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


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Examples>Government Examples of Plain Language Writing

Government Examples

Plain language has been around in the government for over 20 years. Here are some examples, both historical and current.


External links are shown with a "external link icon".Key
A - an award-winning example
T - created for training, not an official version
B - has a "before" version

Show Before Examples
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    National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States     The 9/11 Commission Report Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety    
Regular

    Animal and Plant Health Information Service     Requirements for dealing with animal care     Regulatory     lists     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    American Bar Association     American Bar Association Resolution     Regulatory     Not Specified     Legal    
The American Bar Association passed this resolution advising federal agencies to write regulations in plain language.

    Army     Information Security Program Handbook     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     US Government      B 
Regular

    Bureau of Indian Affairs     Mineral notices     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Bureau of Indian Affairs     25 CFR Part 900     Regulatory     lists     Legal      T   B 

    Bureau of Land Management     Second Plain Language Award Winner: Geothermal Power Licenses     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      A   B 
Second Plain Language Award winner,PR

    Bureau of Land Management     Monthly Due Date     Regulatory     short sentences     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Bureau of Land Management     Model Rule     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Legal    
Regular

    Bureau of Land Management     Leasing of Solid Minerals     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment    
Leasing solid minerals, other than coal, on public lands. Regular

    Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services     Open Door Initiative     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services     Medicare fraud letter     Public Info     short sentences     Legal      B 
Steps Medicare takes when there's fraud.,Regular

    Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services     Medicaid eligibility     Public Info     lists     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Department of Agriculture     Fifth Plain Language Award Winner: Hazards of Poultry Stuffing!     Public Info     common words     Health and Safety      A   B 
Fifth Plain Language Award Winner,PR

    Department of Energy     Oak Ridge Annual Site Environmental ReportSummary Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Correspondence     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment    
Regular

    Department of the Interior     Housing Grants     Regulatory     pronouns     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Department of the Interior     43 CFR Part 4: Revised regulations for implementing Equal Access to Justice Act Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Legal    
revised 43 CFR Part 4

    Department of the Interior     Application due date     Regulatory     pronouns     Not Specified      T   B 

    Department of the Interior     Regulatory Preamble     Regulatory     Not Specified     Legal      T   B 

    Department of the Interior     Reg preamble     Regulatory     active voice     Legal      T   B 

    Department of Justice     Claims for Damages due to International Terrorism     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Legal      T   B 

    Department of Labor     Application for Federal Assistance     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Department of Labor     Job assistance     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Department of Labor     Printer recommendations     Government Audience     active voice     Not Specified      T   B 

    Department of Labor     Disaster unemployment assistance     Regulatory     pronouns     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Department of Labor     Employment Assistance     Public Info     active voice     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Department of Transportation     Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing     Regulatory     lists     Legal    
Regular

    Department of Education     Student loans     Regulatory     lists     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Environmental Protection Agency     Lead in water     Public Info     tables     Health and Safety      T   B 

    Environmental Protection Agency     Reimbursement to Local Governments.     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment    
Regular

    Environmental Protection Agency     The Plain Language Guide to the Clean Air Act     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment    
An extremely user-friendly introduction to the 1990 Clean Air Act

    Environmental Protection Agency     Use less water     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Environmental Protection Agency     Registering pesticide     Regulatory     active voice     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Environmental Protection Agency     Land by the lakes     Public Info     active voice     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Environmental Protection Agency     Water resources     Public Info     lists     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    English Parliament     Clearer Timeshare Act external link icon Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Regulatory     Not Specified     Business and Finance    
English law regarding timeshare contracts.,Regular

    Federal Aviation Administration     AIP grants 6     Public Info     lists     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     AIP grants 5     Public Info     short sentences     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     AIP grants 4     Regulatory     active voice     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     AIP grants     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Airport Maps     Regulatory     lists     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Securing Items for Landing     Public Info     lists     Health and Safety      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Operator Repair     Public Info     hidden verbs     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Airworthy Directives Regulation: 14 CFR Part 39     Regulatory     headings     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Airport planning     Public Info     hidden verbs     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Definition of Unjustified or Unwarrented Personnel     Government Audience     practical use (combos)     US Government      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Aviation safety incidents     Public Info     active voice     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Aircraft Maintenance     Regulatory     common words     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Airport Noise     Regulatory     common words     US Government      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Rulemaking Procedures     Regulatory     Not Specified     US Government      B 
FAA rules on making rules.,Regular

