Guidelines for creating plain language materials | Center for Plain Language

These guidelines are posted on the website of the Center for Plain Language. I recommend reading and following these guidelines for clear, concise documents that meet the needs of your readers. 

The center is a nonprofit organization near Washington, D.C., that wants government and business documents to be clear and understandable. The About the Center page describes its goals and activities:

We support those who use plain language, train those who should use plain language, and urge people to demand plain language in all the documents they receive, read, and use.

• Advocate for people to use, learn, and teach plain language in government, business, non-profits, and universities.
• Give people information and tools they need to achieve their plain language goals.
• Do and share research that identifies best practices for using, learning, and teaching plain language.
• Coordinate activities, such as workshops and presentations, that help people know more about and use plain language.

The plain language guidelines originally appeared on the website of the Plain Language Action & Information Network (or PLAIN). PLAIN is a volunteer group of federal employees from many different agencies and specialties who support the use of clear communication in government writing.

You also can get information about plain language at my site, Garbl's Plain Engligh Writing  Guide.

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The guidelines article is featured today, March 7, at my online daily paper, Garbl's Plain English Paragraphs, available the Plain Language tab above and by free email subscription.