Plain language
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Plain language is promoted by the Plain English Campaign, an independent pressure group fighting for public information to be written in common English. The opposite is an unnecessarily complicated formulation, sometimes called gobbledygook.
Definitions of Plain Language vary, but it is often identified by five principles:
- Organize your material to serve the needs of your reader.
- Write sentences in the active voice; use "you" and other pronouns.
- Use common, everyday words in short sentences.
- Use easy-to-read design features such as lists, tables, graphics, and white space.
- Write short sentences and sections.
History
Prior to the 20th century, written English had gradually become painfully ornate and overcomplicated. A typical sentence might contain a dozen or more clauses, and sprawl over half a page.
The 20th century saw the rise of a general trend towards "plain language" or "plain English." One of the earliest examples of this was the publication of the famous American English style guide, The Elements of Style.
In the 1970s, the plain English movement finally penetrated American law and government. American law schools began requiring their students to take legal writing classes, in which they were encouraged to use plain English as much as possible and to avoid legal jargon except when absolutely necessary. Public outrage with the skyrocketing number of unreadable government forms led to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980.
External link
- Plain English Campaign (http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/index.html) (official)
- http://www.plainlanguage.gov