It is intended for both beginners and intermediate users. Home plain language association international plain. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading plain language bim. From organizational guidelines, literacy awareness, and reader expectations, to effective speaking strategies for presentations, plain language in plain english, is a comprehensive. If you have any questions about this course, please contact. Includes sections on writing plain english, design and layout the plain english way, and the results of a plainenglish approach. It takes less than one hour, is in nine parts, and full of jokes, games and quizzes. There are additional requirements see becoming a certifier. William dembski, the dean of the intelligent design movement, and sean mcdowell especially target readers whose understanding may have been confused by educational bias and onesided arguments and attacks. As defined on the website plain plain language association international, a communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.
In many countries, laws mandate that public agencies use plain language to increase access to programs and services. Whilst the legislation covered in the book was enacted in the united kingdom, it is still a valid basis for a guideline to the bim process on an international basis. The plain language action and information network plain is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government. Plain language at work newsletter number 8 a publication of impact information, plainlanguage services. Applying the buroc framework bureaucratic, unfamiliar, rightsoriented, and critical to identify situations in which audiences will benefit from plain language, this work offers indepth. Plain language should be easy to read, understand and use. Plain language at work newsletter 23 march 2004 no. William dembski, the dean of the intelligentdesign movement, and sean mcdowell especially target readers whose understanding may have been confused by educational bias and onesided arguments and attacks. More information than you will ever need to know about lexicography and the nuances.
A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. A practical guide to data mining and business analytics. Plain language makes it easier for everyone to understand and use health information. Professionals want clear, concise information devoid of unnecessary jargon or complex terms.
Make a list, then check it twice lists help us get information across to readers in a clear way that is easy for them to understand. Plain language presents an idea in the clearest way that the idea will allow. Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. Set the leading space between lines to be 2 points larger than the type size. She has a deep interest in clear communication, the web and information design, and. This compact guide lays out the basics of intelligent design, popularly known as id. Plain language in plain english is a valuable resource for governments, businesses, service providers, and professionals in any field to improve their communication. Im fortunate to have comments in my book from professionals in the. Dense, cluttered writing deters people from taking the time to read. Plain language in plain english by cheryl stephens ebook lulu. President bush, in his turn, has called for plain speaking. Mar 14, 2014 but what people come for is the content, and the content is both information design and language. The plain writing act of 2010 and the executive order 263 in 2011 mandated clear communication in plain writing from all federal government agencies. We want our writing to help people get information, comply with requirements, and apply for benefits with the least possible burden.
Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. Clear and plain language cariboochilcotin partners for. This course teaches you basic tools to help you create plain language. The plain writing act of 2010 requires federal agencies to write clear government communication that the public can understand and use. Center for the study of language and information book. Plain language in plain english cheryl stephens on. Handbook chapter 11 content writing information design section books. Hands touching a laptop screen as they point to icons for images, words and. Federal government richard lauchman plain language. The material available about plain language is extensive and can be confusing.
However, plain language is an approach that is effectively used in many other areas, fields, and sectors besides federal government including. Originally called the plain english network, plain has been meeting informally since the mid 1990s. Understanding its importance and making content an integral part of the process is critical. International plain language federation when drafting a plain language text, there are 5 general areas to consider. President clinton formalized the requirement in june 1998 with a presidential memorandum. It is also a crucial resource for practitioners developing plainlanguage technical content and content strategists in a variety of fields, including health.
Its also recommended for any print or online publications intended to provide information or explain a process and writers should consider its utility for any content. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading business intelligence in plain language. They are not, like grammar, matters of right and wrong, but are matters of. Oct 07, 2019 the plain english version pev is an english translation of the bible designed for indigenous australians whose mother tongue is an aboriginal language. Plain language saves money, increases efficiency, and reduces the need for clarification. Also known as clear language, plain language uses a style of writing that is. Page 67 to enhance the readability of the prospectus, you must use plain english principles in the organization, language, and design of the front and back cover pages, the summary, and the risk factors section. Text design international institute for information design. Several books have been published in printed form by the bible league under the name simplified english version and can be found on their website in the indigenous australians category. Plain language in plain english by cheryl stephens ebook.
Learn what you need to know about color and design for weaving narrow warpfaced bands from one of the contemporary masters. Lutz, who formerly taught english at rutgers university. Bentley institute press announces availability of new. It guides the reader through the many complexities of bim methodology by providing a plain language understanding of the concepts and building blocks required to deliver an effective strategy. Christian ethics in plain language probe ministries. Books can teach, giving you a richer understanding of time periods, people and ideas youve never been exposed to.
Understanding intelligent design book by sean mcdowell. Nov 20, 2017 by the mid1980s, there was a widespread sense that plain language advocates had shifted priorities from readability to usability. Britains plain language commission, a privatesector organization, has published a number of excellent books on plain language such as lucid law and other publications. Although plain language is a familiar idea, many organizations dont use it as often as they should. As necessitated by unexpected blue box recycling expenditure increases, combined with municipal roadinfrastructure improvement expenditures resulting from repairs necessary to meet prior mandated infrastructure maintenance levels, property taxes payable will be increased for the coming fiscal year. But what people come for is the content, and the content is both information design and language. Virginia mendenhall, a quaker from north carolina, is thirtythree. The faa plain language tool kit pdf the federal plain language guidelines pdf plainlanguage. You can shut off the closed captions in the video if you dont need them. Because we are all individuals, we will all have our own thoughts on what that. Clearly written information helps those who dont read. Plain language also involves choices about layout, design, graphics, and which medium to use. Good design makes documents easier to use, helps documents stand out from other pieces of information, and lends credibility to document creators. The elements of rhetoric how to write and speak clearly and persuasively.
