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 "".	Key
	A - an award-winning example T - created for training, not an official version B - has a "before" version

	Owner	Title	Doc Type	Principle	Subject
Show Before Examples

	National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States	The 9/11 Commission Report	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	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	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	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	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	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	Regulatory	Not Specified	Business and Finance	B
		Regular

	Minerals Management Service	Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations	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	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	Other Legal	practical use (combos)	Legal	B
		Key Electoral College Dates

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


	Office of the Federal Register	Electoral College State Checklist	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	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	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

Browse Plain–Language Examples:

Browse Examples

Before-and-After Comparisons

Government Documents

Legal Documents

Award-Winners

Humorous Examples

Unofficial Examples (Created for Training)