It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. Tuesday, August 11, 2020 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. There are millions of words in the English language. gov. Building and sustaining a culture of plain language – Hennepin County, Minnesota. Communicators must translate technical information into messages non-expert audiences can understand. S. 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. As: Use as, as if, as though, or other similar expressions as a conjunction in written documents. Keep it Short. Plain language can be useful in an academic setting. § Research tells us that most readability formulas are. The journal features the latest plain language research, practical advice, before-and-after examples, success stories, campaign strategies and much more. Writing in short, simple words doesn’t mean you are ‘dumbing down’ the message. Pointing words. Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. $350–$930/course, not including textbooks. The Act was signed in October 2010, but some federal agencies have been promoting the use of plain language for years. Plain language is clear, concise, organized, and appropriate for the intended audience. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Government has embraced plain language, and government agencies are revising written materials and websites to comply with plain language standards. Apocrypha. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. The use of plain language is spreading in many areas of American culture. Actions are verbs. Her parents think she knows some signs. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of "dumbing down" or "talking down" to the reader. 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 at NIH. Writing in plain English and legal writing have the same goal: communicating complex ideas in a digestible and manageable form. Direct, accessible language is often called plain language. Learn what plain language is and how to write in plain language with best practices and examples. You may use any of the. Writing in Plain Language. For example, the phrase “people who are incarcerated” is wordier but more representative and equitable than the term “inmates. We’re a nonprofit organization run entirely on a volunteer basis. PLAIN offers a variety of introductory classes on plain language. It’s robust and direct—the opposite of gaudy, pretentious language. 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. Simple words help you express your message clearly. ”. People with language impairments often have a reduced vocabulary and learning new terms is a very slow difficult process. This book shows you how to write for customers and clients in language that's easy to understand. Originally called the Plain English Network, PLAIN has been meeting informally since the mid 1990s. Tip: Where possible, choose a simple word or phrase over a complex one. 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). It looks as if the proposed law will become effective later this month. Sometimes verb phrases would make good headings for procedural sections of rules. 8-11-2020 workshop and 9-10-2020 workshop. This chapter will introduce you to the principles of plain language and allow you to practise them. Our growing network includes members from over 30 countries working in clear communication in at least 15 languages. [table striped="true" responsive="true"] Is the tone appropriate for the audience?The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Use short lists and bullets to organize information. Support for plain-writing is growing in the legal professions, which bring us some of our best and most varied examples of plain-writing. It is also called plain English or plain writing. 2. In 2008, the two main international umbrella organizations (Clarity and PLAIN) and the Center for Plain Language in the United States set up a. Words matter. Use short sentences: aim for an average word count of 20. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: know what the audience wants and needs. Language allows us to communicate our ideas and thoughts. Plain language begins long before you put pen to paper—or keystroke to keyboard. It’s not simplified language; it’s direct language that doesn’t contain any flair or fluff. Plain language is content written for everybody, including degree-bearing individuals. 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. vivid. Lists highlight a series of steps, requirements, or pieces of information in a visually clear way. Plain Language WebsiteUsing Plain Language makes it easier for the reader to accurately interpret your message. The Definitive Plain Language Writing Guide. —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. Executive Order 23-02 directs agencies to prioritize their most-viewed, public-facing materials. Next, against the background of the. This page last reviewed on. Since legalese takes longer to draft, read, and understand, it often falls short of the drafter’s primary goal of precision. plain talk. Gains Momentum: 1940-2015,” Karen Schriver outlines the following: “Between 1940 and 1970, plain language focused mainly on readability. Prefer a simpler word whenever you can. 54 MB, 34 pages) from Laura Rabuck’s 2022 Federal Plain Language Summit presentation. complete group discussion assignments (usually due Tuesdays and Fridays) spend about 2 hours per week on coursework. 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. (If you’re writing for the web, here’s the web checklist . [1] The Act applies to public service agencies and Crown agents. Our trainers are federal employees from across. She was born early. It is important for scientists to use plain language not only to reach the public; but also to reach one another. You may use any of the content on this site without explicit permission. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. § Plain language has evolved significantly over the past 75 years—from a focus on crafting clear sentences to creating effective multimedia, electronic, or paper communications. Tip: Where possible, choose a simple word or phrase over a complex one. Your Reader is a Person. