Plain Language (also called Plain English) is language that is clear and concise and is logically arranged and easy to follow. Written material is in plain language if your audience can:
• Find what they need
• Understand what they find
• Use what they find to meet their needs
(www.plainlanguage.gov)
The government is now passing regulations to improve communication from the government to the public. Recent government directives include the following:
April 14, 2008
The House overwhelmingly approved bill HR3548 that would force the government to use plain English in its public reports, letters and documents.
A similar bill in the Senate, S 2291, passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee last week. It now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
For Writing, Common Sense Has Made a Comeback
Writing in Plain Language
Connie Balcher Inukai
Have you ever signed something without even reading it? Consider the following agreement:
Terms and Conditions
Now you have the opportunity to end paper clutter and organize your financial records. With eDelivery, you can receive certain documents online in lieu of bulky copies by mail. And you can activate this option today, by agreeing to the Consent to Electronic Delivery below.
Bloopers in Written English
(Can you find them?)
1. The reorganization will not effect you.
2. Google is better then Yahoo.
3. Its’ hard to tell what their going to do.
4. Sandra Holden was not suited to personnel work therefore she was transferred to sales.
5. By closing our books at the end of the calendar year, our tax accounting was simplified.
6. The process halts when one of a set of user-defined conditions are met.
7. A driver’s license or credit card are required.
8. The committee is planning to sponsor their golf outing.
