CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Resources

THE PLAIN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL

This web site is one of the most comprehensive sites in the world for plain language and clear communication. This site offers articles, writing tutorials, Web links, news, consultants, an e-mail discussion group, PLAIN membership, networking opportunities, professional conferences, and more. This site allows you to navigate easily through all the resources. You will find the following as they are presented on the home page:

• Plain Language Samples
  This resource offers samples of plain language rewrites from business, law, science, and journalism. Home page: PLAIN

• Plain Language Resources
  This resource offers free advice and information on planning, writing, editing and designing communications materials. There are articles, writing tutorials, downloadable documents, and Web links by plain language specialists. You will find the following:

  • An Introduction section to plain language
    Cheryl Stephens introduces plain language in 6 sections: What is Plain Language? Planning Guidelines, Audience Considerations, Writing as a Process, Writing Guidelines and Testing and Evaluation. Home page: PLAIN

  • Plain Train
    Plain Train, an online plain language tutorial in eight sections. This resource contains helpful tips and techniques for improving communication skills with the use of plain language. You can access each topic from the home page; they are: Introduction, Reader and Purpose, Organizing Ideas, Appropriate Words, Simple Sentences, Effective Paragraphs, Design, and Testing. It is also available in French. Home page: PLAIN

  • Joe Kimble
    This resource offers 5 articles on Legal Writing, 5 articles on General Writing and 7 Links to Other Articles. Home page: PLAIN

  • William Lutz
    This resource offers 39 rules for writing plain English. Home page: PLAIN

  • Cheryl Stephens on Plain Language
    This resource consists of 14 articles on plain language presented under the following categories: Building Plain Language from the Ground Up, Design Issues and Other Issues. Home page: PLAIN

  • Richard Lauchman
    This resource offers a Handbook for Writers in the U.S. Federal Government (PDF link). Home page: PLAIN

  • Web Sites for Writers
    This comprehensive site links to 33 PLAIN Members' Writing Sites, 18 Other Plain Language Sites and 22 General Writing Web sites. You will find writing guides, style guides, dictionaries and thesaurus, practitioner’s tools, editing services, international plain language sites and many more.Home page: PLAIN

  • Books on Plain Language
    Many members of the Plain Language Association International have published important works on plain language. Practical and authoritative, these books set new standards for effective, clear documents. Home page: PLAIN

  • Using Type
    This resource consists of a typography tutorial. Home page: PLAIN

  • The Rapport Archive
    This resource offers a digest of news and views about plain language. Home page: PLAIN

• Plain Language Conferences
  This site offers useful session reports from past conferences. Home page: PLAIN

• Plain Legal Language
  This site offers resources for lawyers and others on plain language from plain language specialists Cheryl Stephens, Carol Ann Wilson, Judge Mark Painter, Irene Leonard King, Steven Stark and Joe Kimble. It also contains expressions of support from legal organizations as well as links to 7 other plain language resources and web sites. Home page: PLAIN

• Literacy Resources
  This site offers Web links, news, and other documents on literacy from 8 renowned organizations including the National Adult Literacy Database Inc. Home page: PLAIN

• Government Initiatives
  This site offers plain language programs sponsored by government agencies or other organizations from Canada, the United States and Sweden. Home page: PLAIN

• Plain Language Organizations
  This resource offers links to other organizations that are part of the growing plain language movement. Seven (7) organizations are presented here. Home page: PLAIN

• Plain Language in the News
  This resource offers recent stories about plain language and clear writing. Home page: PLAIN

• About the Association
  This resource offers a description of PLAIN, a list of its members, and instructions on how to join the association and its listserve discussion group. Home page: PLAIN
  

Educational Resources