The benefits of plain language are both tangible and intangible: Plain language gets your message across in the shortest time possible. More people are able to understand your message. There is less chance that your document will be misunderstood, so you spend less time explaining it to people.
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.
What is meant by plain language?
“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.
How do you speak in plain English?
How to Speak in Plain English
- Use as few words as possible to make your point. Try not to add too many description words or details.
- Don’t unnecessarily combine sentences.
- Get to the point and then explain it.
- Use vocabulary and language that you and your audience are familiar with.
- Use active verbs, not passive verbs.
Why lawyers should use plain English?
Members of the public – particularly those with no legal learning – prefer plain legal language. If they are clients, it gives them a better chance to understand the legal consequences of the documents they sign; if they are citizens, it gives them a better chance to understand the laws that bind them.
What is a simple communication?
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or group to another. Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a recipient. This may sound simple, but communication is actually a very complex subject.
What is an example of plain language?
Use plain words If you have to use a specialized term, explain briefly what it means, in parentheses. For example: “Patients have the right to make decisions about their bodily integrity (autonomy) and to have access to unbiased and accurate information about relevant medical issues and treatments.”
What are the five principles 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 does in plain English mean?
in clear, straightforward language
The term derives from the 16th-century idiom “in plain English”, meaning “in clear, straightforward language”. Another name for the term, layman’s terms, is derived from the idiom “in layman’s terms” which refers to language phrased simply enough that a layperson, or common person, can understand.
What does it mean to write in 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. Delete unnecessary words.
What is plain English law?
The premise behind the plain English movement is that legal documents ought to be plainer–and more comprehensible–to the average person. The first major struggle in England was to get legal texts into English, the language of the people, rather than French or Latin.
What is plain legal language?
What is Plain Legal Language? Plain legal language is language that is clear and comprehensible to its intended reader. As a writer of plain legal language, your aim is always to be understood. Sometimes, you will aim to be understood by the ordinary reader, but not always.
What are the characteristics of plain language?
What is the major goal of Plain?
PLAIN is the acronym for the Plain Language Association International, and its aim is to encourage the use of ordinary language in government documents. Government documents written using the values of PLAIN will be easy to read, understand, and use by the average American.
What are the characteristics of plain English?
What are the main characteristics of plain English?
How do you use 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.
Plain language is a way of presenting information that helps your audience understand it the first time they read it and it makes good business sense. Using plain language helps you to communicate well with your clients and customers and give them what they want: information that is accessible and easy to understand.
Why do we use plain language?
Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. Readers call less often for explanations. They make fewer errors filling out forms. They comply more accurately and quickly with requirements.
What do mean by plain language?
“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. Writing in plain language is not unprofessional. It’s not “dumbing down” the message or “talking down” to the audience.
How do you write in plain English?
Summary
- Stop and think before you start writing.
- Prefer short words.
- Use everyday English whenever possible.
- Keep your sentence length down to an average of 15 to 20 words.
- Use active verbs as much as possible.
- Be concise.
- Imagine you are talking to your reader.
Active voice, not passive. Short sentences and paragraphs. Common, everyday words. Easy-to-follow design features (lists, headers, tables)
What is plain language example?
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 do people use plain English in business?
Plain English is clear, concise and free of jargon. It’s easy to comprehend, which is why businesses and governments favour it. It’s also simple to translate into other languages. Basically, it’s functional writing – it’s used to convey information that is itself valuable. “Have something to say and say it as clearly as you can.
Why is plain language so important in writing?
The main goal in writing is to put your message across clearly and concisely. You want your readers to understand what you are telling them and what you want them to do with that information quickly and easily. Plain language is clear language – it is direct but not simplistic. Plain language is great for business.
When do you use plain English in writing?
To use plain English, you may need to edit your writing several times over, or even ask someone else to read it for you. When you first write a document, do not worry too much about using plain English but just get the words down and your message across.
What do you mean by the term plain language?
“Plain language” is a term used by many. I suspect its meaning varies considerably from user to user. By “plain language” I mean language that is clear and idiomatic – for those who write in the English language, “plain language” is modern, standard English.
