Writing in Plain English

Plain English Course from Chillibreeze

As an English writer, do you sometimes try to impress rather than inform your reader? Do you think in simple language and then write down a more ‘literary’ version? Is the thesaurus your trusted companion?

When you edit your own or others’ work, do you focus on its clarity? Do you gauge how much time and effort it will take the reader to grasp?

Language is meant to convey meaning. And yet, as writers and editors, we are often guilty of concealing meaning. We opt for a difficult word where a simpler one would do; a long sentence instead of three or four short ones; a stock phrase or cliché that is past its prime… in short, language that is not just boring but hard to understand.

Ye olde English

Today, readers do not have the time or patience to work out what you mean. If your message doesn’t jump out as they skim the page, they will move on (or more likely, click) to another one. It’s no wonder writers and editors are switching to plain English – it’s reader friendly, clear and direct, minus the jargon and clichés, and free of affectation.

Plain English is quickly gaining acceptance across the world. Even government departments – infamous for their stuffy, bureaucratic language – are supporting the use of plain English in documents.

Is plain English a dumbed down version of regular English?

Not at all – it is just a more workable and widely understood version. In a rapidly shrinking world, distinctions between ‘US English’, ‘UK English’, ‘Indian English’, ‘Australian English’ and other regional adaptations of English are blurring. Plain English is fast becoming the single, globally accepted form of the language.

You might find it is harder to write in plain English at first. Here’s what adapting your writing to suit plain English guidelines means:

• You choose words and construct sentences with more care.
• You don’t have well-worn expressions to fall back on.
• You measure how effectively each sentence gets its meaning across.
• You constantly check the content from your reader’s viewpoint.

As you practice using Plain English, your writing style will become fresh, original and readable. Isn’t that what good writing is all about?

How do I learn plain English?

You can find lots of information on plain English on the Internet. However, like any new language, the techniques and rules of plain English are best learned through practice. The Chillibreeze plain English course helps you master plain English through diverse examples and interactive exercises. Each section guides you through an area of plain English that replaces old-school English usage. A comprehensive test enables you to assess your plain English skills at the end of the course.

Plain English is global English. Learning plain English will not only improve your writing but also open up many more opportunities to apply your new skills. To know more about plain English, check out A Quick Guide to Plain English.

We also have plain English Courses for Corporates and Professionals.
Read more about The Plain English Movement here.

Try our Express Editing Services for documents that are 5,000 words or less.