How much of plain language is about word choices?

The Center for Plain Language has created a five-step checklist will guide you through the plain language process. It will help you develop content that’s right for your organization. Step 1: Identify and describe the target audience Step 2: Structure the content to guide the reader through it Step 3: Write the content in plain language Step 4: Use information design to help readers see and understand Step 5: Work with the target user groups to test the design and content Each step has explicit advice on the logistics of making it work. The document or site works when target users can find what they need, understand what they find, and act on it confidently. https://lnkd.in/dZM2U2DZ Image Description: A cartoon-type background. In the center, a speech balloon. In the speech balloon are the words, "Five Steps to plain language." Under the speech balloon are two colored rectangles. The top one says, "Learn what they are." The bottom one is the Center for Plain Language logo, which has two speech balloons on the left. The name Center for Plain Language. And their tagline, "Make it clear."

💬 How to Stay Updated with New English Words (and Actually Use Them Right) As an English instructor and proofreader, I come across new words almost every day — some just coined, others newly accepted into formal dictionaries. English evolves faster than ever, and staying current is part of our craft. Your goal isn't just to recognize these new words (neologisms) but to understand their context, nuance, and level of formality. Here’s the 3-step playbook I use to track, vet, and integrate the vocabulary of the future: ________________________________________ 1️⃣ The Immersion Strategy: Where to Hunt for Neologisms 🌍 - You have to be where the language is born — and where it’s validated. 📖 The Validation Source: Follow major lexicography teams like Merriam-Webster and Oxford English Dictionary on social media and news feeds. When a word is officially added, it moves from fleeting slang to established lexicon — your gold standard. 🔥 The Cultural Pulse: Spend focused time on platforms shaping language shifts — TikTok, Reddit, Twitter/X, and niche forums. This is where slang and professional jargon first surface. Your goal: spot a word’s emergence, not immediately adopt it. 📰 The Professional Core: Read The New York Times, The Economist, and Wired. They’re masters at integrating new professional terms like ESG, quiet quitting, or deepfake in meaningful, stable contexts. ________________________________________ 2️⃣ The Vetting Process: Analysis & Archiving 🧩 - Once you encounter a new word, don’t just look it up — analyze it. 🎯 Determine the Register: Categorize it instantly. Is it Slang (e.g., cheugy), Professional Jargon (e.g., disruptor), or a New Concept (e.g., burnout culture)? This guides how and when to use it. 💾 The Vocabulary Database: Keep a digital log (spreadsheet or notes app). For each entry, record: • 📝 Word/Phrase • 📍 Context: (e.g., Used by a CEO in a Q3 earnings call.) • 🎨 Nuance: (What subtle meaning does it carry?) • 🧬 Structure: Blend (hangry), acronym (ICYMI), or back-formation (enthuse from enthusiasm) — understanding form helps retention. ________________________________________ 3️⃣ The Integration Principle: Use It or Lose It 💬 Knowledge is passive until you put it to work. 💡 Low-Stakes Practice: Use vetted words in emails, lessons, or journals. Let them appear naturally, not forced. 🎓 The “Teach It” Test: If you can clearly explain a word’s meaning, origin, and tone to a colleague, you’ve fully integrated it into your active vocabulary. ________________________________________ 🌱 Language change is inevitable. Embrace it as an opportunity to sharpen your expertise. 💭 What’s one new English word you’ve come across lately that made you pause or smile? Drop it in the comments — let’s build our living dictionary together. 📚✨ ________________________________________ #EnglishLearning #Linguistics #VocabularyBuilding #LanguageTrends #Neologisms #ESL #EFL #EnglishTeaching #LifelongLearning

