Using plain language [3] helps agencies do this more. Also called plain language . If your customers don’t understand your documents, you. Words matter. 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. Some of that spilled over to Twitter: We also published this story in more accessible plain-language English, audio & Spanish. i. both plain language and coded language in the same transmission, causing confusion. How to Apply Plain Language Techniques in Technical Documents. Writing Plain Language for Law (PLNL510) Plain Language in Health Literacy (PLNL520) Technical Writing and Editing (TCOM120) Copy Editing (EDIT210) Learning materials. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. We hope you enjoy this post. “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 offers a variety of introductory classes on plain language. adult reads at an eight-grade level, which makes. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. Use short sentences: aim for an average word count of 20. has useful headings. Plain language is personal. Writing that is legible and well-organized is far easier to understand than more traditional styles. Links. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN. 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. Plain language is clear, concise, organized, and appropriate for the intended audience. The second event will take place May 11-13, 2021 . The title, authors, affiliations, key points, keywords, text in tables (but not captions) and references are excluded from word counts. Choose everyday words: the shorter the word, the more likely it will be familiar to the reader. $350–$930/course, not including textbooks. Writing in plain English and legal writing have the same goal: communicating complex ideas in a digestible and manageable form. It is language that avoids obscurity, inflated vocabulary and convoluted sentence construction. You may use any of the. The plain language definition states, at its core, that plain language is easily and quickly understandable. 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. 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. 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. ”. This is crucial. Fortunately, there is a concerted effort to help healthcare professionals incorporate plain language into their daily practice in both oral and written communication. These “Plain Language Summary for a Pro Se Litigant” sections have now made their way into First Step Act jurisprudence. Many famous writers, politicians, and others have commented over the centuries on the importance of writing clearly and briefly. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. Thompson illustrates just how helpful they can be. Find out the benefits of plain language for different audiences and purposes, and explore the sources and resources on plain language from various. Plain. Find out about the Plain. Download the 2022 Report Card PDF. Looking aheadThe Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. vivid. Email plainwriting@nara. Right of use means any authorization issued under this part that allows use of Outer Continental Shelf lands. 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. What is plain language? Communication with clear wording, structure, and design for the intended audience to easily: – find what they need. 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. 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. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Keep it Short. Use this checklist to see if your document meets plain language standards. • Met with representatives from other agencies to discuss plain language procedures and best practices. PLAIN has been connecting plain language people for 30 years now. State your major point(s) first before going into details. Principles of Plain Language (PPTX), our original plain language class; Plain Language and Writing for the Web (PPTX), based on Principles, but with a web focusPfizer began sharing study results in plain language with the general public in May 2021, and people can expect to see more and more of it in the future. Too many complex words are like hurdles in a race, barriers to understanding which slows readers down. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 [PDF - 124 KB] on October 13, 2010. Compare the following examples to get the idea of the plain language. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. Readability is a strong ally in the quest for plain language—the more common and less complex a word, phrase, or. Maintained Plain Language intranet and internet webpages. Take your audience’s current level of knowledge into account. Schriver. Resources. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of "dumbing down" or "talking down" to the reader. On October 27 and 28, 2020, the Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) will bring experts together to explain how plain language can improve our government communication. ClearMark Awards: The Center for Plain Language sets a high standard for clarity and simplicity in the documents created by North American companies, governments, and organizations. Words matter. 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. 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. Plain language is universal. In Australia, plain language has become a commercial success. We at the Department of Health and Human Services are committed to writing all of our new documents in plain language, starting. $75 program application fee. Our growing network includes members from over 30 countries working in clear communication in at least 15 languages. You may be required to prepare a Plain Language Summary for a journal article submission, a grant application. It makes writing easy to read for more people. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. Style guides are not a plain language issue, except that your style guide should include directions to write in plain language. Wednesday, August 24, 2022 10:30 AM – 3:45 PM ET. the proper approach to legal writing. By the mid-1980s, there was a widespread sense that plain-language advocates. Write explanatory letters. Tip: Where possible, choose a simple word or phrase over a complex one. Plain language refers to clear communication that an audience can understand the first time they hear or read it. org and in the Cochrane Library in a range of languages. Support for plain-writing is growing in the legal professions, which bring us some of our best and most varied examples of plain-writing. 