Plain English

Duration: Half Day

Trainer: Sarah Marriott

This workshop focuses on how to use language, structure and layout to help readers easily find 
what they need, understand it and use it. It can be tailored to focus on range of communications, 
from email and letters to forms and reports.  

Participants will take away the skills, tools and confidence to achieve objectives by writing 
successfully in plain English. They apply learning points immediately with practical exercises in 
small groups, which can be based on your own communications. This is to build a supportive, 
constructive, team-based approach to writing and editing. 

On successful completion, participants will be able to: 
• Write in plain English for different audiences and types of communication 
• Plan user-focused, well-structured accessible communications  
• Use clear, concise English with a professional tone, as appropriate 
• Identify common errors of grammar and punctuation 
 
Who should attend? 
This workshop is for experienced writers who would like a refresher or who are not familiar with 
plain English guidelines. It’s also for new writers and editors who want to understand the 
principles and practice of plain English. 
 
Workshop content 
 
Part 1 – Overview of plain English 
• What is plain English? What are its benefits? 
• Identify plain English for different uers and channels of communication  
• How to assess readability using the Flesch Reading Ease Scale 
• How to use language and layout to improve accessibility and readability 
 
Part 2 – Planning to achieve objectives 
• Define your purpose and identify your target readers 
• Step-by-step guide to creating a structured outline 
 
Part 3 – How to make your writing plain and professional  
• Build short, clear, strong sentences and paragraphs 
• Use strong active verbs for clarity  
• Use familiar words for your intended readers 
• Cut dead wood, repetition, padding and wordiness 
• Take care with jargon, abbreviations and buzz words 
• Use headings, sub-heads and frontloading for flow and navigation 
• Use professional reviewing strategies 
 
Resources – Reinforce the learning  
Participants receive the presentation and useful fact-sheets, including: Quick guide to 
plain English, Punctuation guide, Useful phrases for email, Ten common errors, and 
How to use the Flesch Reading Ease Scale.