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  1. Plain Writing: It's the Law!

The Plain Writing Act of 2010

The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-274) was signed into law on October 13, 2010. The Act calls for plain writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and consistent with other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. It encourages writers and communicators to avoid jargon, redundancy, ambiguity, and obscurity. Plain writing has many benefits including:

  • Improves public understanding and usefulness of government communications 
  • Saves time, personnel resources, and money needed for clarification
  • Improves customer service and efficiency
  • Increases compliance with agency requirements and reduces need for enforcement and litigation
  • Messages reach greater audiences

In short, the Plain Writing Act requires all federal agencies to use clear government communication that the public can understand and use.

The public should be able to:

  • find what they need,
  • understand what they find, and
  • use what they find to meet their needs
 
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