Model Language for Agency Plain Language Page
PLAIN and the Federal Web Managers Council encourage agencies to use this model language to comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and OMB guidance for implementing the Act.
The Plain Writing Act of 2010
requires federal agencies to write "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use." President Obama also emphasized the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration" in his January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government.
We ([insert agency name]) are committed to writing new documents in plain language by October 2011, using the Federal Plain Language Guidelines.
We need your help to comply with this Act! Let us know if you have trouble understanding our documents or the pages on our website: [insert agency contact email].
We have assigned staff to oversee our plain language efforts:
- [insert name], Plain Language Contact
- [insert name], Plain Language Coordinator
- [insert name], Plain Language Coordinator
We’re training our employees and have [created or strengthened] our oversight process. We must use plain language in any document that:
- is necessary for obtaining any federal government benefit or service or filing taxes;
- provides information about any federal government benefit or service; or
- explains to the public how to comply with a requirement that the federal government administers or enforces.
Please let us know if we haven't written a document in plain language: [insert agency contact email].
We have to report our progress and compliance with the Act by July 13, 2011. We will post that annual report here. [Post report by Jul 13, 2011]