I was thinking about the ordering of adjectives in the English language last night... it fascinates me that every native English speaker intuitively knows this rule but very few realise it is codified let alone can recite it. Me included. For reference (literally... I used the Cambridge Dictionary for this) adjectives in English should be listed in this order: - opinion - size - physical quality - shape - age - colour - origin - material - type - purpose Violating this rule just looks wrong to any native speaker, even at the most basic level: "Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" is correct: the bad wolf is also big. And scary. "Who's afraid of the Bad Big Wolf?" is not correct: it implies that there is probably a Good Big Wolf just around the corner. And we all know that fairy tale wolves are never good. Every language has its nuance that native speakers take for granted. That's just part of what makes them all so fascinating. Thanks as ever to perchance.org for the AI images. https://lnkd.in/ePiWg_p4

One issue I have been turning over in my mind lately re: plain language is – is it plain language if it’s hard to understand? And I think the answer is, “Is it supposed to be?” The obvious answer is that if you are trying to help someone understand something or provide instructions, then no. If people are still struggling to get from A to B, then your language isn’t plain enough (and – not for nothing – try adding some pictures). But there are times when you are intentionally being hard to understand. Parables are supposed to be hard to understand. They are meant to challenge the reader’s understanding of the status quo. Try asking yourself if what you have written is hard to understand from the outside. If what you are writing is meant for an in-group, then using jargon or certain references might make sense. Think about how confusing it would be for a stranger to read the texts between you and your nearest and dearest. It’s a jumbled mess of half phrases and memes, right? (… right? Only me?) It makes sense because you’re all working from the same dictionary. That *is* the plainest way to communicate. In other words, ask yourself these three questions: 1)      Who is the audience? Where will they read this? 2)      What do I want them to know? 3)      How do I want them to feel? Let those guide what plain languages means in context. You got this! #PlainLanguage #WritingTips #MaybeJargonIsOkaySometimes

On Wednesday I am giving a presentation and today I am checking it manually, but I will also ask an LLM to help check it. Here is my prompt "Please review the following presentation I have uploaded and provide feedback. A. Primary Objective:  The presentation is intended to provide a thorough briefing on the impact of AI on the market research and insights ecosystem to enable the audience to better consider the implications for them. B. Audience Context: ·  Profession: Professional market researchers and insight professionals. ·  Roles: A mixed group of junior and senior levels, from both supplier (agency) and buyer (client) sides. ·   Language: Primarily Italian speakers with English as their second language (ESL). C. Review Request:  Based on the objective and the specific ESL audience, please analyse the presentation and provide feedback on the following, in this order: 1. Typos and Grammar: Highlight any basic spelling or grammatical errors. 2. Clarity for an ESL Audience: This is a key priority. Identify and simplify complex sentences, corporate jargon, or ambiguous idioms that might be confusing for non-native English speakers. 3. Factual Accuracy: Check for internal inconsistencies (e.g., "Slide 3 says 20% but Slide 10 says 25%") and any general statements that seem factually questionable. 4. Missing Content: Based on the stated objective, what key arguments, data points, or "so what" insights seem to be missing to convince this audience? 5. Redundant Content: What slides, data, or text could be removed to make the presentation more concise, focused, and impactful? 6. Flow and Structure: Assess the overall narrative. Does it flow logically? Is the story compelling for this specific (junior/senior, supplier/buyer) mix? Does the conclusion circle back to the main objective? D. Output Format:  Provide a detailed slide-by-slide set of suggestions for improvements and corrections." How would you tweak the prompt?

