How can we improve our plain language?

How can we improve our plain language?

How to improve your writing with plain English

1. The people who benefit from plain English.
2. Keep your sentences short and concise.
3. Use simple language and avoid jargon.
4. Avoid using metaphors, similes and idioms.
5. Use the active voice instead of the passive.
6. Avoid using nominalisations.
7. Use clear headings and subheadings.

What is a plain style in writing?

Plain style is reader-friendly because it’s clear, concise, and precise; it uses short, action-driven sentences free of jargon to make language accessible and easy to understand.

How do you develop documents in plain English?

Plain Writing Tips

1. Put important messages at the start;
2. Write short sentences (15-25 words on average);
3. One sentence – one idea;
4. Vary the rhythm (consider very short two- or three-word sentences);
5. Break the text into small chunks (One paragraph – one idea);
6. Avoid making nouns from verbs (nominalisation);
7. Avoid jargon.

What does plain English include?

Plain English is a style of writing that enables the reader to understand the message the first time they read it. It uses short, clear sentences and everyday words without unnecessary jargon. To use plain English, you may need to edit your writing several times over, or even ask someone else to read it for you.

Why is plain language used in technical writing?

Using plain language in technical documentation allows to make the writing clear, concise and helpful to readers. Plain language writing helps the target audience easily perceive information, avoid misunderstandings and save time, because it gets the job done the first time.

How can I learn plain English?

Summary

1. Stop and think before you start writing.
2. Prefer short words.
3. Use everyday English whenever possible.
4. Keep your sentence length down to an average of 15 to 20 words.
5. Use active verbs as much as possible.
6. Be concise.
7. Imagine you are talking to your reader.

How do you know if a language is plain?

Checklist for Plain Language

1. written for the average reader.
2. organized to serve the reader’s needs.
3. has useful headings.
4. uses “you” and other pronouns to speak to the reader.
5. uses active voice.
6. uses short sections and short sentences.
7. uses the simplest tense possible—simple present is best.
8. uses base verbs, not hidden verbs.

Why plain language is important?

Plain language is good customer service and makes life easier for the public. Plain language means readers understand your documents more quickly. Readers call less often for explanations. They make fewer errors filling out forms.

Why do you need to write in plain language?

Plain language gets your message across in the shortest time possible.

More people are able to understand your message.

There is less chance that your document will be misunderstood,so you spend less time explaining it to people.

What is plain style writing?

The plain style of writing lies between the flat and ornate styles. As its name indicates, it is not verbose or needlessly complicated. Nor is it dull or bland. It is characterised by clear syntax, precise word choice, natural emphasis and unobtrusive grammar.

Why is plain language important?

Plain language is a strategy for making written and oral information easier to understand. It is one important tool for improving health literacy. Plain language is communication that users can understand the first time they read or hear it.

Can writing exist without language?

Yes, thought can exist without language. Whenever you are playing a sport, driving a car, cooking a meal, building a dog house, or performing any one of countless other inherently non-verbal tasks, you are incontrovertibly thinking, regardless of whether or not you are talking to yourself.