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Plain English

Plain English is essential to ensure local government communication is clear and easy to understand. This resource looks at writing plain English in local government. It offers:

  • advice on how to write and edit
  • advice on how to manage your colleagues' writing 
  • features and case studies on developing plain English personally and in your organisation
  • tips on how to deal with tricky grammar and syntax and avoid common mistakes
  • tests to gauge your plain English ability
  • a crash course in the plain English basics to improve your writing
  • useful resources on this and other websites.

If you have any feedback, please email our web team at:
webmaster@idea.gov.uk.

Latest features

For the last three years the Local Government Association (LGA) has published an annual list of words that the public sector should not use when communicating with the general public. But have the nature and quality of public sector language changed as a result? Have you noticed a change in the way your council communicates with the public? Read the 2010 list and tell us your views.

LGA's 'banned words' list 2010

David Crystal is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at Bangor University. Last July he gave evidence to the Public Administration Committee on the ‘Use and abuse of official language’. On this page he answers some of our questions on the history, the future and the present challenges of using plain English.

The state of the language

The recession poses particular challenges for councils who want to communicate with their residents. Times are tough. Difficult decisions are being made about spending and priorities. Carol Grant, director of Grant Riches Communications Consultants, considers how much plain speaking is needed, or welcomed, at a time of recession. Add your comments in the box at the end.

The language of recession

In this section

  • Planning your document Last updated 24 October 2008

    Some tips to help get you going when you need to write as part of your role in local government.

  • Writing good copy Last updated 2 June 2008

    Your aim is to write a document that the reader will be able to understand after one reading. This page tells you how.

  • Editing and proof-reading Last updated 3 June 2008

    Once you have written your piece, you will have to come back and edit it. You may also find yourself editing colleagues' writing. In either case, the aim is the same – to end up with a piece of work that makes sense to the reader after only one reading.

  • Managing colleagues' writing Last updated 2 June 2008

    Some tips to help you manage colleagues' work, from stating your requirements to editing.

  • Why plain English fails Last updated 12 May 2008

    Many public sector employees attend plain English training, agree with the principles and can do all of the course techniques. Within a month however, they have reverted to their former writing style. This article looks at why plain English fails!

  • Common pitfalls in local government writing Last updated 18 December 2008

    This section looks at some of the mistakes we make most often in our writing and how to avoid them.

  • Test your plain English Last updated 28 May 2008

    This test assesses your ability to spot 'unplain' English. When you have your score, we will tell you where to go next.

  • Features and case studies Last updated 11 March 2010

    Read our case studies to find out how local government is promoting plain English. Debate the issues in our regular comment pieces.

  • Useful links and resources Last updated 12 July 2010

    Information, links, downloads, readability tests and further reading to help you make your English plainer.

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