Plain language resources

Useful resources for writing plain language. All are practical (and some are highly entertaining).

New Zealand government plain language guidelines

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management: Plain English Writing Guide
Cabguide: Tips on writing Cabinet papers (Cabinet Office)
Advice for writing Cabinet papers (DPMC)

Other plain language guidelines

US Federal Plain Language Guidelines: Table of Contents
Australian government guidelines, from DETYA and ANTA
Plain Language Lexicon (U.K. guide to word choice for public servants)
Gary Larson's list of U.S. and Australian resources

Articles and speeches about plain language

Plain English Foundation: papers and speeches (Australia)
George Orwell's classic essay: Politics and the English Language, 1946
Articles from WriteMark (NZ)
Content that makes you happy (including tips on writing content)
Communication Research Institute (Australia)
Plain Language in Law by Sandeep Dave (US)
Plain Language Commission (UK)
The price of poor writing: Impact Information (US)
Plain Language Wizardry: Cheryl Stephens (Canada)

Videos about plain English

Redesigning the stop sign

Legal writing in plain English

Cleardocs and the plain-language mission (Australia)
Plain Language and Legislation Booklet (Scotland)
Clarity: international association promoting plain legal language

Organisations promoting plain English

Center for Plain Language (Washington DC, US)
Plain Language Action Network (US)
The Plain Language Association International
Plain English Association International (PLAIN) (Canada)