What can we do when we get a new sentence in English But we can't understand the meaning of that sentence .......!!!!!! Great question — not understanding a sentence in English happens to everyone, even fluent speakers sometimes. Here's a step-by-step approach to help you understand the meaning of a new or confusing sentence. Look Up Unknown Words Use a dictionary (like Cambridge, Oxford, or Learner’s Dictionary) or a translator to find the meaning of any words you don’t know. You can use tools like: Google Translate Cambridge Dictionary WordReference (great for phrasal verbs & idioms) ChatGPT Log in You said: What we can do when we get a new sentence in English But we can't understand the meaning of that sentence ChatGPT said: Great question — not understanding a sentence in English happens to everyone, even fluent speakers sometimes. Here's a step-by-step approach to help you understand the meaning of a new or confusing sentence: 🧩 Step-by-Step Guide to Understand an English Sentence: 1. Break the Sentence into Smaller Parts Divide the sentence into phrases or smaller sections to understand each part. Long or complex sentences are often easier to understand in pieces. 2. Look Up Unknown Words Use a dictionary (like Cambridge, Oxford, or Learner’s Dictionary) or a translator to find the meaning of any words you don’t know. You can use tools like: Google Translate Cambridge Dictionary WordReference (great for phrasal verbs & idioms) 3. Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object Most English sentences follow this structure: Subject + Verb + Object Example: "The cat (subject) chased (verb) the mouse (object)." If you can find these parts, the core meaning becomes clearer. 4. Check for Idioms or Phrasal Verbs Sometimes the sentence includes idioms (e.g., “kick the bucket”) or phrasal verbs (e.g., “give up”) that aren’t literal. These need special attention — look them up directly. Rephrase or Paraphrase Try to say the sentence in a simpler way. This helps check your understanding. 7. Read the Context (if available) Understanding the sentences before or after it can help give meaning to the confusing one. 📌 Example: Sentence: “She was taken aback by his sudden outburst.” Step-by-step: Unknown phrase? → “taken aback” Look it up → means “surprised/shocked” Now rephrase: “She was surprised by his sudden shouting.” #english #spoken #speaking

Plain Language Benefit # 3: Plain language increases reading comprehension In actual user studies of before and after results, we have found 10-95% increases, depending on the original text and target audience. The quirky part? Readers often spend MORE time reading—because they are finally actually able to read clear text! When your message is clear, people engage. One word of caution: for rigorous measures, comprehension tests are best developed with professionals like psychometricians who know how to create and validate tests and survey instruments. A huge shoutout to Telma Piacente, Luis Ángel Roldán, Valeria Abusamra, Jesica Formoso for sharing their reading comprehension expertise! P.S.: in all fairness, pain language is not always shorter as the illustration suggests. Sometimes, copy has to expand to say what it needs, how it needs. #PlainLanguage #ReadingComprehension

Benefit # 12: Plain language fosters collaboration, with shared understanding of goals and needs And collaboration is at the heart of public trust and effective service delivery — in both public and private sectors. Plain Language has a lot to say about the processes and policies behind the communications that build trust and support services. That’s why I don’t see plainlanguage.gov moving to digital.gov as an ending, but as an evolution. And, I am framing this change using a plain language strategy: focus on the positive (as in tell people what they need to do versus what actions are wrong... prefer "building bridges" to "knocking down barriers") Yes, plainlanguage.gov is being redirected to digital.gov. Yes, I believe Plain Language applies way beyond digital worlds. But, let’s pause before we bury it: -The Plain Writing Act is still law—plain language requirements for federal agencies haven’t gone away -The Plain Language Community is strong—the second largest with over 2800 members) -The content itself is live on digital.gov—along other crucial aspects that intersect with plain language for clear communication, like customer experience and information architecture plainlanguage.gov was once a dedicated hub. Moving it under digital.gov is not an ending but an opportunity for integration and collaboration. How can we use this shift to collaborate across government networks and peer groups? Not RIP — rebirth! https://lnkd.in/gE5-hfw2

Ever typed a whole paragraph… only to realize it’s in the wrong language? 😓 I still remember five years ago, when I was working on my graduation project. I often switched between Arabic and English, and sometimes I wrote whole paragraphs before I noticed I was typing in the wrong language. The issue is simple: we can change the input language before typing, but not after. No shortcut, no quick fix — just retyping. That’s unnecessary cognitive load 🧠 for multilingual users. 💡 Good design should help people recover easily from small mistakes and adapt to how we actually work — not the other way around. Imagine hitting a single shortcut and instantly switching your text to the correct language ⌨️✨ A simple idea, but a big step toward designing for real human behavior.