Plain Language in Plain English

Contents.

The table of contents shows you what's inside.

My Philosophy of Communication

• Three Important Communication Issues
• Universal Design
• Information Processing Styles
• Is There an Average Reader?

Part A: Preliminaries
A Definition of Plain Language
The Plain Language Process
Information Processing Styles
​Is There an Average Reader?

Planning

Part B: Audience Considerations
3. Identify Your Audiences
4. Research Your Readers
A Cloze Test Sample
5. Reach Readers with Special Needs
6. Consider Readers’ Literacy
7. Write Plainly for International Readers
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​Part C: Prepare to Write
8. Identify the Purpose of the Document
9. Build Structure and Organize Content
10. Plan a Plain Design
11. Create a Working Draft
Fish Safe Case Study

Writing

Part D: Write and Rewrite Plainly
12. Use Words the Reader Knows
Simplified: How to Write Definitions
13. Follow Usage Guidelines
14. Write Plain Sentences
15. Watch Your Tone
16. Write Plain, Effective Paragraphs
17. Use Plain Punctuation and Lists
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Part E: After You Write
18. Check for Bias
19. Prove Your Document Is Plain
20. Measure Readability Using Formulas
21. Measure Readability Using Task Analysis

Customization

Part F: Implement a Plain Language Policy
22. Working in Plain Language
23. Use Style Guides as Arbiters
24. Write Plainly for Oral Delivery

Part G: Resource Collection
The IALS Rating Scale
Robert Gunning’s 10 Principles of Clear Writing
Word Substitution List by Cheryl Stephens
A Writeability Glossary by Cheryl Stephens
Writing Glossary