Writing Act. 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 has 5 general areas to consider: audience and purpose, structure, design, expression, and. In this course, you’ll learn the writing standards and practices outlined within the plain language field. One of the types of technical writing is legal writing. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communication from government. Plain language is designed to communicate information as clearly. We will explore five stories or themes that show how plain language can increase access. Three days virtual conference dedicated to using plain language to break down barriers in society. The Definitive Plain Language Writing Guide. The Act was signed in October 2010, but some federal agencies have been promoting the use of plain language for years. Plain language is important in written and verbal communication. Wednesday, August 24, 2022 10:30 AM – 3:45 PM ET. Plain Language Resources. Utilize technology tools. It helps us write for people who read at all levels of time, interest, education and. Plain language makes information easier to find, read and understand. See individual courses for textbook details. By October 13 2011, we will use plain language in any new or substantially revised document that:. When people understand messages quickly and fully, there will usually be less confusion, less need for re-explanation, and fewer mistakes. USA. 111-274) defines plain writing as: “writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field. Pointing words. Plain language can be understood the first time it is read or heard. A word about “plain English. How to Apply Plain Language Techniques in Technical Documents. Plain language is a way of writing so that more people can easily read and understand your content. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. Regulations. It offers. Good web content uses: The inverted pyramid style: Begin with the shortest and clearest statement you can make about your topic. The U. Describes why plain language is a promising strategy for clearly communicating health information and improving health literacy. In this 4-week online training, you will: complete 4 modules (1 module each week) be assigned to a small group. Apart from fractions, the slash has almost no good uses. Long, flowing sentences and the passive voice can occasionally be useful, but they shouldn’t have a large presence in your content. The opposite of plain English goes by various names: bureaucratese,. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Take your audience’s current level of knowledge into account. They make fewer errors filling out forms. gov for more guidance on using plain language. As: Use as, as if, as though, or other similar expressions as a conjunction in written documents. 1 This tool aims to support a systematic review of your material. § Research tells us that most readability formulas are. Before FCC issued the regulation, there were five staff members answering public calls and letters with questions about the FCC’s requirements for operating ham radios. Use plainlanguage. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. This timeline is an abbreviated and updated version of A History of Plain Language in the Government by Joanne Locke. (2) WEBSITE. (If you’re writing for the web, here’s the web checklist . ”. Plain language is content written for everybody, including degree-bearing individuals. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Plain-language documents are accessible and present information in a way that is easy to absorb. The resource Plain language online notes that a “crucial feature of plain language is testing the writing to determine whether it adequately conveys to the targeted reader the writer’s intentions. Find useful writing tips and fresh points of view from today’s plain language innovators. Use summaries to present key information before going into detail. View these before and after examples to see how the National Archives is. Handbooks and manuals. PLAIN is dedicated to helping federal agencies train their staff to communicate clearly and develop their own plain language programs. In 2008, the two main international umbrella organizations (Clarity and PLAIN) and the Center for Plain Language in the United States set up a. Direct, accessible language is often called plain language. 5, using the Flesch-Kincaid assessment tool in Microsoft Word. Plain Language Act 2022 — New Zealand Legislation. This construction makes clear to the reader who is to. ) Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. Top 10 Principles for Plain Language. Chunked content: Don’t try to pack everything into long paragraphs. Preface by Warren E. President Clinton was an advocate and signed two executive orders and issued a Memorandum on Plain Language in Government Writing. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: know what the audience wants and needs. uses short sections and short sentences. Limit each paragraph to one idea and keep it short. While plain language became law for government agencies, it was also used across different industries to improve communication. ) places. Learn what plain language is and how to write in plain language with best practices and examples. He includes the following words in. If you have trouble understanding any documents or material on our websites, please contact PlainLanguage@hhs. When drafting a plain language text, there are 5 general areas to consider: 1. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communication from government. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. (2006). 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. 3. The Plain Language community is a group of government employees and contractors dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government. 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. Plain Language has been a stylistic goal for all Federal Government communication since at least 2010, with passage of the The Plain Language Act. You may use any of the content on this site without. