2. Say it directly

Clear and straightfoward

Plain language aims to be clear and straightforward, without being simplistic or patronising. It reduces the risk of your message being lost or misinterpreted. 

Writing plain language

You write plain language when you use the most direct way of expressing an idea. Some things to remember are:

• use active voice instead of passive
• avoid jargon
• eliminate unnecessary words, and
• create short sentences and paragraphs.

An example...

Before

The company and the commission came to an agreement on the fundamental principles previous to the termination of the second meeting.

After

The company and the commission agreed on the basic principles before the second meeting ended.

 Go to 3. Clarify visually