Plain language (and why you should use it)

Plain language—also called plain writing or plain English—is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it.

A 2020 study of 500 Americans found that using plain language in their communications increased reading speed and the ability to understand text. Message retention increased by 40% and message clarity increased by 33%.

To write clear, concise and scannable messages, consider the following plain writing tips in your communications.

• Avoid jargon and acronyms
• Use the present tense and active voice
• Define your audience—Use language they will feel comfortable with.
• Be concise—Omit any information your audience doesn’t need in order to understand.
• Organize the information—Start by stating your purpose and the bottom line, follow a logical order, and prioritize the most important information (including any necessary background toward the end).
• Make it readable—Keep things easy to scan by using accessible typography, descriptive headers and spaces between information.
• Use simple words and phrases

Examples of plain language swaps: