You know how some people like crossword or jigsaw puzzles? Editing is the same thing.
The General’s Red Pen: My Plain Language Beginnings
Search Results for: plain language
Just Say It: 3 Easy Tips for Communicating In Plain Language
Ever go back and forth with someone via email three or four times, only to be frustrated that they don’t understand you? So you call them and after listening to just a few sentences they say, “Why didn’t you tell me that! NOW I get it.” Write the way you would talk to the person… Read more »
Plain Language, Practical Leadership
Meet Katherine Spivey, one of our NextGen Exemplary Leader Award finalists. As the web content manager and Plain Language Launcher at the GSA, Spivey simplifies government communication in a variety of forms. From online platforms to publication content, Spivey aims to make the public’s experience with government quicker and easier for everyone.
Plain Language Doesn’t Have to Be Plain
I had a really great conversation with one of my coworkers the other day about the concept of “plain language” which really got me thinking about writing across all parts of government–local, state, federal… Here in the federal government, we talk about plain language–which is the idea that language should be easy to understand forRead… Read more »
Tell Me Straight: Plain Language in Governance
Reading wordy language is a real pain. As a graduate student of a social sciences discipline (I recently got a Masters’ in gender studies), I saw some of the most ridiculous examples of convoluted and elaborate language out there – social theory seems to spontaneously inspire this habit. It was annoying as a student, asRead… Read more »
Fall Plain Language Workshops
Plain Language Workshops from the Center for Plain Language Thursday, November 14, 2013 – 1pm National Press Club – 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045$95 for non-members; $75 for memberWorkshops are 2 1/2 hours. We break for a networking session for 30 minutes. Choose one of two popular sessions: Testing your plain language Kath Straub, Usability.org StudiesRead… Read more »
Fun With Plain Language: Decipher These Bloated Sayings
I taught a session on writing for the Web today and mentioned that it can be fun to turn common sayings into governmentese and then challenging others to decode them. Here are three examples I came up with. Try your hand at deciphering them. Approximately spherical seed-bearing produce, examples of which can be many colorsRead… Read more »
Plain Language Is Good Business
(This is a repost of my guest blog for New Zealand’s WriteMark plain language advocates) I worked on U.S. Government websites for 10 years; and I learned there’s one principle that trumps all others: if you don’t communicate effectively, you can’t serve effectively. If customers come to your website and cannot understand what you offerRead… Read more »
Plain Language Is Good Business
(This is a repost of my guest blog for New Zealand’s WriteMark plain language adovcates) I worked on U.S. Government websites for 10 years; and I learned there’s one principle that trumps all others: if you don’t communicate effectively, you can’t serve effectively. If customers come to your website and cannot understand what you offerRead… Read more »
“Plain Language” Is More Than Words
Plain language is critical to great customer service. You may think that “plain language” is all about getting the words right. Well, words are a big part of it. But there’s more to it than that. “Plain” means information you can find, understand, and use quickly and easily. So, in addition to choosing the rightRead… Read more »