So what is Plain Language?

An important point to make is that this plain language movement is intended for business writing. This new way to think about writing is for companies to avoid spending millions of dollars on a comma, like Rogers. For all the prose writers and academics out there, this is a great way to mean what you say when you need to, but when you want to get creative, plain language rules apply only in the clear presentation of that creativity.

Wordsmithassociates.com has a great quote on the front page of their site explaining just this point. The sum it up nicely explaining plain-language is “writing that is direct and engaging, simple and clear.” (Wordsmith Associates, 2009)

In 2010 the US Federal Government created the Plain Writing Act. It requires all government officials to write using the plain-language rules. This includes all forms and publicly distributed documents. The law ensures that anyone looking for  federal information will find documents to be “clear, concise, well-organized.” (Center For Plain Language, NY)

This demonstrates very well how Plain writing was intended to be used. When people are searching for information, they can find it and there is no question as to what the meaning behind the words.

So why take all this extra effort?

The United States National Insinuates of Health has outlined some benefits of plain-language writing.

1.     Saves time, and therefore;

2.     Saves money

3.     Improves reader response

4.     Avoids barriers between knowledgeable writers and those reading

(National Institutes of Health)

I rather enjoyed the article by the NIH, they summed it up nicely and the picture included will make anyone chuckle.

Image Source: http://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/lmedia/plainenglish.gif

Bibliography: 

Center For Plain Language. (NY). Plain Writing Act of 2010. Retrieved from Center For Plain Language: http://centerforplainlanguage.org/resources/plain-writing-laws/plain-writing-act-of-2010/

National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Plain Language at NIH. Retrieved from National Institutes of Health: http://www.nih.gov/clearcommunication/plainlanguage/index.htm

Wordsmith Associates. (2009). Wordsmith Associates. Retrieved from Wordsmtih Associates: http://wordsmithassociates.com/index.html