Plain language is writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly, easily, and completely as possible. Aug 21, 1977 attempts to simplify legal language in the united states reach back at least as far as thomas jefferson, but in the last several years an accelerated movement for plain language has paralleled the. Plain language approaches each of these issues in a unique and fairly defined way. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Their guide, design for reading, can help you use design elements to help users read and understand the information.
Includes sections on writing plain english, design and layout the plain. Plain language subject is too complex to benefit from plain english. Lists also are good tools to use to meet plain writing goals, especially in communicating information. The plain english story, plain english campaign, 1993. Plain language avoids verbose or convoluted language, jargon, euphemism, and ambiguous language. The plain language action and information network plain is a group of federal employees from different agencies and specialties who support the use of clear communication in government writing. It is also a crucial resource for practitioners developing plain language technical content and content strategists in a variety of fields, including health. Plain language is grammatically correct and universally understood language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. While the legislation covered in the book was enacted in the united kingdom, it is still a valid basis for a guideline. If you are looking for one thing you can focus on to improve your web site content, plain language is a good place to start.
This title is intended as a supplement for statistics or research methods courses, or for any course that uses statistics, or as a reference book to refresh ones memory about statistical concepts. Plain language bim guides you through the complexities of the bim process. These principles help us understand how people make sense of textual information, which can guide our writing decisions. Inclusivity, gestalt principles, and plain language in. Select a serif font for the body text like times roman. Top 10 principles for plain language national archives. This book shows you how to write for customers and clients in language thats easy to understand. Plain language bim condenses years of experience and lessons learned from bentley institutes bim advancement academy. We continue to revise it every few years to provide updated advice on clear communication. The sponsors have invested large amounts of effort, talent, and money in making these texts attractive. One of those happy collisions is plain language and accessibility.
This title is intended as a supplement for statistics or research methods courses, or for any course that uses statistics, or as a reference book to. Attempts to simplify legal language in the united states reach back at least as far as thomas jefferson, but in the last several years an accelerated movement for plain language has paralleled the. Books can entertain, sucking you like a tornado into incredible new worlds. The plain writing act of 2010 defines plain language as. A readability test tells you what grade reading level a person needs to have to be able to read, understand and use the information in your document. With ginny, plain language starts at the beginning of the design process, with three planning questions. Between 1980 and 2000, advocates broadened their visionbeyond word and sentencelevel concerns to include discourselevel issues, information design, and accessibility. Similarly, plain language doesnt need to be exciting. Plain language is clear, concise, organized, and appropriate for the intended audience. Plain language benefits both consumers and organizations. This work is intended for use in courses in information design, technical and professional communication, health communication, and other areas producing plain language communication.
Doublespeak 1989, the new doublespeak 1996, and doublespeak defined, by william d. Its not only about words center for plain language. Virginia mendenhall, a quaker from north carolina, is thirtythree years old when she travels to the arid plains of eastern colorado in the mid1930s to marry alfred bowen, ten years her senior. The plain english version pev is an english translation of the bible designed for indigenous australians whose mother tongue is an aboriginal language. Use ragged right margins where possible, rather than centering or justifying your text. Applying the buroc framework bureaucratic, unfamiliar, rightsoriented, and critical to identify situations in which audiences will benefit from plain language, this work offers indepth profiles to. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of dumbing down or talking down to the reader. The increasing popularity of plain language, the concept of writing clear, simple prose, is making it easier for people to understand legal documents and government forms. This book is a feast for the eyes, containing many fullpage color photos showing hundreds of bands woven by the author. Corsino plain language program manager federal aviation administration office of communications aoc4room 908 800 independence ave. Today, plain language and information design have joined to become one. The primary principle of plain language is to use language that is clear to readers.
Our growing network includes members from over 30 countries working in clear communication in at least 15 languages. President obama also emphasized the importance of establishing a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration in his january 21, 2009, memorandum on transparency and open government. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. All chicago e books are on sale at 30% off with the code ebook30. Inkle weaving design book by annie machale in celebration. While several countries have advocates for plain english, many. Writing that is clear, concise, wellorganized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. Limit each paragraph to one idea and keep it short. Plain language and ethical action examines and evaluates principles and practices of plain language that technical content producers can apply to meet their audiences needs in an ethical way. This section will present recommendations about language use. The ux pyramid speaks to significant and enjoyable experiences, but before its possible to have. Graduate certificate in plain language university of. While the legislation covered in the book was enacted in the united kingdom, it is still a valid basis for a guideline to the bim process on an international basis. Inclusivity, gestalt principles, and plain language in document design in brief.
A practical guide to data mining and business analytics kindle edition by kolb, jeremy. About 79% of users scan new pages they come across. Design and deliver plain language workshops to meet your needs. In todays talk, ted s own lisa bu introduces us to the concept of comparative reading, the practice of reading. Plain english at a glance is a concise discussion that will give you essential skills for creating a visually inviting, logically organized, and easily understandable document. A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find and use that information. Which of the following sentences would you rather read. Plain language association international plain is the international association for plain language supporters and practitioners around the world. My definition of document design or information design. May 12, 2014 one of those happy collisions is plain language and accessibility. Plain language writing courses if you have completed any of the following training courses you may be considered to become a plainlanguagepro certifier. Experiences and lessons learned from the bim advancement academy. Experiences and lessons learned from the bim advancement academy kindle edition by miskimmin, iain. Plain language focuses on ways of writing a text so that it is clear, concise, pertinent, efficient, and flows well for the reader.
1358 1460 1445 862 957 1395 827 507 798 1255 527 806 1466 825 1468 91 631 499 1320 1199 1635 400 1307 913 1211 1195 633 1464 893 225 1489 51 792 1257 462 94 1477 763 952 224 1107