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. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. 71 Plain . You achieve plain English when you use the simplest, most straightforward way of expressing an idea. gov. ”. . (If you’re writing for the web, here’s the web checklist . This incident shows what an unnecessary time-waster non-plain language can be. It helps Veterans and their families access and use VA services and benefits. The first task for ISO’s plain language Working Group was to complete the Experts’ Draft and to adopt it as Draft 1. Learning. O. Providing training to all staff in a variety of ways, including the Department of Health and Human Services Plain Language online modules, webinars, and in-person training. 2010s. Plain Language Tips & Examples Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand your message. Since legalese takes longer to draft, read, and understand, it often falls short of the drafter’s primary goal of precision. First, lawyers regularly misuse it to mean something other than “has a duty to. Her parents think she knows some signs. We continue toOLYMPIA, Wash. As an author, you should. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Agencies are required to take steps to support their people to use plain language. Use lists to help your user focus on important material. Legal Writing Institute Awards: Joe Kimble is chair of the Outreach Committee for the Legal Writing Institute’s Golden Pen Award. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. As: Use as, as if, as though, or other similar expressions as a conjunction in written documents. Several months after FCC issued the regulation, the questions had fallen off so far that all. Think through the questions your users likely have and then organize the material in a logical order. 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. Originally called the Plain English Network, PLAIN has been meeting informally since the mid 1990s. Plain language works with whatever style you follow. Avoid the third person when the second person works. One of the types of technical writing is legal writing. It is. That doesn’t mean that you should put your letter in passive voice. You may use these materials as the basis of your own class. 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. It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. Federal employees speak. organized to serve the reader’s needs. Page 5. ) places. Our five-step checklist will guide you through the plain language process and help you develop content that’s right for your organization. Direct, accessible language is often called plain language. 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. Instead, put the emphasis on the agency by using “we”. The law requires that federal agencies use clear government communication that the public can understand and use. Trump also intends to circumvent the 14th Amendment so that he can end birthright citizenship for the children of unauthorized immigrants. PLAIN LANGUAGE definition: language that is clear and easy to understand , with no ambiguity or unnecessarily. Hold informal trainings such as brown bag lunches, one-on-one conversations, and phone calls. Source: International Plain Language Federation. recent trends in plain language that move beyond comprehension and task com - pletion to building user trust. Your table of contents should be a reliable roadmap that users can follow to quickly find what they need. Verb phrases are the best headings for sections that relate to procedures. Gains Momentum: 1940-2015,” Karen Schriver outlines the following: “Between 1940 and 1970, plain language focused mainly on readability. uses active voice. By itself, plain language could not have completely alleviated the. Because they use short sentences and common words, plain-language documents allow every member of the audience to understand the piece in a single read. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. “It’s not easily understood. Plain English is clear and direct speech or writing in English. Like: Do not use like as a conjunction when writing; use it as a preposition. Explains to the public how to comply with a requirement that the federal government administers or enforces. President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act of 2010 into law on. 12988, and. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. Plain language is grammatically correct language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. —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. gov. Plain Language. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a plain language standard: ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. If you have to use a specialized term, explain briefly what it means, in parentheses. Making information less complex and more concise How we knew we needed a plain language program In 2010, most of our day-to-day communications with county residents were lengthy, overly complex, The Center for Plain Language is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit. 111-274) defines plain writing as: “writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field. Enhancing our Web pages. 10 Tips to Write in Plain Language. Organize your writing so it’s easy to follow along. And there’s some indication the very first mention of plain language dates back as far as. Before You Start Writing. It’s robust and direct—the opposite of gaudy, pretentious language. Plain language is clear, concise, organized, and appropriate for the intended audience. At [Agency Name], we are committed to writing in plain language and using the Federal Plain Language Guidelines: We have. Building and sustaining a culture of plain language – Hennepin County, Minnesota. When users do not understand court forms, they either complete the forms incorrectly or call the court for more information. 3. It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. But they don’t want to take the time to decide which they mean, so they push the job off on the audience. 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. Whether you call such writing the opposite of gobbledygook or legalese, or just sloppy work, you know. We hope you enjoy this post. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to communicate clearly. The Plain Language community is a group of government employees and contractors dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government. It means you are communicating your important and complex ideas. Don’t complicate things by using jargon, technical terms, or abbreviations that people won’t understand. Consequences of erudite vernacular utilized. