Plain Language Movement

The Plain Language Movement is an effort to eliminate unnecessarily complex language from academia, government, law, and business.

International and national organizations in the movement include:

  • Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) was formed in 1993 as the Plain Language Network. Its membership is international; it was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Canada in 2008.
  • Clarity is an international association promoting plain legal language. The organization publishes a journal.
  • The Plain Language Information and Action Network (also known as PLAIN) is a group of volunteer US federal employees working to improve communications from the federal government to the public.
  • The Center for Plain Language is a US-based nonprofit organization promoting the use of plain language in the public and private sectors. The organization hosts annual symposia in Washington DC. The Center also gives ClearMark Awards to outstanding examples of clear communication, and WonderMark awards to examples of truly bad communication.

Organizations that have endorsed plain language include the Legal Writing Institute, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Canadian Bankers Association.

Read more about Plain Language Movement:  Aims, The Plain Writing Act of 2010

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