How do you use plain language?
- Be concise.
- Break documents into separate topics.
- Use short paragraphs—even shorter than on paper.
- Use short lists and bullets to organize information.
- Use even more headings with less under each heading.
- Use white space liberally, so pages are easy to scan.
- Write for your reader, not yourself.
- Use pronouns when you can.
- State your major point(s) first before going into details.
- Stick to your topic.
- Limit each paragraph to one idea and keep it short.
- Write in active voice.
What is the purpose of plain language?
The idea of using plain language is to simplify: eliminate extra words, remove jargon and abbreviations, and use active verbs and phrases. Done well, using plain language can make your writing feel more conversational, engaging, and action-oriented.
What is plain language in public health?
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to train staff to use plain language when they communicate with the public. Use Everyday Words for Public Health Communication to reduce public health jargon. This tool lists terms that authors frequently use in public health materials and the terms’ common, everyday alternatives.
Where can I find information about plain language training?
PLAIN developed and continues to revise The Federal Plain Language Guidelines to provide updated advice on clear communication. NIH has established the Clear Communication initiative that focuses on achieving health literacy objectives. Their page on plain language has information about training and links to plain language resources.
What is “plain English”?
A definition of “plain English” from a leading book on legal writing, Garner’s Legal Writing in Plain English. Plain language defined by a scholar of plain language, Australian Robert Eagleson. Clear writing and plain language as defined by Nick Wright in the EPA writing course.
What is plain language example?
Plain language style involves everyday words and expressions in a familiar group context and may include contractions. Many people see plain language as an ethical means of communication. For example, one legal expert rewrote Instagram's terms of use to be in plain language, then showed her version to teenagers.
How do you use plain English?
Plain English is a style of writing that enables the reader to understand the message the first time they read it. It uses short, clear sentences and everyday words without unnecessary jargon. To use plain English, you may need to edit your writing several times over, or even ask someone else to read it for you.
What are 3 techniques to presenting messages using plain language?
Plain Language in Spoken CommunicationKnow your audience. You know your agenda as the speaker. ... Structure your message. All speeches require an introduction, body, and conclusion. ... Speak in active voice. ... Keep it short. ... Consider your language. ... Use personal pronouns. ... Avoid filler. ... Avoid “shall”More items...
What is the first rule of plain language?
The first rule of plain language is: write for your audience. Use language your audience knows and feels comfortable with.
What does writing in plain language really mean?
It means thinking like your reader so you can anticipate and answer their most important questions. It means writing in active voice, avoiding jargon and cutting the fluff so your writing is concise and writing in plain language requires a whole new set of skills, ones you probably didn't learn in school.
What is a word for plain language?
What is another word for in plain language?honestlytrulyspeaking franklyspeaking truthfullyto tell you the truthin plain Englishabsolutelycertainlyas a matter of factin truth66 more rows
What are the five principles of plain language?
Crafting Your Message with Plain Language proofread another student's work, or your own, with a focus on the five principles of plain language: active voice, common words, positive tone, reader focus, and short (concise) words and sentences.
How do you write plain English?
How to write in plain EnglishThink about your audience.Open with what matters most to your audience.Use "you" and "we"Avoid the passive voice.Keep sentences and paragraphs short.Use lists.Use the simplest words that work.Avoid nominalisations ("zombie nouns")
What is a plain language search?
A natural language search is a search using regular spoken language, such as English. Using this type of search you can ask the database a question or you can type in a sentence that describes the information you are looking for.
Why do we need to use plain language in our legal system?
Legal documents, especially functional documents, should be written in plain language because a reader cannot act on a document the reader cannot understand.
Why do writers use simple language?
Using plain and clear language helps your audience read, understand and use the information you are giving them. Tip: Where possible, choose a simple word or phrase over a complex one. Writing in short, simple words doesn't mean you are 'dumbing down' the message.
How do you evaluate a plain language?
Checklist for Plain Languagewritten for the average reader.organized to serve the reader's needs.has useful headings.uses “you” and other pronouns to speak to the reader.uses active voice.uses short sections and short sentences.uses the simplest tense possible—simple present is best.uses base verbs, not hidden verbs.More items...
Why should you write in plain English?
Plain language (also known as plain English) is a way of writing or presenting information so that readers can understand it quickly and easily. Plain language should be easy to read, understand and use. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language.
How can I use English in a sentence?
[M] [T] I'm going to study English this afternoon. [M] [T] Some of my friends can speak English well. [M] [T] I've never heard English spoken so quickly. [M] [T] What do you call this vegetable in English?
What is the plain English movement?
The plain English movement is the name given to the first effective effort to change this and to write legal documents, particularly those used by consumers, in a manner that can be understood, not just by the legal technicians who draft them, but by the consumers who are bound by their terms.
How do you write a report in plain English?
SummaryPlan carefully before you start writing. ... Organise your report into sections.Use everyday English whenever possible.Avoid jargon and legalistic words, and explain any technical terms you have to use.Keep your sentence length down to an average of 15 to 20 words. ... Use active verbs as much as possible.More items...
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 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.
Who defined clear writing and plain language?
Clear writing and plain language as defined by Nick Wright in the EPA writing course.
What is plain language?
Plain language is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand communication.
Why is plain language important?
Plain language is accessible language. It helps ensure that everyone can understand and use the information you share. Plus, the majority of people, even experts, prefer to read below their actual readability level. 1 Overly academic, long, poorly organized, or complex writing is less reader-friendly. It is also less accessible to large chunks of your potential audience.
How to practice good writing?
To practice good writing, communicators need to consider the following steps: organize information so the most important points come first; create a single overarching communication outcome (SOCO) that defines the desired outcome, for example, behaviour change;
How to communicate technical information?
Communicators must translate technical information into messages non-expert audiences can understand. People are more likely to trust and act on information they understand. To ensure the target audience understands WHO information, advice and guidance, communicators must: 1 be clear about the desired outcome 2 get to the point quickly 3 know what the audience wants and needs.
What browser extensions are available for testing web page readability?
There are several browser extensions available for testing web page readability. For example, TRAY for Chrome offers a number of readability metrics for the current web page, including Flesch-Kincaid.
Does screen reader software pronounce words correctly?
Mark language changes. Screen reader software will pronounce words correctly if they are indicated in the page code.
How do I write in Plain Language?
There are many different techniques you can use, but I have narrowed down the list to seven key areas where writing is strengthened with a simpler, plainer approach. Review the graphic here for examples or scroll below for a quick explanation of each of the seven areas.
What is a "plains language"?
“Plain language” is a term often used by professional writers to describe writing that is easily understood by most people the first time they read it. In other words, it’s writing that isn’t unnecessarily complex, wordy, or full of terms and phrases that make people scratch their heads.
What is jargon in business?
“Jargon” is a word we use to describe industry-specific terms and phrases. We often use jargon to communicate complex ideas to people within our industry. While it makes sense in some cases to use jargon, if you’re communicating to a general audience, jargon can be difficult to understand and frustrating to read and listen to. Fancy, complex words won’t typically impress or clarify; they’ll just annoy. Replace words like “padagogical heuristic” with “hands-on learning tool” or “myocardial infarction” with “heart attack.” Don’t those second terms sound much better?
Why is plain language important?
Done well, using plain language can make your writing feel more conversational, engaging, and action-oriented. Basically, plain language is the opposite of legal language or dense technical writing.
How to make a sentence easier to read?
Why not just say, “because”? They mean the same thing, but “because” is much easier to read and understand. Likewise, avoid words that people aren’t all that familiar with or rarely use. For example, “money” is a far easier word for most people to understand than “remuneration,” so stick with “money.” See graphic above for how to replace common complex phrases or words for simpler ones.
Why is active voice preferred in writing?
While writers sometimes use passive voice intentionally to shift action away from a specific person, active voice is usually preferred by most readers because it’s clearer and more direct. Aim for active voice whenever you can. 7.
How to avoid hiding verbs?
Lastly, avoid “hiding” verbs by turning the most important verb into a noun. For example, nouns that end in “-ment,” “-tion,” “-sion,” and “-ence” are often better used in their verb form. Saying, “Please fill out an application for a loan” turns the word “apply” into “application,” which requires more words (“fill out an”) for the sentence to make sense. Plus, it places the action on “fill out,” when you’ll likely want to place the action on “apply.” Rephrase to say “Please apply for the loan.” You’ll see that the second sentence is shorter, more action-oriented, and more clear. See more examples in graphic above.
What is plain language?
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.
Why is plain language important?
Plain language makes it easier for everyone to understand and use health information. Although plain language is a familiar idea, many organizations don’t use it as often as they should. The Plain Writing Act of 2010. requires federal agencies to train staff and use plain language when they communicate with the public.
What is Plain Language?
When you write in plain language, your target audience can easily read, understand and take action the first time they read your content.
Why is writing plainly important?
Writing plainly erases ambiguity. You save your readers' brainpower, which means your customer support team spends less time clarifying confusing content. And time is money.
What words can you use instead of "utilize"?
Try words like "use" instead of "utilize," "about" instead of "approximately" and "try" instead of "attempt." The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) has a large list of simpler alternatives.
Is plain language dumbing down content?
Plain language is not dumbing down content, and its intention isn't to offend the PhDs of the world. Plain language is content written for everybody, including degree-bearing individuals. A study of how users with lower literacy skills read and navigate on the web, for example, found that even users with graduate degrees completed tasks faster ...
What Is Plain Language?
- Plain language is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand communication. The Plain Writing Act of 2010defines plain language as: You might also hear plain language referred to as plain writing or plain English. Plain language is accessible communication.
Why Should You Start Using Plain Language?
- Plain language benefits you (and your business) as much as it benefits your audience. These benefits can include: 1. Better SEO results and higher search engine rankings. 2. People spend more time on your site (dwell time). 3. An expanded audience, including people with average/below-average reading abilities and those with certain disabilities. 4. Time and money s…
How Do You Use Plain Language?
- Write for your reader: 1. Know your audience and what information they want to see. 2. Put the most relevant content and information first. 3. Follow web-formatting rules: use headers, lists, and tables elements. 4. Include only include necessary words and keep written content concise. 5. Use common or familiar words, short sentences, and short par...
Why Is Plain Language Important?
- Plain language is accessible language. It helps ensure that everyone can understand and use the information you share. Plus, the majority of people, even experts, prefer to read below their actual readability level.1Overly academic, long, poorly organized, or complex writing is less reader-friendly. It is also less accessible to large chunks of your potential audience. 1. Use assistive tec…