The Plain Writing Act: Simplifying regulatory language | Common Good

Thanks to convoluted language in federal regulations:

[G]overnment rules and directives are often impenetrable. This is especially true when those rules are intended to serve as detailed instruction manuals for every eventuality. It's a big problem for individuals and small businesses that lack the resources to employ compliance experts who can decipher complex regulations and bureaucratic mandates.

The articles goes on to describe the U.S. Plain Writing Act of 2010 and gives some examples of what's being done to promote clear, concise writing. It notes, however, that some federal agencies have been slow to change.

For more online resources about plain language and concise writing, check out these free websites of mine:

• Garbl's Concise Writing Guide
• Garbl's Plain English Writing Guide
• Garbl's Fat-Free Writing Links.