    Federal Aviation Administration     Regulation on manufacturing facilities     Regulatory     active voice     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Federal Aviation Administration     Repair Issue     Regulatory     short sentences     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Federal Communications Commission     Personal Radio Services     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment    
Rules on operating a CB radio station.,Regular

    Food and Drug Administration     Over-the-counter drug label Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Public Info     illustrations     Health and Safety      A 
Regular

    Federal Emergency Management Administration     Sixth Plain Language Award Winner: Winter Preparedness Safety Tips     Public Info     common words     Health and Safety      A   B 
Sixth Plain Language Award Winner, on winter safety tips.,PR

    Federal Emergency Management Administration     Disaster regulation     Regulatory     lists     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Federal Emergency Management Administration     Fungi Hazards and Flood Cleanup     Public Info     lists     Health and Safety      T   B 

    Federal Emergency Management Administration     Protect yourself from natural disasters     Public Info     lists     Health and Safety      T   B 

    Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration     No Smoking     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety      T   B 

    Fish and Wildlife Service     Manual--capital improvements     Government Audience     lists     US Government      T   B 

    Fish and Wildlife Service     Alaskan harvest regulation     Regulatory     misplaced modifiers     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Fish and Wildlife Service     Manual--grant approval     Government Audience     active voice     US Government      B 
Regular

    Fish and Wildlife Service     Manual--market value     Government Audience     active voice     US Government      B 
Regular

    Federal Judicial Center     Class action notices external link icon     Other Legal     practical use (combos)     Legal    
A discussion on using plain language in class action notices and sample notices,Regular

    General Services Administration     FACA applicability     Regulatory     tables     US Government      T   B 

    General Services Administration     GSA Travel Regulations     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     US Government      A   B 
PR

    General Services Administration     Third Plain Language Award Winner: Indirect Route or Interrupted Travel     Regulatory     Not Specified     US Government      A   B 
Third Plain Language Award Winner, travel.,PR

    Department of Health and Human Services     Essential Healthcare Publication     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety      B 
Regular

    Department of Health and Human Services     Losing Weight Brochure     Public Info     short sentences     Health and Safety      B 
Regular

    Department of Housing and Urban Development     Fourth Plain Language Award Winner: Housing Discrimination Complaints     Regulatory     common words     Housing, Labor, Benefits      A   B 
(edit) Fourth Plain Language Award Winner,PR

    Department of Housing and Urban Development     Voucher Eligibility     Regulatory     pronouns     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Internal Revenue Service     IRS form CP2000 Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Regulatory     Not Specified     Business and Finance      B 
Regular

    Minerals Management Service     Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment    
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    Minerals Management Service     MMS docket number     Correspondence     practical use (combos)     Not Specified      B 
Regular

    Minerals Management Service     MMS notice     Regulatory     Not Specified     US Government      B 
MMS notifications about Indian mineral owners.,Regular

    Minerals Management Service     MMS request denial.     Regulatory     common words     US Government      B 
Regular

    Minerals Management Service     MMS and RSPA workgroup     Public Info     practical use (combos)     US Government      B 
Regular

    Minerals Management Service     MMS Transportation Allowance     Regulatory     pronouns     Business and Finance      B 
If MMS doesn't consider a contract to be a reasonable value.,Regular

    Minerals Management Service     Right of use     Regulatory     hidden verbs     Science, Technology, and Environment      T   B 

    Minerals Management Service     Index prices     Regulatory     common words     Business and Finance      B 
Specifies which tables to use to determine index prices.,Regular

    Minerals Management Service     Title 30: Mineral Resources     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment    
Regulation on oil, gas, and sulfer operations in the outer continental shelf.,Regular

    National Aeronautic and Space Administration     Eleventh Plain Language Award Winner:     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety      A   B 
Eleventh Plain Language Award Winner,PR

    National Aeronautic and Space Administration     Johnson Space Center Manual (example 3)     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 
Johnson Space Center manual excerpt describing the hearing conservation program.,Regular

    National Aeronautic and Space Administration     Johnson Space Center Manual (example 1)     Government Audience     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 
Contractor manual,Regular

    National Aeronautic and Space Administration     Johnson Space Center Manual (example 2)     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety      B 
Reporting and responding to emergency.,Regular

