Writing in Plain English
‘Good prose is like a windowpane’
- George Orwell
Have you ever had to read a letter from a business or government department three or four times to work out what the writer is trying to say?
Perhaps you have read documents produced by your own organisation in which the meaning is far from clear.
Often when we write, we find ourselves drawing on stock phrases, internal jargon or words designed to impress rather than communicate effectively. The result is confusing text that only serves to alienate the reader.
Whether your purpose is to entice or educate, engage or enthuse, convince or convey, your message is more likely to reach your audience if it is written in plain English.
What is plain English?
Plain English is a style of writing that conveys its message clearly and directly so that it is immediately understood.
Writing in plain English means writing for your readers rather than for yourself. It requires the writer to choose the simplest words and structure possible to convey the message without compromising the meaning.
The example below demonstrates how plain English principles can be applied to clarify unnecessarily complex writing.
Original version
This work is the property of Acme Enterprises and is protected by copyright. The work and information herein is confidential and may not be copied, used or disclosed except with the current written authority of and in a manner permitted by Acme Enterprises.
Plain English version
This work belongs to Acme Enterprises. You may not make use of it without our written permission.
Writing in plain English offers savings that can be measured:
- It reduces the volume of information you send to clients.
- It improves prospect conversion rates.
CASE
STUDY
Haag Walker Lawyers engaged Red Pony to rewrite detailed and complex legal information so it would be more useful to their current and prospective clients.
Applying plain English writing principles, Red Pony’s consultant was able to refocus and clarify Haag Walker’s press releases, process documents and web content.
Red Pony recently drafted a plain English marketing invitation to potential Haag Walker clients that attracted a significant response increase. Of the recipients who opened the email, 60.5% followed through and subscribed to the service.
Free plain English sample rewrite
See the difference plain English can make. Send Red Pony a sample document and we will return a sample paragraph from your document rewritten in clear, unambiguous English.
Business writing training
We can train your team to develop their plain English skills. Our Fundamentals of Clear Writing course is a half-day interactive seminar that provides participants with concrete, practical plain English writing techniques they can apply in the workplace.
More information
To learn more about our plain English writing services, contact Red Pony.
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