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. PLAIN believes the public deserves to understand what its government is doing for them and expects of them. No. You can see it in action right here! Click the text next to each paragraph to read it in plain language. to make one's meaning plain. If your customers don’t understand your documents, you may have to: Answer phone calls. It’s not simplified language; it’s direct language that doesn’t contain any flair or fluff. You may use any of the. Use plainlanguage. Plain Language Training Resources . 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. The Plain Writing Act of 2010. (2006). By using words in. This construction makes clear to the reader who is to. They’re coming together to discuss the plain language and cultural components of effectively. If you have trouble understanding any documents or material on our websites, please contact PlainLanguage@hhs. We at the Department of Health and Human Services are committed to writing all of our new documents in plain language, starting. This article is structured as follows. (link is external) Everyday Words for Public Health Communication. A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. This page last reviewed on. Use this checklist to see if your document meets plain language standards. read more. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. After. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. In general. Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information. gov for more guidance on using plain language. Use positive language. What is Plain Language? Importance of Plain. Visit plainlanguage. This thesaurus offers plain language equivalents to medical terms, phrases, and references. The Clarity Journal is distributed free to. Here are some examples of how using plain language can help clear up clarity problems caused by ambiguous wording. On the six cards below, learn. The Plain Language and Multilingual communities share a goal of achieving more effective communication. Plain language looks at the whole message from the reader’s perspective, including wording, structure, and design elements. Legalese versus plain language by Peter Butt Legal English has traditionally been a special variety of English. Plain language fixes this problem. It not only gives still-very-relevant lessons on why plain. 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. In 2021, the Civil Rights Division (CRT) provided Plain Language training both to the Civil Rights Division and to the Department at large. Find useful writing tips and fresh points of view from today’s plain language innovators. Plain-language summary (PLS) is a synopsis of research findings written in an easily understandable way, so that even lay audience would grasp the content. All of our classes are based on the Federal Plain Language Guidelines and involve interactive writing exercises. During the 1970s, some practitioners began to employ usability testing. Lists are useful because they: Highlight levels of importance. Checklist for Plain Language. Plain Language WebsiteUsing Plain Language makes it easier for the reader to accurately interpret your message. 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 Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. org and in the Cochrane Library in a range of languages. For regulations and other complex documents, create a comprehensive table of contents. Using plain language can help workplaces communicate. We aim to bring you timely information about the work of CDC and other organizations to improve health literacy. gov, plain language helps the reader: Find what they. Apparently, the headquarters writer was trying to impress people with his so-called knowledge of economics terminology. Plain language strategy #2: We make shorter. The report card evaluates these agencies on organizational compliance and writing quality. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: know what the audience wants and needs. The Definitive Plain Language Writing Guide. Successful plain language projects involve learning and leading from both sides. Online Plain Language Training. These are valuable to a range of readers, including patients, patient advocates, the general public, non-specialist clinicians, research scientists, decision-makers. Although NIMS guidance only requires plain language use in mutual aid events, the wayThe Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires agencies to train their staff in plain language. How to Use this Guide In this guide. Before you even begin the writing process, take a step back and make sure you’re aware of what message. Learn what plain language is and how to write in plain language with best practices and examples. Plain Language Summaries (PLS) provide a summary of an article in non-technical, jargon-free language that is understandable to non-specialist audiences. Refer to the reader as you, but not if it sounds accusatory or insulting. 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. Plain language allows the reader to locate, understand, and act on the information presented. Choose your words carefully. We first developed this document in the mid-90s. The Plain Language Act aims to make democracy more inclusive, especially for people with disabilities and those with lower levels of education. Learn how to apply plain language principles and best practices to your VA website content, and find resources and tools to help you write for your audience. 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). gov. Testing your writing to make sure it’s clear 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. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. Hosted by Digital. Our Plain Language Liaisons report on what staff in their units are doing to review and revise documents — view before/after examples. Target an 8th - 9th grade reading level. Don’t use slashes. 1 This tool aims to support a systematic review of your material. Bibliographic resources about health literacy. Plain language is designed to communicate information as clearly as possible so it can reach as many people as possible. Writing in plain English and legal writing have the same goal: communicating complex ideas in a digestible and manageable form. . ) Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications. Short Definition of Plain Language. 