2010
How Much is Plain Language Worth?
Joe Kimble, professor of law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, has just finished his long awaited new book, Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please: The Case for Plain Language…
Bridging the gap between plain language and user expectations
In so many areas of our lives, things are way too complicated. Applying for a job? Awesome, if you have 45 minutes to fill out a form with the exact…
Promoting Plain Language at CDC – Checklist and messaging
…information. To get employees’ attention, the CDC Office of Communication created a checklist and three messages to remind staff of key plain language techniques. The plain language checklist is based…
Rules? Or just suggestions?
…rule applies? Does it even matter? Writing is both objective and subjective. It is science and art. “Good” writing is both measurable and amorphous. This is why plain language is…
Upcoming Webinar
Plain Language: The First Responder for Health Communications Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 11 am–1 pm Eastern Registration is open! Join us on October 15 for a special International Plain…
What Google’s content guidelines mean for plain language content creators
If you’re reading this, you already know what plain language is. Simple vocabulary. Short paragraphs. Short sentences. And you know your customers want you to speak in plain language, because…
PLAIN 2013: From Vancouver, the future looks clear
…have a lot more to show for it — if only the fact that a bunch of communications professionals can actually solve their own communications problems. As for what to…
International Plain Language Standards—Next Step is Australia Standards Application – Susan Kleimann, Ph.D.
…Federation which was co-founded by the Center for Plain Language, Plain Language Association International, and Clarity-International. During the session, Annetta Cheek, Chair of the Federation and former Chair of the…
2019 Federal Report Card
Background and Methodology In 2010, Congress passed the Plain Writing Act to ensure that people can understand the information they receive from federal agencies. Since 2012, the Center for Plain…
A look back at the extraordinary 2020 competition for a ClearMark
…on creating new plain language materials to meet pressing needs—and, in turn, to celebrate those materials and their important impact on their audiences – we opened a separate COVID-19 category….
Trimmed gobbledygook
…poppycock. About the author: Paul Joseph is CEO of International Writing Institute, publisher of the recently revised landmark plain language book Put It In Writing, by plain language pioneer Albert…
Optimizing your web content for plain language
…content, using plain language will make or break the success of your website. Understanding what your customers are searching for, the plain language they use to search for it, and…
Public Service Committee
…to journalists writing about plain language issues. The Public Service Committee provides impartial, non-partisan advice that is limited to examining the clarity of communications. When we comment on draft legislation…
Getting Started with Plain Language
What is plain language? Communication with clear wording, structure, and design for the intended audience to easily: – find what they need – understand what they find – use that…