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• Features and case studies
• Debate the LGA's 'banned words' list
• The state of the language
• The language of recession
• Speaking to be understood
• The lawyer's point of view
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Features and case studies

In this section

• Debate the LGA's 'banned words' list Last updated 26 August 2010

  For the last three years the Local Government Association (LGA) has published an annual list of words that the public sector should not use in communications with the general public. Read the 2010 list and tell us your views.

• The state of the language Last updated 22 January 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 language of recession Last updated 18 November 2009

  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.

• Speaking to be understood Last updated 16 April 2009

  You may be used to writing in plain English, but can you speak plainly too? If not, you risk confusing or boring your listeners. Sarah Carr from the Plain Language Commission looks at the art of plain speaking. Add your thoughts in the comment box after the article.

• Should lawyers tell you how to write? Last updated 19 January 2009

  In local government the charge is often made that we have inherited much of our gobbledy-gook and jargon from the law. But the plain language movement is flourishing in the legal profession, in the form of Clarity. Mark Adler, who recently retired after 35 years in the law, explains why he thinks we must resist mimicking his profession.

• Features and case studies archive Last updated 19 January 2010

  Browse through our archive of features and case studies on plain English.