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. And best practices for a patient audience include keeping content between a 6. Federal government. You can also use the toggle on the top right to switch everything to. One of the types of technical writing is legal writing. By itself, plain language could not have completely alleviated the. Avoid the third person when the second person works. By using plain language, you increase the likelihood someone will understand your messaging. Short Definition of Plain Language. The IRB has compiled a document entitled Consent Library which includes Plain Language descriptions of procedures and corresponding risk information. Documents that must use plain language. • Met with representatives from other agencies to discuss plain language procedures and best practices. This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. Plain language summaries (PLS) are typically short synopses of peer-reviewed journal publications that simplify the complex. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (PWA) [2] and Executive Order 13,563 [3] require agencies to use plain language in various public-facing documents. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. 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. Plain language is a way of writing and presenting information that is clear, concise, and easy to understand by your intended audience. Testing your content should be an integral part of your writing and planning process—not just something you just do after the fact. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. Target an 8th - 9th grade reading level. Virtual International plain language conference (2020) – Access for all : Plain Language is a Civil Right – Part 1. Contains guidelines for creating plain language materials, as well as an overview of the plain language movement and tools for trainers. A plain language summary exploring a new treatment combination for untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer: enfortumab vedotin plus. Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. Direct, accessible language is often called plain language. (b) the agency considers that the intended audience for the document is the public generally (rather than 1 or more. Thompson illustrates just how helpful they can be. Adopting plain language in the workplace is sometimes perceived as overly complicated or not really necessary. But they don’t want to take the time to decide which they mean, so they push the job off on the audience. 5. Federal Plain Language Guidelines, March 2011, Rev. ” Writing in plain. Successful plain language projects involve learning and leading from both sides. 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. We at the Department of Health and Human Services are committed to writing all of our new documents in plain language, starting. Prefer a simpler word whenever you can. Plain language is good customer service and makes life easier for the public. Your main goal is to convey your ideas with the greatest possible clarity. to explain the importance of the Plain Writing Act and outline CMS’ commitment to full compliance with the Act. gov, plain language helps the reader: Find what they. plain language. She has trouble seeing, hearing, eating, and sleeping. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper — or keystroke to keyboard. Yes, you did. The Plain Language Act aims to make democracy more inclusive, especially for people with disabilities and those with lower levels of education. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. For the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card, the judges focused on the main Coronavirus pages and the main Freedom of. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. And you were writing for a professor as your only reader. This Plain Language Thesaurus has been put together by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Marketing. 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. Plain Language Act’s Objectives. Reports and brochures. It’s robust and direct—the opposite of gaudy, pretentious language. ”. Originally called the Plain English Network, PLAIN has been meeting informally since the mid 1990s. 5: Plain Language. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. We aim to bring you timely information about the work of CDC and other organizations to improve health literacy. Every organization has long-term employees who’ve worked in government for decades. Then, agencies will simplify and review the content on a regular basis to ensure these documents follow plain language writing and design. In Conclusion. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. The long introduction with fancy SAT words might work in college, but it’s not. This clear writing approach is ideal for public sector employees who write to and for King County taxpayers, ratepayers and other clients and customers. The purpose of a pla in-lan guage approach in written communications is to convey. 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. This chapter will introduce you to the principles of plain language and allow you to practise them. Plain Language. has useful headings. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. ) written for the average reader. 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. 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. Write to the reader, using the pronoun “you” as much as possible. Try to make your reading ease number go up and. They make fewer errors filling out forms. Plain language is a clear way of sharing information that people can understand the first time they read or hear it. Readers can do without archaic jargon such as “hereafter,” “heretofore,” and “therewith. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. The first step is to implement an official plain language policy. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper—or keystroke to keyboard. Today, it has given way to active, clear, concise writing, sometimes known as “plain English. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. 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. In healthcare writing, patients are often the intended audience. After. Posting PDF versions (PDFs) of original documents on your site would seem to be an obvious alternative to rewriting your content in web format. 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.