Writing Tips Guides Resources

Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English, 3rd Edition It?s been called ?possibly the most popular book on grammar ever published.? Now the witty bestseller that took the nation by storm is back in a revised, expanded edition with new dos and don?ts from top to bottom. In this new Woe Is I, Patricia T. O?Conner displays the same fresh, irreverent humor that has charmed hundreds of thousands of readers. There are new chapters on spelling and pronunciation, and updates throughout. But you?ll find the same down-to-earth explanations in clear, ... [Find out more ...]

Plain English (sometimes referred to as plain language) is a generic term for communication styles that emphasize clarity, conciseness and the avoidance of technical language.

Here are some plain English writing tips to help you write more clearly and concisely:

Identify Your Audience

Think about why the reader wants to read your writing. Also identify people who will be interested in your writing, even if they are not directly affected. Write to everyone who is interested. And keep in mind your average readers’ level of understanding and comprehension.

Write in Active Voice

Voice is the form a verb takes to indicate whether its subject acts or is acted upon. When the subject of a verb does something (acts), the verb is in the active voice. When the subject of a verb receives the action (is acted upon), the verb is in the passive voice. Because the active voice emphasizes the doer of an action, it is usually briefer, clearer, and more emphatic than the passive voice. Whenever possible, use active voice in your writings.

Keep It Short

You will communicate more clearly if you keep sentences short. Aim for an average sentence length … [Find out more ...]

Writing Science in Plain English (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) Scientific writing is often dry, wordy, and difficult to understand. But, as Anne E. Greene shows in Writing Science in Plain English, writers from all scientific disciplines can learn to produce clear, concise prose by mastering just a few simple principles. This short, focused guide presents twelve such principles based on what readers need in order to understand complex information, including concrete subjects, strong verbs, consistent terms, and organized paragraphs. The author, an ... [Find out more ...]

Good writers write in plain English to bring their writing to life. Plain English writing speaks directly to the audience and helps them to better grasp the meaning of the written text. Active voice, everyday words and short sentences are the distinguishing features of plain English.

One characteristic of plain English writing is the use of active voice. Sentences using an active voice are built on strong verbs. This tightens sentences and gives it a natural flow. Using an active voice helps readers to understand sentences quicker because this is how a person thinks and breaks down information. Sentences written in a passive voice require more mental steps to understand. Passive voice is not bad in all instances, but it should be used sparingly.

Personal pronouns are another feature that strengthens writing and clarifies the meaning of sentences. These words are an essential part of plain English writing because they speak directly to the audience and grab their attention. Using personal pronouns keeps sentences shorter and helps avoid using confusing or obscure language.

Writing in plain English involves elimination of excess words. Words are excessive when they can be … [Find out more ...]

Writing Science in Plain English (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and) Scientific writing is often dry, wordy, and difficult to understand. But, as Anne E. Greene shows in Writing Science in Plain English, writers from all scientific disciplines can learn to produce clear, concise prose by mastering just a few simple principles. This short, focused guide presents a dozen such principles based on what readers need in order to understand complex information, including concrete subjects, strong verbs, consistent terms, and organized paragraphs. The author, a ... [Find out more ...]

Plain English writing is a flexible and efficient writing style designed to be brief, clear and free of technical terminology. This writing style is commonly used in official government communication, including laws.

Sir Ernest Arthur Gowers was credited for bringing the plain English to life. Gowers was a distinguished British civil servant who was asked by the British Treasury to write a guide to show government officials how to avoid pretentious and excessively elaborate writing. He completed a writing guide and published it as “The Complete Plain Words” in 1954. Gowers’ writing guide has remained in print since its original publication.

The push to use plain English writing in the United States began in the 1970s. Congress passed The Paperwork Reduction Act in 1976 to condense and simplify the language used in many federal government documents. By 2010, the Plain Writing Act made it a requirement for all Federal agencies to write documents in plain English.

Plain English writing is designed to engage the reader on a basic level of understanding. It emphasizes being simple and direct in communication. Documents using this writing style are clear, easily readable and … [Find out more ...]