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. Describe how writers should handle multiple audiences. Write in a conversational tone. ” A plain language summary (PLS) summarizes a scientific study and its results to help people without scientific expertise, or from another. Author: Barbro Ehrenberg-Sundin. In the U. Plain language writing—and speaking—will help you to get your message across clearly and concisely. Plain Language at NIH. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. Plain language is clear language. It improves access to services and creates a better experience for your reader. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. Why Use Plain Language? Download Why Use Plain Language? [PDF - 12. Our biannual journal, The Clarity Journal, is the leading source of plain language news and research from across the globe. Consider your audience. Her parents think she recognizes a couple dozen signs. A common myth is that plain language is incompatible with teaching complex subjects. The intended readership of plain language summaries can include patients, patient advocates, caregivers, members of the media, busy. 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. On June 1, 1998, President Clinton issued an executive memo. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. Building and sustaining a culture of plain language – Hennepin County, Minnesota. Hosted by Digital. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN. This book shows you how to write for customers and clients in language that's easy to understand. Handbooks and manuals. X: X: X: X: X 40 CFR part 40 Subpart E — Procedures for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing: Uses some plain language principles, but still suffers from some long sections and sentences. The first plain language regulation was a FCC regulation on operating ham radios. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. A clear,. And you were writing for a professor as your only reader. 54 MB, 34 pages) from Laura Rabuck’s 2022 Federal Plain Language Summit presentation. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. According to the government's Plain Language. Plain language is a communication that is clear, simple, and easy to understand. We also continue to work to ensure plain writing is used in public communications related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. We must use plain language in any document that. gov. ”. Explain the Federal Plain Language Guidelines. This can be hard in healthcare where medical terminology and acronyms prevail. Plain language is a way of writing so that more people can easily read and understand your content. 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. Three days virtual conference dedicated to using plain language to break down barriers in society. 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. Reports and brochures. It . gov. A guide for plain language technical writing. The opposite of plain English goes by various names: bureaucratese, doublespeak, gibberish, gobbledygook, skotison. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. gov. (link is external) This page last reviewed on May 15, 2023. The Plain Language Thesaurus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers plain language equivalents to medical terms and phrases. S. determine if such treaties are becoming easier to read or if improvements are still needed. (1) In this Act, a document for which a reporting agency is responsible is a relevant document if—. Apart from fractions, the slash has almost no good uses. This clear writing approach is ideal for public sector employees who write to and for King County taxpayers, ratepayers and other clients and customers. We commit to write content that is easy to read and understand. Provides information about any federal government benefit or service. The Clarity Journal. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. uses short sections and short sentences. All of these help users connect to the text and cue the user better than nouns do. Choose your words carefully and be consistent in your writing style. While plain language became law for government agencies, it was also used across different industries to improve communication. 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). Start by researching your topic, understanding your audience, and planning and organizing how you will present your information. Plain language also has the secondary benefit of potentially saving courts time and money. Virtual Event, 13 October 2020. complete group discussion assignments (usually due Tuesdays and Fridays) spend about 2 hours per week on coursework. Bush’s former Secretary of Health and Human Services, has this to say about plain language and the federal plain language group. Writing in short, simple words doesn’t mean you are ‘dumbing down’ the message. Cochrane Plain language summaries are freely available on cochrane. Using Plain language: In general, keep language. One legal scholar calls abbreviations a “menace to prose” (Kimble, 2006). Minimize abbreviations. 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. A plain language summary exploring a new treatment combination for untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer: enfortumab vedotin plus. Antiquated words flourish words such as herein, therein,Plain language is a necessity and can have a big payoff for both consumers and organizations. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Language. Plain language is typically based on an eighth-grade reading level, as this ensures clarity and simplicity in communication. Hard writing makes easy reading. They are the most basic building blocks of written and spoken communication. As an editor of technical, statistical reports, I see authors making a number of mistakes in approach, execution and English. Although. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. And best practices for a patient audience include keeping content between a 6. 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). Today, it has given way to active, clear, concise writing, sometimes known as “plain English” (Bailey, 2008). Plain language is not. Plain language means just that: speaking in language that is clear and easy to understand. You can also use the toggle on the top right to switch everything to. Plain Language. As: Use as, as if, as though, or other similar expressions as a conjunction in written documents.