Search Results for: Clear writing

Published in The Clarity Journal 62 – November 2009 Shortly after the Second World War, the British Treasury invited Ernest Gowers to write a train- ing pamphlet for the civil service on the use of English by officials. The  result,  Plain  Words, was published by His Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO) in April 1948. A review […]

What is plain language A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended readers can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information. The International Plain Language Federation Plain Legal language is the same, but focus on legal communications. To draft […]

Published in The Clarity Journal 79 – 2018 The Plain Language Working Group is born – and gets to work The journey towards this options paper began at the 2007 PLAIN conference in Amsterdam. Three plain language organizations were considering issues, such as whether we should establish international standards for plain language, and what exactly […]

In this issue : 1. Accessible justice—plain language points the way, 2. 13 Plain language writ large: “Macrosimplifying” forcompany-wide clarity, 3. You can’t manage what you don’t measure, 4. 20 Snapshots from the conference, 5. Consumers need plain language more than ever—but it’s time to rethink its role, 6. Beyond all reasonable doubt: the brand […]

Published in The Clarity Journal 76 – 2018 By Neil James and Susan Kleimann No one could object to the evaluation of texts to assess their quality and effectiveness. Many evaluation methods exist, from readability formulas and expert reviews to usability tests and the analysis of outcomes. Yet in recent years, a divide has developed […]

In this issue : 1. Even lawyers want to understand: plain language increases lawyers’ credibility to both lawyers and laypeople, 2. Foxed and fined: how unclear contractual parking signs bamboozle motorists, 3. Lost in translation? A multidisciplinary approach onlegal issues in tax communication, 4. Contact strategies for statistical surveys and plain language: a difficult partnership, […]

Published in The Clarity Journal 56 – Nov.2016 Speech by Lord Justice Rix Clarity seminar at Denton Wilde Sapte 10 October 2006 I am very grateful to the organisers of this event for bringing me face to face with the subject matter of this talk. At first I received the invitation with some pleasure: it […]

In this issue : 1. The architecture of clarity, 2. You think lawyers are good drafters?, 3. Recent developments in contract drafting techniques, 4. Setting up a local Clarity meeting, 5. Plainly in Polish, 6. Clear language awareness in language policy in Norway, 7. Communicating with Older People: Writing in plain English by Sarah Carr, […]

Published in The Clarity Journal 73 – 2015 There is an ever-increasing need and demand from the public for information that is accessible, transparent, and easy to understand. When we view contracts as working documents—binding guides to action rather than legal records, we write to engage people to read and understand them, improve commercial relationships, […]

Published in The Clarity Journal 71 – 2014 Number 29, page 11, December 1993 This article also appeared in the December 1993 edition of the Judicial Officers Bulletin of New South Wales In giving a decision we are communicating  the law. We are drawing on our training and knowledge to make the law available to […]