Plain Language FAQ

Q. What is plain language?

"Plain language" means presenting information to people in a way that makes sense to them. Knowing your audience and their needs is the first step to plain, clear communication.

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Q. Why is it important?

People have a right to understand the documents that affect their lives. If we are to be held accountable for following laws, we should be able to understand those laws.

We are all party to contracts in our lives, with the phone company, the cable company, our cell phone company, landlords or mortgage companies, credit card companies, and more. We should be able to understand what those contracts require of us.

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Q. Why don't people write plain all the time?

Some folks just don't feel like they're getting their money's worth if a lawyer writes in a way they can understand. And lawyers may defend "legalese," saying that it is more precise than plain English, and so is less likely to be misinterpreted. But to say a judge's decision is final and can't be challenged is as precise as saying that a case is dismissed "with prejudice."

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Q. Don't legal documents have to be written in... um... "legalese"?

Legal documents may need to be complex, and they may be longer than we would like, but they don't need to be undecipherable.

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Q. So all I have to do is write like I talk?

Actually, there's much more to it than that. Plain language is about knowing and respecting the needs of your audience, about clear writing, and about clean design. Read the articles here on plainlanguage.com to learn more.

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