Plain English

What is plain English?
The Campaign for Plain English defines plain English as something that the intended audience can read, understand and act upon the first time they read it. Plain English takes into account design and layout, as well as language.

Where should plain English be used?
Plain English is needed in all kinds of public information, such as forms, leaflets, agreements and contracts. The golden rule is that plain English should be used in any information that ordinary people rely on when they make decisions.

What has plain English got to do with equalities?

• Social inclusion: because plain English documents are shorter, clearer and less ambiguous they can be read by most people, not just those with very high levels of English skills.
• Plain English documents are useful to people who require translation services: non-English speakers, deaf people and visually impaired people using text reading equipment and software.
• Plain English documents benefit people who are not proficient readers.
• Using plain English shows respect for the person with whom you are communicating that you have given thought to how they will receive the information.

Plain English Campaign
Guidelines on writing plain English and producing clear print, and Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the website of the Plain English Campaign. Follow the link to visit their website.

What is The Plain English Campaign?
An independent organisation fighting for crystal-clear language and against jargon, gobbledygook and other confusing language.

Where did the Campaign come from?
Their founder director Chrissie Maher took up the battle for crystal-clear language after seeing two elderly ladies die because they couldn't understand an application form for housing benefits. After fighting on her own for ten years, she launched the Plain English Campaign as a full-time movement in 1979, infamously shredding forms in Parliament Square.

What gives the Campaign the right to say whether something is in plain English?
As well as passing 35 technical tests at Campaign headquarters, every document must pass their independent testing on the public. This means actually testing ordinary people's understanding of a document, rather than just asking 'is it clear'?

Gobbledygook
A nurse wrote to the Campaign for Plain English about a baffling memo. She wrote that "receiving information in this form makes us feel hoodwinked, inferior, definitely frustrated and angry, and it causes a divide between us and the writer."

Plain English is needed in all kinds of public information, such as forms, leaflets, agreements and contracts. The golden rule is that plain English should be used in any information that ordinary people rely on when they make decisions. The Campaign's Website includes classic gobbledygook from 20 years of campaigning, some plain English translations, and their new gobbledygook generator!

Who are the worst offenders for gobbledygook?
The legal profession and finance industries cause the most concern. Many companies have worked extremely hard to use plain English, but these industries will always be the most important targets. Plain English is about language affecting ordinary people's lives, and people have the right and the need to make informed decisions about money and the law.

Who pays for Plain English Campaign?
They are entirely self-funded, which allow them to stay totally independent. The Campaign raises funds through their commercial services, which include editing documents and training courses.

What is the Crystal Mark?
The Crystal Mark is The Campaign's symbol of clarity. It applies to a particular document, and shows that it is in plain English. There is a special 'Internet Crystal Mark' scheme for Websites.

Can I join the Campaign?
Yes - ask for an information pack, and you will also be added to the mailing list for 'Plain English', their campaign magazine. There is no charge for this.

The Campaign welcomes nominations for their awards, both the Plain English awards and the legendary Golden Bulls.

Organisations can join as corporate members. For a set fee, they will get free Crystal Marks for all documents that pass Campaign testing, free training for ten employees, and discounts on diploma courses. (NOTE: Shropshire County Council is NOT a corporate member, due to cost).