    National Highway Traffic Safety Administation     Small Business Impacts of Motor Vehicle Safety Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety    
A notice that uses and refers to plain language.,Regular

    National Highway Traffic Safety Administation     Car Safety     Public Info     illustrations     Health and Safety      B 
Roll-over warning label,PR

    National Institutes of Health     DNA test for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety      B 

    National Institutes of Health     Visualizing Transcription of Genes in Living Cells     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety      B 

    National Institutes of Health     Technologies, Inc. Compact Light Source (CLS)     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 

    National Institutes of Health     Informed Consent Template     Other Legal     practical use (combos)     Health and Safety    
Template for trial study consent document,Regular

    National Institutes of Health     National Institute of Sciences/Collaborative Access Team (NS/CAT)     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 

    National Marine National Marine Fisheries Service     Fisheries Regulation     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 
Regular

    National Park Service     Stuck vehicle     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 
Holes created by stuck vehicles.,Regular

    National Park Service     National Park Service Manual     Public Info     tables     Education, Literacy, and Culture      B 
Regular

    Non-Government Bank     Late bank payments     Other Legal     practical use (combos)     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Office of the Federal Register     Timeline of Key Dates Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Other Legal     practical use (combos)     Legal      B 
Key Electoral College Dates

    Office of the Federal Register     Electoral College Instructions to State Officials Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Other Legal     practical use (combos)     US Government      B 

    Office of the Federal Register     Electoral College State Checklist Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Other Legal     practical use (combos)     Legal      B 

    Office of Management and Budget     Office of Management and Budget policy directive     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     US Government    
Website privacy policies.,Regular

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration     Welding safety precautions     Regulatory     misplaced modifiers     Health and Safety      B 
Regular

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration     First Plain Language Award Winner: Much Improved Regulation     Regulatory     lists     Not Specified      A   B 
First Plain Language Award Winner,PR

    Office of Surface Mining     Coal mining operations     Regulatory     Not Specified     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 
Control of mining operations.,Regular

    Small Business Administration     Notice and Deficiency Order Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Business and Finance    
Small disadvanted business certifications,Regular

    Security and Exchange Commission     Stock Exchanges     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Business and Finance      T   B 

    Security and Exchange Commission     Seventh Plain Language Award Winner: Financial Disclosure Documents     Other Legal     short sentences     Business and Finance      A   B 
Seventh Plain Language Award Winner, on winter safety tips.,PR

    Social Security Administration     Disability Claims     Public Info     lists     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Social Security Administration     Twelfth Plain LanguagTwelfth Plain Language Award Winner: "Your Social Security Statement"     Public Info     Not Specified     Housing, Labor, Benefits      A 
TwelfthPlain Language Award Winner

    Department of State     Public Announcements     Public Info     hidden verbs     Education, Literacy, and Culture      T   B 

    Department of State     Press Release     Public Info     active voice     Not Specified      T   B 

    Department of State     Visa information 2     Public Info     lists     Education, Literacy, and Culture      T   B 

    Department of State     Information Resource Center 2     Public Info     short sentences     Education, Literacy, and Culture      T   B 

    Department of State     Visa information     Regulatory     lists     Education, Literacy, and Culture      T   B 

    Department of State     Information Resource Center     Public Info     pronouns     Education, Literacy, and Culture      T   B 

    State of California     Jury Instructions: Recollection     Other Legal     common words     Legal      B 
Instruction on the value of eye witnesses.,Regular

    State of California     Jury Instructions: Proof     Other Legal     common words     Legal      B 
Juror instruction on ,Other

    State of California     Jury Instructions: Evidence     Other Legal     common words     Legal      B 
Regular

    State of California     Jury Instructions: Circumstantial Evidence     Other Legal     common words     Legal      B 
Instruction about circumstantial evidence.,Regular

    State of California     Jury Instructions: Physically Disabled     Other Legal     common words     Legal      B 
Instruction on care required by the physically disabled.,Regular

    State of California     Jury Instructions: Psychotherapist's Responsibility     Other Legal     lists     Legal      B 
When a psychotherapist is required to report possible violent behavior.,Regular

    State of Pennsylvania     Plain Language Consumer Contract Act external link icon Adobe Acrobat Reader icon     Regulatory     Not Specified     Education, Literacy, and Culture    
Pennsylvania law requiring contracts to be written in plain english. Regular

    Stylewriter     Crime Analysis Meeting     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Legal      T   B 

