How to write in plain English

1. Plain EnglishPlain English
Translating gobbledygookTranslating gobbledygook
into plain languageinto plain language

2. ► These are (supposedly) actual statements taken from cards, letters and formsThese are (supposedly) actual statements taken from cards, letters and forms
received by public assistance agencies.received by public assistance agencies.
►I am forwarding my marriage certificate andI am forwarding my marriage certificate and
6 children. I had 7 but one died which was6 children. I had 7 but one died which was
baptized on a sheet of paper.baptized on a sheet of paper.
►I am writing the Welfare Dept. to say that myI am writing the Welfare Dept. to say that my
baby was born 2 years old. When do I getbaby was born 2 years old. When do I get
my money?my money?

3. ►Mrs. Jones has not had any clothing for aMrs. Jones has not had any clothing for a
year and has been visited regularly by theyear and has been visited regularly by the
clergy.clergy.
►I cannot get sick pay. I have had 6 children.I cannot get sick pay. I have had 6 children.
Can you tell me why?Can you tell me why?
►I am glad to report that my husband whoI am glad to report that my husband who
was reported missing is dead.was reported missing is dead.
►This is my eighth child. What are you goingThis is my eighth child. What are you going
to do about it?to do about it?

4. ►Please find for certain if my husband isPlease find for certain if my husband is
dead, as the man I am living with can't do adead, as the man I am living with can't do a
thing until he knows.thing until he knows.
►I am very much annoyed to find you haveI am very much annoyed to find you have
branded my boy as illiterate. This is a dirtybranded my boy as illiterate. This is a dirty
lie. I was married to his father a week beforelie. I was married to his father a week before
he was born.he was born.
►In answer to your letter, I have given birth toIn answer to your letter, I have given birth to
a boy weighing 10 pounds. I hope this isa boy weighing 10 pounds. I hope this is
satisfactory.satisfactory.

5. ►I am forwarding my marriage certificate andI am forwarding my marriage certificate and
my 3 children, one of which was a mistakemy 3 children, one of which was a mistake
as you can see.as you can see.
►Unless I get my husband's money prettyUnless I get my husband's money pretty
soon, I will be forced to lead an immortalsoon, I will be forced to lead an immortal
life.life.
►My husband got laid off from his job 2My husband got laid off from his job 2
weeks ago, and I haven't had any reliefweeks ago, and I haven't had any relief
since.since.

6. ►You have changed my little boy to a girl. WillYou have changed my little boy to a girl. Will
this make any difference?this make any difference?
►I have no children yet as my husband is aI have no children yet as my husband is a
bus driver and works night and day.bus driver and works night and day.
►In accordance with your instructions, I haveIn accordance with your instructions, I have
given birth to twins in the enclosedgiven birth to twins in the enclosed
envelope.envelope.

7. ►I want my money as quick as I can get it. II want my money as quick as I can get it. I
have been in bed with a doctor for 2 weekshave been in bed with a doctor for 2 weeks
and he hasn't done me any good. If thingsand he hasn't done me any good. If things
don't improve I will have to send for anotherdon't improve I will have to send for another
doctor.doctor.

8. Translate thisTranslate this
Example: Job Corps utilizes a comprehensiveExample: Job Corps utilizes a comprehensive
performance management system to assignperformance management system to assign
accountability for programmatic goals andaccountability for programmatic goals and
objectives, and to assess program effectiveness inobjectives, and to assess program effectiveness in
achieving those goals and objectives. Theachieving those goals and objectives. The
performance management system is comprised ofperformance management system is comprised of
five outcome measurement systems as follows:five outcome measurement systems as follows:
the Center Outcome Measurement system (OMS)the Center Outcome Measurement system (OMS)
and Quality Measurement System (QMS), theand Quality Measurement System (QMS), the
Outreach and Admissions Outcome MeasurementOutreach and Admissions Outcome Measurement
System (OA OMS), the Vocational EvaluationSystem (OA OMS), the Vocational Evaluation
System (VES)...System (VES)...

9. Possible translationsPossible translations
►Job Corps assigns accountability andJob Corps assigns accountability and
measures program performance andmeasures program performance and
outcomes through five systems.outcomes through five systems.
► Job Corps measures program performanceJob Corps measures program performance
and outcomes through five systems.and outcomes through five systems.
► Job Corps measures program performanceJob Corps measures program performance
through five systems.through five systems.
► Job Corps measures performance fiveJob Corps measures performance five
ways.ways.

10. Translate thisTranslate this
►High-quality learning environments are aHigh-quality learning environments are a
necessary precondition for facilitation andnecessary precondition for facilitation and
enhancement of the ongoing learningenhancement of the ongoing learning
process.process.

11. TranslationTranslation
►Children need good schools if they are toChildren need good schools if they are to
learn properly.learn properly.

12. Translate thisTranslate this
► . To the extent that such important influences shape the. To the extent that such important influences shape the
probability of recidivism, this new study does not merelyprobability of recidivism, this new study does not merely
demonstrate that the private sector can and typically doesdemonstrate that the private sector can and typically does
offer meaningful rehabilitative programs that serve theoffer meaningful rehabilitative programs that serve the
public interest effectively. The study also lends support topublic interest effectively. The study also lends support to
APCTO’s often-stated view that sophisticated programs inAPCTO’s often-stated view that sophisticated programs in
such areas as education, vocational training and substancesuch areas as education, vocational training and substance
abuse treatment---without regard to whether they areabuse treatment---without regard to whether they are
delivered by public agencies or the private sector---havedelivered by public agencies or the private sector---have
long-term benefits that too often are not fully taken intolong-term benefits that too often are not fully taken into
account in appropriation decisions made by legislativeaccount in appropriation decisions made by legislative
bodies at the local, state and federal levels of government. bodies at the local, state and federal levels of government.

13. Possible translationsPossible translations
► 2. First try. The new study demonstrates that the private2. First try. The new study demonstrates that the private
sector offers meaningful rehabilitative programs that servesector offers meaningful rehabilitative programs that serve
the public interest effectively. It also shows thatthe public interest effectively. It also shows that
sophisticated education, vocational training and substancesophisticated education, vocational training and substance
abuse treatment programs provide long-term benefits.abuse treatment programs provide long-term benefits.
These benefits are often ignored by lawmakers whenThese benefits are often ignored by lawmakers when
making decisions about how to best spend tax dollars formaking decisions about how to best spend tax dollars for
corrections.corrections.
► 2. Second try. Experts say this new research provides a2. Second try. Experts say this new research provides a
badly needed comparison between those who are releasedbadly needed comparison between those who are released
from private and public prisons. The new study showsfrom private and public prisons. The new study shows
benefits for taxpayers because private prisons canbenefits for taxpayers because private prisons can
decrease incarceration costs and result in fewer offendersdecrease incarceration costs and result in fewer offenders
who return to prison.who return to prison.

14. Translate thisTranslate this
► If there are any points on which you requireIf there are any points on which you require
explanation or further particulars we shall beexplanation or further particulars we shall be
glad to furnish such additional details asglad to furnish such additional details as
may be required by telephone.may be required by telephone.

15. TranslationTranslation
►If you have any questions, please call.If you have any questions, please call.

16. Translate thisTranslate this
►It is important that you shall read the notes,It is important that you shall read the notes,
advice and information detailed oppositeadvice and information detailed opposite
then complete the form overleaf (allthen complete the form overleaf (all
sections) prior to its immediate return to thesections) prior to its immediate return to the
Council by way of the envelope provided.Council by way of the envelope provided.

17. TranslationTranslation
►Please read the notes opposite before youPlease read the notes opposite before you
fill in the form. Then send it back to us asfill in the form. Then send it back to us as
soon as possible in the envelope provided.soon as possible in the envelope provided.

18. Translate thisTranslate this
► Your inquiry about the use of the entrance area atYour inquiry about the use of the entrance area at
the library for the purpose of displaying postersthe library for the purpose of displaying posters
and leaflets about Welfare and Supplementaryand leaflets about Welfare and Supplementary
Benefit rights, gives rise to the question of theBenefit rights, gives rise to the question of the
provenance and authoritativeness of the materialprovenance and authoritativeness of the material
to be displayed. Posters and leaflets issued by theto be displayed. Posters and leaflets issued by the
Central Office of Information, the Department ofCentral Office of Information, the Department of
Health and Social Security and other authoritativeHealth and Social Security and other authoritative
bodies are usually displayed in libraries, but itemsbodies are usually displayed in libraries, but items
of a disputatious or polemic kind, whilst notof a disputatious or polemic kind, whilst not
necessarily excluded, are considered individually.necessarily excluded, are considered individually.

19. TranslationTranslation
►Thank you for your letter asking permissionThank you for your letter asking permission
to put up posters in the entrance area of theto put up posters in the entrance area of the
library. Before we can give you an answerlibrary. Before we can give you an answer
we will need to see a copy of the posters towe will need to see a copy of the posters to
make sure they won't offend anyone.make sure they won't offend anyone.