Center founder wins International Plain Language Achievement Award
As the Center approaches the close of 2017, we celebrate a prestigious award received recently by our founder and former Chair, Annetta Cheek. The Center’s international counterpart, Plain Language Association International (PLAIN), awarded Annetta the Christine Mowat Plain Language Achievement Award in September at its conference in Graz, Austria. The award honors a “significant contribution to advancing plain language at the local, regional, national, or international levels.”
Legal writing and the alligator tragedy
Plain English can be a life or death issue.
I’ve heard and read about the heartbreaking tragedy at the Disney resort in Florida, where a 2 year old was snatched from shallow water by an alligator. Better legal writing – meaning better signage – could have prevented this tragedy, and could prevent others.
World Usability Day
The airlines take a lot of guff for how they work – or don’t work.
We can complain about the boarding process. (Cattle in a chute?) And it’s fair to loathe the legroom. (Airlines could make a bundle selling knee-cap insurance). Being disgruntled at having to pay $7.50 for a bag of nuts and a Coke is surely a reasonable complaint, too.
But guess what? When it comes to good usability, Airlines have been doing one thing right for a loooong time.
The assignment was simple
The assignment was simple in theory–choose one of the article options given to us by our professor, apply the method of plain language to it, and create a clear and concise piece explaining the message. Each of the text options ranged from 8-10 pages and were so laden with filler sentences and convoluted language just reading the intro was a headache.
On the event of Annetta’s “retirement”
In honor of the retirement of Annetta L. Cheek, PhD, Board Chair and co-founder of the Center for Plain Language, an American flag will fly over the U.S. Capitol today. The Center is a nonprofit organization that advocates for clear language in government, business, nonprofits and universities. The testimonial reads: “As she steps down from her […]
Who makes the grade? Plain language report cards for federal agencies
USDA Gets an “A;” VA Gets an “F” on First Plain Writing Act Report Card Released Today by the Center for Plain Language Rep. Braley and the Center for Plain Language Release Report Card Grades at Telephone News Briefing Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture received an “A” and the Veterans’ Administration […]