Today's writers prefer to write clearly, concisely and plainly so that readers can understand what they are writing. This style of writing is better known as
Plain English writing or
Plain Language writing. Plain English unpacks and presents complex information orderly and clearly so that readers can comprehend the message without
difficulty.
Writing in plain English does not mean removing complex words to make your document easier to understand. A plain English document uses concise, relevant and direct words
economically and at a reading level that readers can understand. Sentence structure is tightly focused; paragraphs are shorter. Its tone is warm, friendly and direct. The document is visually appealing.
The bottom line: a plain English document is easy to read and looks inviting to readers.
Plain English writing should be:
plain,
pure and
precise.
When we
say that one should "
write plainly," we mean using good, basic English. It forbids the use of all slang words, vulgar phrases, obsolete terms, foreign idioms, ambiguous expressions or any ungrammatical language. This also forbids using any newly coined word until the best writers and speakers have adopted such word.
Pure writing demands the clearest expression of thought conveyed in clear language to prevent any misunderstandings. This means disposing ambiguous words, words of double meaning, double negatives, and words that a reader might interpret differently.
You should adopt a writing style that is clear, concise and focused—entirely free from cheap, ornate and trivial writing.
Writing precisely requires concise and exact expression, free from redundancy and useless repetition. Adopt a writing style that is crisp, clear and simple. Allow the reader to comprehend immediately the meaning of your writing. Throw away all long and involved sentences—as well as sentences that are too short, abrupt and meaningless. Your goal is to tell your story and keep the attention of the reader while bringing home your message.
At
LousyWriter.com, we have a section dedicated to
Plain English Writing.
©
LousyWriter.com
