But forget “the parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow” because it’s time for ClearMark nominations!
Once again, the Center for Plain Language will honor the best of plain language in original documents, revised documents, websites, legal language, and multimedia. We’ve streamlined the process this year to make it even easier to enter.
But why should you nominate an entry for a ClearMark Award?
Here are 6 good reasons:
- You will receive comments and suggestions from a panel of at least two experts in language and design. It’s always good to hear what you did really well and where you could improve. View the judging criteria »
- You will be eligible to win an Award of Distinction as well as the Grand ClearMark Award. View our 2012 ClearMark winners and awardees for ideas »
- You will receive the admiration of your colleagues for work done well.
- Your work will be a model of how to write plainly and clearly because we post the winners on the Center’s website and talk about the entries.
- You will receive press coverage. The awards get coverage and winners have even been the subject of a Wall Street Journal article.
- You get to attend the awards dinner on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. As always, it will be a stellar evening with entertainment, great food, and even better company.
But the most important reason is that getting language plain is hard work. You deserve to be proud of it and the Center wants to acknowledge your efforts.
Why do we bother with awards?
It’s what we’re about. The Center for Plain Language wants government and business documents to be clear and understandable. But that only happens when people, singly and in groups, work to create clear and understandable documents and websites. We want to celebrate plain language, and we want to celebrate the people who make it happen!
I hope you will join us this year by nominating your hard work for an award!