The Center for Plain Language is proud to announce the 2025 ClearMark Awards winners, which honor outstanding plain language work in English, French, and Spanish.
This year’s winners were selected from a strong field of entries submitted by government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and private companies across North America. We are also excited to share the winners of our new Best In and Spotlight Awards, which recognize exceptional work in specific areas and impactful one-off pieces.
Thank you to the more than 40 volunteer judges who evaluated submissions across 10 categories. Scroll down to see all winners, screenshots of each project, and highlights from our judging panel.
Category: Apps
Winner: Show Me for Emergencies • CommunicateHealth & the Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management, MDPHSK
Judges’ comments: “There was clearly great care that went into identifying the audience’s unique needs and just as much effort to meet them. Well done!”
“The app is extremely user-friendly, and the “Staff Tips” and “How to” buttons provide great additional clarification for those who may need it.”
“The user-testing described is excellent – clear effort was put into ensuring this app would be useful for its intended audience.”
“What a phenomenal job of aligning images, words, and translations. Wow!”
“This app is a stunning piece of communication that will be useful for so many people!”
Category: Emails, Newsletters, Blogs
Winner: The WatchBlog • U.S. Government Accountability Office
Judges’ comments: “Excellent blog entries! As a reader, I enjoyed these engaging entries and I learned a lot. The titles were reflective of the content, and the content was well thought out and organized.”
“The GAO goes on to state that its goals are to explain things while remaining conversational in tone and non-partisan. It achieved all of those goals brilliantly.”
Category: Legal
Winner: Power of Attorney • Fédération des caisses Desjardins du QuébecEn Clair
Judges’ comments: “The use of white space and bold titles is particularly effective for the ‘your responsibilities’ section – which is one of the more important aspects of a power of attorney for a client to know about.”
“The testing not only included the intended reader, but also included people advising the reader, clearly resulting in a document that addresses the usual questions advisors would receive from readers.”
Category: Mailed Materials
Winner: Nunavik Voices • Kativik Regional Government, Plainly Speaking, Pivot Point Solutions
Judges’ comments: “This entry elegantly achieves a challenging objective that is important for this community. It effectively addresses users in three languages in one publication. This not only allows all community members (within and across households) to read it. It also signals that the community is united and that each language is important and valued, highlighting the Inuktitut language given its cultural significance.”
“The publication is highly readable, and the storytelling and photos are warm and engaging.”
“Excellent, given the extremely diverse audience. You have created an amazing culturally-sensitive newsletter.”
Category: Posters, Charts & Flyers (1-page only)
Winner: AHN Healthy to Ask Questions • Tonic by Highmark Health
Judges’ comments: “This is an inviting, clear poster that cuts through any potential intimidation and shows a genuine desire to enhance communication between patients and treaters/staff. It is deceptively simple. But simplicity is devilishly hard to achieve. My compliments to the creative team.”
“I applaud the clean, spare style of this entry. It’s easy to read.”
“The entry is so cleverly simple that it might lull some readers into taking its creators’ talent and strong work for granted. But I don’t. Very nice work.”
Category: Short Materials
Winner: Washington State Employment Security Department: How to apply for unemployment benefits • Anthro-Tech, Inc.
Judges’ comments: “This page is an excellent example of plain language… It does a nice job of presenting [what] readers NEED while also anticipating their questions and getting ahead of common hiccups.”
“Wow! The thorough user testing is evident in the final product – great job! You all did a wonderful job with a very complex topic, making a potentially overwhelming experience feel manageable. So important – especially considering the stress that people are usually under when they get to this page!”
Category: Long Materials
Winner: AHN Neurodivergent Social Story for Hospital Stay • Tonic by Highmark Health
Judges’ comments: “The tone is … respectful and written from the child’s point of view which helps them think through the process of going to the hospital.”
“I especially appreciate the simple and clear visual aspect of this entry. The soft colors and large, clear headings are ideal for this audience.”
“This entry covers every step, even the steps that seem arbitrary, which would be comforting for this audience. Excellent.”
Category: Websites
Winner: Immunization Health Topic (Website) on MyHealth.Alberta.ca • Alberta Health Services
Judges’ comments: “Your website shows you’ve really thought about your audience and their need for clear, succinct information about immunizations and how to get them. Key topics are well presented using clear and respectful language.”
Category: French
Winner: Guide de rédaction: Conseil canadien des normes • Le Conseil canadien des normes et Plainly Speaking
Judges’ comments: “The writing in this style guide is very clear and direct. I did not encounter any instances where I saw ambiguity or was in any doubt as to what the authors were trying to say.”
“The guide was developed with a strong and consistent focus on user needs. It is obvious that the content was adapted into French rather than simply translated, which shows real attention to and understanding of the needs of the French-speaking audience. The challenges and specificities of the French language—such as inclusive writing and the use of punctuation marks—are thoughtfully addressed.”
Category: Spanish
Winner: MA Health Connector Application, Maximus Digital Solutions • Maximus Digital Solutions
Judges’ comments: “Readers can easily understand the entry. The style and tone are close, respectful, and avoid jargon. An aspect particularly salient is the “Tell us (Cuéntenos)” at the beginning of each of the 5 headings: it reflects a genuine interest in the reader.”
Grand ClearMark Award
Winner: Immunization Health Topic (Website) on MyHealth.Alberta.ca • Alberta Health Services
This project was selected as the best overall example of plain language across all categories.
Judges’ comments: “Wonderful job on this entry. It is great to see an organization truly care about asking real users what they need and then delivering it. Excellent use of plain language. Keep up the great work.
The sleek, descriptive icons set in a floating banner for each vaccine are helping the reader through the information in a logical manner.
The wording on this site is most succinct. No fluff—every word matters.”
Best In Awards
New this year, the Best In Awards honor entries that demonstrated excellence in a specific plain language principle or communication approach. A panel of judges selected winners from across categories.
Best In User Testing: Talking about Cancer Cachexia • Cancer Support Community
Best In Government: 2025 Title II COLA Notice • Social Security Administration
Best In Finance: Simplifying home loan options • Rocket Mortgage Product Management & Design
Best In Images: Getting a Federal Student Loan • Federal Student Aid
Spotlight Awards
The Spotlight Awards recognize impactful one-off pieces of communication that stand out for their clarity, creativity, and reach.
Know Your Voting Rights Guide • Promote the Vote Michigan
Food Trailer Coverage that Goes the Extra Mile • Food Liability Insurance Program (FLIP)
Michigan Voting Dashboard • Michigan Department of State
