Plain Language: Improving Communications from the Federal Government to the Public


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Using Plain Language> Around the United States

Plain Language Community Around the United States

The United States is fast becoming a leader in the world-wide plain-language movement. In addition to government efforts, several important non-profit organizations and groups of professionals support the movement.

External links are shown with a "external link icon".

Non-profit organizations

The Center for Plain Language external link icon is a federally tax-exempt non-profit membership organization made up of people in government, academia, and business who are dedicated to promoting and supporting plain language in the public and private sectors.

The Legal Writing Institute external link icon is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving legal writing by providing a forum for discussion and scholarship about legal writing, analysis, and research. One of its major activities is to give a Golden Pen Award to recognize persons who have significantly advanced the cause of better legal writing.

The Burton Foundation external link icon is a volunteer, non-for-profit, academic organization concentrating on legal writing. The Foundation sponsors an awards program that rewards partners in law firms and law school students who use plain, modern language and avoid archaic, stilted legalese.

Journals

The "Plain Language" column in the Michigan Bar Journal external link icon has been publishing articles on plain legal language for more than 20 years. It is the longest-running column on legal writing. The site includes a list of columns and links to many of the more recent ones.

Over the years, The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing external link icon has published many influential and widely circulated articles on plain language.

Associations

The Association for Business Communication external link icon is committed to fostering excellence in business communication scholarship, research, education, and practice.

The Association of Professional Communication Consultants external link icon is a network of professionals providing communication expertise and solutions.

The Society for Technical Communication external link icon includes technical writers, usability specialists, technical editors, information architects, managers, teachers, Web designers, translators, and many others interested in clear technical communication.

State and local governments

The Washington State Governmentexternal link icon has been involved in the plain language movement since the mid–1990's.

Texas has a plain langugage contracts projectexternal link icon.

Oregon also has a plain language program.external link icon

When Charlie Crist of Flordia took office as governor in January 2007, one of his first acts was to issue a plain langugage executive orderexternal link icon. Florida now has an entire siteexternal link icon devoted to plain language.

The Quality and Productivity Commissionexternal link icon, established by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, also has its own site.

Here's a great resource to help you build a business case for using plain language within your organization: Easy to Read NYC: Guidelines for Clear and Effective CommunicationAdobe Acrobat Reader iconexternal link icon.

 
Other Community Programs

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Related Topics

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