A 270-page trainer’s guide for teaching how to write in plain language

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Wikipedia page for Plain Language defines that:

 

 “Plain language is writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly, easily, and completely as possible. Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon.”

 

Another Wikipedia page on Plain English elaborates that:

 

“Plain English (also referred to as layman’s terms) is a mode of writing or speaking the English language intended to be easy to understand regardless of one’s familiarity with a given topic. It usually avoids the use of rare words and uncommon euphemisms to explain the subject. Plain English wording is intended to be suitable for almost anyone, and it allows for good understanding to help readers know a topic. It is considered part of plain language.”

 

On December 4, 2022 I blogged about Advice from the U. S. National Institutes of Health on writing clearly using Plain Language and discussed a 13-page article.

 

Recently I found a 270-page pdf e-book from the Government of Canada in 1994 titled PLAIN LANGUAGE: CLEAR AND SIMPLE: Trainer’s Guide. It has the following sections for giving a two-day course:

 

Module 1: Introducing Plain Language [page 1]

Module 2: The Starting Point: Your Reader 

  and Your Purpose [page 13]

Module 3: Organizing Your Ideas [page 19]

Module 4: Using Appropriate Words [page 29]

Module 5: Writing Clear and Effective Sentences 

  [page 51]

Module 6: Writing Clear and Effective Paragraphs 

  [page 75]

Module 7: Presenting Your Message Effectively [page 81]

Module 8: Testing and Revising the Document 

  for Usability and Readability [page 89]

Module 9: Putting It All Together: Working 

  with Plain Language [page 101]