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. Plain Writing and Clear Communications. We have edited this list. When people understand messages quickly and fully, there will usually be less confusion, less need for re-explanation, and fewer mistakes. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. ) written for the average reader. Also called plain language . We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. The Office of the Federal Register provides excellent guidance on Drafting Legal Documents. Words to avoid. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. Plain language movements originated in the 1970s in several countries, including the UK, US and Canada. I do think there’s an obligation to recognize that if your goal is to inform the. Email plainwriting@nara. Agency programs and contacts. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. 1. Yes, you did. Right of use means any authorization under this part to use Outer Continental. What are Plain Language Summaries (PLS)? PLS sit after the academic abstract. Plain English writing style. Plain English is clear and direct speech or writing in English. Don’t complicate things by using jargon, technical terms, or abbreviations that people won’t understand. Plain language means just that: speaking in language that is clear and easy to understand. The Center for Plain Language, a non-profit organization, helps government agencies and businesses write clear and understandable communications. In most cases, writers mean either “or” or “and. As Justice Clarence Thomas once said, the “beauty is not to write a five cent idea in a ten dollar sentence” but rather “to put a ten dollar idea in a five cent sentence. 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 offers free consultation to federal agencies on how to start an internal agency plain language program. A common myth is that plain language is incompatible with teaching complex subjects. 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. 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. Published: 2002. Plain language does not mean simplifying or dumbing down. Plain Language: Getting Started or Brushing Up. This glossary of terms is derived from a list copyrighted by the University of Kentucky. He includes the following words in. Letters and notices. Morkes, J. clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (P. Excellent use of all plain language principles. The report card evaluates these agencies on organizational compliance and writing quality. You can see how shorter paragraphs improve your readability score. ”The legal community is moving to a strong preference for “must” as the clearest way to express a requirement or obligation. 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. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements. government agencies are required to communicate in plain language. The public is beginning to see the difference plain, clear writing can make. Plain Language Summaries. Don’t use slashes. In this 4-week online training, you will: complete 4 modules (1 module each week) be assigned to a small group. Write in a conversational tone. They also allow audience members to skim chunks of text to easily gather. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. Page 5. We at the Department of Health and Human Services are committed to writing all of our new documents in plain language, starting. The loosely organized campaign to encourage legal writers and business writers to write clearly and concisely – without legalese – while preserving. 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. You may use any of the content on this site without. Just because someone can read instructions written at a grade 14 level doesn’t mean they. We need trainers to help us provide plain language training to government agencies. 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. You may use any of the. Describes why plain language is a promising strategy for clearly communicating health information and improving health literacy. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Plain language is grammatically correct language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. You’ll also develop a sensitivity to the issues of literacy and work toward. First, lawyers regularly misuse it to mean something other than “has a duty to. Gains Momentum by Karen A. Before and after. The second event will take place May 11-13, 2021 . The Plain Language Commission accredits public documents and websites with the Clear English Standard logo and provides training in plain language. Choose everyday words: the shorter the word, the more likely it will be familiar to the reader. As an author, you should. Your professor was likely smarter than you were. Use positive language. Take train-the-trainer bootcamp through plainlanguage. 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. Utilize technology tools. 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. . What is plain language? Nowadays, we have a (fairly) robust understanding of what makes writing readable. As an editor of technical, statistical reports, I see authors making a number of mistakes in approach, execution and English. 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. Wednesday, August 24, 2022 10:30 AM – 3:45 PM ET. 5. Verb phrases are the best headings for sections that relate to procedures. Writing Plain Language for Law (PLNL510) Plain Language in Health Literacy (PLNL520) Technical Writing and Editing (TCOM120) Copy Editing (EDIT210) Learning materials. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. It is intended to make government communications. Apart from fractions, the slash has almost no good uses. Right of use means any authorization issued under this part that allows use of Outer Continental Shelf lands. