Dr Neil James

Plain English in government is not a new concept. But when we know about the potential gains, how well are agencies doing in making it happen? The results of a Plain English Foundation survey are sobering.

There comes a time during the writing of a government report when someone suggests bringing in an editor to “plain English” the text. But what exactly does a plain English editor do, and what can you expect if you work with one?

Recent criticism of government websites highlighted the need to improve readability. But what exactly are readability measures, and should agencies rely on them?

Change is hard. And plain English reform seems harder than most. To help us tackle the task, it’s worth reviewing the reasons people offer for retaining a traditional style.

When it comes to language, we all have our pet peeves: words that are overused, misused, or just plain abused. But should we go a step further and ban the worst offenders?

As public sector agencies increasingly embrace plain English, staff at all levels will need to refresh their writing skills. But what is the best way for an individual to tackle the task?

Without fundamental reform of communication culture, the current push for digital service delivery will fall well short of what government agencies expect from the investment.

Apart from the organisational benefits that plain English brings, there are personal reasons every CEO or government executive should embrace writing reform. Here’s the top 10.

One mandarin’s recent plea for “clear, crisp, meaningful and expressive” communication must go beyond just the words. Plain English must also include the structure, design and evaluation of texts.

The election won’t just present clear policy options, but test the language for selling policy itself. So how did Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten open the account with their budget pitches?

There’s an enormous economic return in making government communication — internally and externally — easier to read. And while documents drive government it can help agencies make better decisions.