How can I learn the plain language?
Five Steps to Plain Language
- Step 1: Identify and describe the target audience.
- Step 2: Structure the content to guide the reader through it.
- Step 3: Write the content in plain language.
- Step 4: Use information design to help readers see and understand.
- Step 5: Work with the target user groups to test the design and content.
What is an example of plain language?
“You” and other pronouns. Active voice, not passive. Short sentences and paragraphs. Common, everyday words.
What is the plain language Action and Information Network plain )?
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. We believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public.
What does plain English include?
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 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.
Why plain language is important?
Plain language is good customer service and makes life easier for the public. Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. Readers call less often for explanations. They make fewer errors filling out forms.
What is the purpose of plain language?
Plain language is writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly, easily, and completely as possible. Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon.
Why plain English is important?
What are the four traits of plain language?
Plain language is clear, concise, organized, and appropriate for the intended audience.
- 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 plain language in law?
“Plain language,” also known sometimes as “plain English,” is writing in a way that helps readers understand the content in a document the first time they read it. It’s also the law. The Plain Writing Act of 20101 requires all federal agencies to use plain language whenever they communicate with the public.
Where can I find a plain language training course?
The Federal Aviation Administration has made its basic course and plain language toolkit available online. The National Institutes of Health offers a free plain language training course that introduces you to the basics of plain language.
Do you offer plain language training to government agencies?
We offer two kinds of plain language training: We provide a free half-day introduction to plain language to federal agencies. You must have at least 20 participants. Ask if one of our experienced trainers is available for your agency. We need trainers to help us provide plain language training to government agencies.
What is the plain language action and Information Network?
About us 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 believe that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public. Subscribe to our mailing list
Does the NIH support the plain language initiative?
The NIH fully supports the Plain Language initiative, which has its origins in a Federal directive that requires agencies to incorporate plain language elements in the development of communications materials for the public. The NIH is committed to the use of plain language in all new documents written for the public,…
