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plain language

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What is Plain Language? Part 5: The Nitty-gritty

February 15, 2022 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

This is the fifth and last in a series of articles discussing the basic principles of plain language by Aaron Dalton. I offer two half-day workshops: the first is all about the why and then we look at some document-level issues like tone. This is the workshop that I am most passionate …

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What is Plain Language? Part 4: Craftsmanship

November 16, 2021 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

This is the fourth in a series of articles discussing the basic principles of plain language by Aaron Dalton. Most of the writing that happens in an office is stream-of-consciousness. We fire off dozens of quick emails and texts a day with little thought. But the writing we do for external readers …

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Update on the International Plain Language Standard: An Interview with Gael Spivak

October 26, 2021 | Filed under: Merel Elsinga

Gael Spivak, a previous president of Editors Canada, works in-house for the federal government as a writer and editor. Part of her job is her involvement in creating an international plain language standard for the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). At the Editors Canada conference on June 13, 2021, Gael …

Illustration of a large arrow pointing to the right in a crowd of smaller arrows pointing to the left, signifying going against the flow. (godruma © 123RF.com)

What is Plain Language? Part 3: When You Assume …

October 12, 2021 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

This is the third in a series of articles discussing the basic principles of plain language by Aaron Dalton. You’re preparing a speech for a community association. You disagree with a particular policy, but you moderate your language because you “know” that most people disagree with you. What nobody realizes, though, is …

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What is Plain Language? Part 2: Reading is a Skill

August 31, 2021 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

This is the second in a series of articles discussing the basic principles of plain language by Aaron Dalton. Defining literacy Literacy is not just about being able to read and write; it’s also about being able to understand and use what you read. In an earlier blog post, I …

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What Is Plain Language? Part 1: A Definition

June 22, 2021 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

This is the first in a series of articles discussing the basic principles of plain language that I’ve found successful in my teaching. These principles may not be new to my fellow editors. Perhaps some material here will be useful in your own educational efforts. My experience is with non-fiction, …

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Empirical Editors: Fluency

June 9, 2020 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

This article is part of a series that looks at lessons one can draw from some of the research collected in Aaron Dalton’s “Empirical Research for Editors” list.  “Fluency” refers to how easy or difficult it is to do or process something. I interpret the science in this area through …

Gael Spivak: An Editor’s Top 3

May 5, 2020 | Filed under: Gael Spivak

In this series, experienced editors reflect on their Top 3 tools, rules and suggestions for clients and colleagues. Gael Spivak works in communications for the Government of Canada, where she specializes in plain language writing and editing. An editor for 13 years, Gael has worked on topics that include food …

Empirical Editors Bias

Empirical Editors: Curse of Knowledge

March 17, 2020 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

This article is part of a series that draws lessons from some of the research collected in Aaron Dalton’s “Empirical Research for Editors” list. Do you have the curse of knowledge? The “curse of knowledge” is a type of cognitive bias where someone unknowingly assumes, while communicating, that their audience …

The Ethical Imperative for Plain Language

September 10, 2019 | Filed under: Aaron Dalton

I used to speak of plain language in terms of it being “the right thing to do” and also the most effective thing to do from a utilitarian perspective (i.e., it gets results). But then I came across Russell Willerton’s book Plain Language and Ethical Action: A Dialogic Approach to …

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