    Stylewriter     Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee     Public Info     short sentences     Health and Safety      B 
Explaining the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Environmental and Economic Benefits     Not Specified     short sentences     Business and Finance      B 
The Agency's goal of improving business practices.,Regular

    Stylewriter     FOIA Letter     Correspondence     short sentences     US Government      B 
Response to a FOIA request.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Savings Approach.     Government Audience     active voice     Business and Finance      B 
Possible benefits of a new savings approach.,Regular

    Stylewriter     FCA Form 161     Regulatory     active voice     Housing, Labor, Benefits      B 
Purpose of Form 161 for paying overtime.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Missing Payment     Not Specified     hidden verbs     Business and Finance      B 
Reaction to a missing payment.,Regular

    Stylewriter     The Calculation     Not Specified     hidden verbs     US Government      B 
We have to calculate new figures.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Hundred Dollar Fee     Correspondence     hidden verbs     Business and Finance      B 
What you should do if you cannot pay the fee.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Assessment of the Homelessness policy.     Not Specified     hidden verbs     Housing, Labor, Benefits      B 
Statistics are important for policy.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Veteran's Benefits notice.     Not Specified     hidden verbs     Housing, Labor, Benefits      B 
The Department notified veteran's of their benefits.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Offset Bombing     Not Specified     common words     Not Specified      B 
A description of offset bombing.,Regular

    Stylewriter     Reticle     Not Specified     common words     Not Specified      B 
Explanation of a reticle.,Regular

    Stylewriter     My supervisor     Not Specified     common words     Not Specified      T   B 

    Stylewriter     Stylewriter : Timely Response     Correspondence     common words     US Government      B 
Letter referring questions to be sent to an email address.,Regular

    Stylewriter     APHIS Commuter Lanes     Public Info     common words     US Government      T   B 

    U.S. Employment Service     Denial of federal employment services     Regulatory     pronouns     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Pensions, Bonuses     Regulatory     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits    
Regular

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Failure to Provide Claim Information Letter     Correspondence     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits      B 
Letter requesting more information for benefits.,Regular

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Disability Compensation     Public Info     hidden verbs     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Change in Enrollment Status     Correspondence     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits    
Change in college enrollment impact on benefits.,Regular

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Ninth Plain Language Award Winner     Correspondence     Not Specified     Business and Finance      A   B 

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Veteran's Death Benefits     Regulatory     lists     Housing, Labor, Benefits      T   B 

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Pension Medical Evidence     Correspondence     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits    
Request to provide more information about medical condition,Regular

    Veterans Benefits Administration     Failure to Provide Claim Information     Correspondence     practical use (combos)     Housing, Labor, Benefits    
Request for more information for benefits.,Regular

    unknown federal agency     Special form     Regulatory     pronouns     Not Specified      B 
Suggestions for submitting a request to the Secretary.,Regular

    unknown federal agency     Individual civil penalty.     Other Legal     common words     US Government      B 
When an individual civil penalty will be assessed.,Regular

    unknown federal agency     Executive Order 12114     Not Specified     practical use (combos)     Science, Technology, and Environment      B 
General description of Executive Order 12114.,Regular

    unknown federal agency     Required Bill Statement     Regulatory     common words     Business and Finance      T   B 

    unknown federal agency     Off Reservation Lands     Not Specified     short sentences     US Government      T   B 

    unknown federal agency     Interrogatory     Other Legal     lists     Legal      B 
An interrogatory may be answered with an opinion.,Regular

    unknown federal agency     Fee Rate Surcharge     Regulatory     Not Specified     Business and Finance      B 
Will add a surchage to the first year's fee rate.,Regular

    unknown federal agency     Definition of     Other Legal     common words     Legal      T   B 

    unknown federal agency     Batch processing     Not Specified     active voice     Not Specified      T   B 

    unknown federal agency     Certificate letter     Public Info     practical use (combos)     Not Specified      B 
Agency will send letter saying whether an application was accepted.,Regular

    unknown federal agency     Department payments     Regulatory     lists     Business and Finance      T   B 

 
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Government Documents

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Award-Winners

Humorous Examples

Unofficial Examples (Created for Training)

Related Topics

Regulations

Using Plain Language in the Government

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Tips for Starting Plain-Language Programs

Using plain language in the legal profession.

Word suggestions

Many of these quotes are amusing.

 

 
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