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Use pronouns when you can. Plain language myths. a plain trail to the river. Replacing complex words with simpler words whenever possible lets your readers concentrate on your ideas and information. Plain language is a way of writing so that more people can easily read and understand your content. uses active voice. By using words in. For other groups, such as people living with dementia, learning new terms is not. organized to serve the reader’s needs. ETGAR may serve as a model for learning written communication skills during clinical years, using the. And best practices for a patient audience include keeping content between a 6. 13 Plain Language 13. 1 Using plain language enables you to connect directly and clearly with all audiences - from research participants, to the general public, to research colleagues. Plain language makes it easier for everyone to understand and use health information. In 2008, the two main international umbrella organizations (Clarity and PLAIN) and the Center for Plain Language in the United States set up a. Federal employees speak. Readers call less often for explanations. The Plain Language Thesaurus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers plain language equivalents to medical terms and phrases. The Working Group appointed 3 luminaries and stalwarts. Think through the questions your users likely have and then organize the material in a logical order. In Conclusion. [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. Federal Plain Language Guidelines, March 2011, Rev. Half-day presentations. Meet other Canadians doing plain language work. American Sign Language. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. Understanding what users are trying to do when visiting your website or reading your communications will help you write clearly and focus on their needs. You may have been toiling away for years to change wordy. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon. Top 10 Principles for Plain Language. Introduction. Plain language legal writing refers to legal writing that is well thought-out, well organized, and understandable to the client without interpretation: the language is clear, the legal concepts are explained and the technical terms are defined. We must use plain language in any document that. We at the Department of Health and Human Services are committed to writing all of our new documents in plain language, starting. Learn the definition, guidelines, purposes, and examples of plain language. Plain language is information that readers can understand the first time they read it and use easily. Any paragraph that can be broken up into shorter paragraphs (or into other elements) makes your message more effective. If your customers don’t understand your documents, you. In short, you should always aim for clarity, readability, and brevity. This is crucial. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. 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. Style guides are not a plain language issue, except that your style guide should include directions to write in plain language. Readers call less often for explanations. But as these pages discuss, we still have a long. Content types. Resources for using plain language. Find useful writing tips and fresh points of view from today’s plain language innovators. Provides information about any federal government benefit or service. We have previously worked with the National Institutes of Health, U. You should format your letter like the one shown in the guidebook. The aim is that anyone looking for information about the key points of a Cochrane Review can read and understand them. As a federal website, the content is in the public domain. They point to an antecedent. President Clinton was an advocate and signed two executive orders and issued a Memorandum on Plain Language in Government Writing. This thesaurus offers plain language equivalents to medical terms, phrases, and references that we often use. When drafting a plain language text, there are 5 general areas to consider: 1. Use plain words Don't use jargon or specialized language that your reader might not understand. This plain-language course will: Outline a writer’s obligations under the Plain Writing Act. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN and. Federal Plain Language Guidelines. Complex topics can be clearly communicated with plain language without losing substance. Plain language is a more complex version of English and baby talk. These are valuable to a range of readers, including patients, patient advocates, the general public, non-specialist clinicians, research scientists, decision-makers. For regulations and other complex documents, create a comprehensive table of contents. Hard writing makes easy reading. 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. Before. “And/or” is a classic example. When people understand what they read, they need fewer explanations and make fewer mistakes. read more. By October 13 2011, we will use plain language in any new or substantially revised document that:. L. Help readers skim and scan. It means you are communicating your important and complex ideas. 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. Legalese versus plain language by Peter Butt Legal English has traditionally been a special variety of English. Plain language is a way of writing that makes the message easy to read, understand, and act upon by the intended audience. 420. 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. Before you even begin the writing process, take a step back and make sure you’re aware of what message. This construction makes clear to the reader who is to. These days, federal job postings for writers, editors, and many other positions either request or require plain language experience—skills, former training, or even some level of expertise called “mastery. Write for your reader, not yourself. It is intended to make government communications. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step toward political. Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. (1) In this Act, a document for which a reporting agency is responsible is a relevant document if—. Replace verb-noun phrases and wordy phrases with more precise words. It has become so corrupted by misuse that it has no firm meaning. In healthcare writing, patients are often the intended audience. Learn how they used plain language in COVID-19 agency responses, and how they combined plain language, accessibility, and user experience. One of the types of technical writing is legal writing. Cost. Please feel free to use these terms in place of medical jargon, wherever you feel they might be better understood. They are the most basic building blocks of written and spoken communication. Limit each paragraph to one idea and keep it short. View these before and after examples to see how the National Archives is. Use summaries to present key information before going into detail. 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. Explain the Federal Plain Language Guidelines. Plain language is a way of writing that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Plain language (also called Plain English or lay language) is communication that your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. gov. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a hardline. Many of your high-level managers and. . Apart from fractions, the slash has almost no good uses. Writing in plain English and legal writing have the same goal: communicating complex ideas in a digestible and manageable form. (2) WEBSITE. Organize your writing so it’s easy to follow along. Your table of contents should be a reliable roadmap that users can follow to quickly find what they need. 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. On August 24, 2022, the Plain Language Community of Practice (CoP) will bring together federal employees to highlight plain language successes in many federal agencies at all stages of the communications journey. Apparently, the headquarters writer was trying to impress people with his so-called knowledge of economics terminology. And there’s some indication the very first mention of plain language dates back as far as. Bush’s former Secretary of Health and Human Services, has this to say about plain language and the federal plain language group. They also didn't have a negative reaction to the simplified content. These summaries are intended for a broad and inclusive audience that encompasses. Plain Language has been a stylistic goal for all Federal Government communication since at least 2010, with passage of the The Plain Language Act. The dissatisfaction with legalese sparked the Plain Language Movement in. What is plain language? Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. 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. 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. It should summarize your scientific study, its results, and their broader relevance without using jargon so that it is understandable by scientists from outside of your discipline, as well as science journalists. adult reads at an eight-grade level, which makes. That's likely why readers across a wide variety of audiences prefer it, but plain style also has other benefits, like making documents more cost-effective and easier. Don’t use slashes. Legal language is a major source of annoying jargon. “And/or” is a classic example. Our aim is to help make health information clear and easy to understand. you get your message across more often, more easily and in a friendlier way. The Clarity Journal. Avoid the third person when the second person works. Follow established web-writing guidelines to maximize readability. 3. Use even more lists than on paper. Adopting plain language in the workplace is sometimes perceived as overly complicated or not really necessary. ”. See individual courses for textbook details. The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communication from government. We ask only that you credit our work by citing back to PLAIN. In most cases, writers mean either “or” or “and. While the day-to-day work of plain language happens in departments, your program won’t thrive without clear expectations from the top. ”. Plain language avoids unnecessarily complicated or obtuse technical language in favor. That's likely why readers across a wide variety of audiences prefer it, but plain style also has other benefits, like making documents more cost-effective and easier. ) places. You can also watch the 28-minute, 13-second video on YouTube. Many you have never heard before, and many you may have heard but don’t know their correct definition, spelling, or pronunciation. Like: Do not use like as a conjunction when writing; use it as a preposition. They want to scan, not read. Plain language is personal. 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. Plain. That makes their writing ambiguous. “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. and compelling as any other type of language. Mysterious in form and expression, it is larded with law-Latin and Norman-French, heavily dependent on the past, and unashamedly archaic. ”the Plain Language Movement, legal language, and rhetoric, and 3. It aims to improve the effectiveness and accountability of the public service by requiring communications to be clear and accessible to the public. Plain language is a movement that started by simplifying unintelligible legal documents, and has now been embraced by governments and businesses around the world. Choose your words carefully. Use even shorter paragraphs than on paper. To communicate professionally, you need to know when and how to use either active or passive voice. to explain the importance of the Plain Writing Act and outline CMS’ commitment to full compliance with the Act. The Plain Language Action and Information Network develops and maintains the content of this site with support from the General Services Administration. It often needs an extra verb to make sense. Readability is a strong ally in the quest for plain language—the more common and less complex a word, phrase, or. Handbooks and manuals. Writing that is clear and to the point helps improve all communication as it. Several months after FCC issued the regulation, the questions had fallen off so far that all. It’s not just about the words you choose, but your overall ability to.