Digital.gov

4 steps writers and editors can take to demonstrate value

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 21:00:00 -0500

As plain language writers and editors, we need to demonstrate the value we bring to projects. This writeup explains how to calculate the costs of our work and articulate its value.

Keynote Speaker Recap: Would More Plain Language Have Saved Us From the Worst of the Pandemic?

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 13:02:00 -0500

A summary of Cynthia Baur’s keynote at the 2021 Plain Language Summit.

8 Ways Community of Practice (CoP) Managers Can Improve Member Engagement on Listservs

Fri, 21 May 2021 09:31:00 -0500

Are you a Digital.gov Community of Practice (CoP) lead? Find yourself participating in a CoP discussion and wondering what else you can do? We’ve got some suggestions.

How to Present Like a Pro

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:09:00 -0500

Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.

How to Present Like a Pro

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0500

How to Present Like a Pro—When you are presenting on streaming video, you are essentially doing the same thing as a television news anchor. Try these common methods that television presenters use daily to improve your presentation skills in the “zoom” era.

Join the Plain Language

Wed, 03 Feb 2016 10:58:53 -0400

Promote the use of plain language to provide better service to the public.

PlainLanguage.gov

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Guidance on the use of plain language for government communications and training for federal employees.

2022 Federal Plain Language Summit

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 10:30:00 -0500

Join the best and brightest plain language practitioners from across the federal government.

Increase Your Impact With Plain Language

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Get tips and lessons learned from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division on using plain language to increase their impact and influence.

Plain Language + Compassion Help People in Crisis

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Meet the content strategists who worked to transform FindTreatment.gov to connect people in crisis with the help that they need.

Results of the 2021 Federal Report Card

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

David Lipscomb from the Center for PL will review the results of this year’s Federal Plain Language Report Card and answer questions.

2021 Federal Plain Language Summit

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0500

On 9/21/21, PLAIN’s Fourth Federal PL Summit showcases federal employees’ plain language projects. Topics include COVID-19 agency responses, accessibility, user experience, and career enhancement.

Using Plain Language To Tell Our Stories

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Learn how to tell a story and figure out what role plain language plays in storytelling.

Plain Language Webinar: Using Words to Build Better Digital Experiences

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Words make digital experiences human-centered, and require just as much thought as the branding and code. As federal agencies strive to use human-centered design, they need to remember that words and design work together. See how interfaces rely on language, and how your writing can make or break an experience. Learn principles for UX writing that anyone who works on digital products can apply to their own work.

Positioning Yourself as a Plain Language Editor

Wed, 19 May 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Learn how to brand yourself as a plain language expert and get the credit at work that you deserve!

How Testing Your Documents Can Improve Plain Language Compliance

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Usability testing isn’t only for websites. Come work with Dr. Ginny Redish and try out three techniques for quick and easy ways to test the usability of your documents.

Plain Language: Accessibility for Content

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Come join us as we focus on concerns and opportunities shared by the Section 508 and plain language communities in Government!

Virtual Teaching: Plain Language

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:00:00 -0500

We’ve all had to learn new modes of presenting and communicating now that we’re teleworking full-time and depend on online broadcast technology. But how can you engage students and teach a class while sitting in front of a laptop camera? Join Wendy Wagner-Smith from the Small Business Administration and find out!

2020 Federal Report Card Briefing

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:00:00 -0500

David Lipscomb will review, The Annual Federal Report Card, which is a snapshot of how well the federal government is following the 2010 Plain Writing Act.

2020 Federal Plain Language Summit

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0500

Join us for discussion from government and private-sector leaders on how to advance plain language in government communications. Hear lessons learned and victories of every size.

Plain Language Basics: Online Workshop

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 13:00:00 -0500

Take this three-hour online workshop to learn how to write and edit in plain language.

Plain Language Basics: Online Workshop

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Take this three-hour online workshop to learn how to write and edit in plain language.

Federal Report Card Update

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 11:30:00 -0500

Learn how the Center for Plain Language is approaching the Federal Report Card and what agencies can do to get top grades.

The Average American Reader Needs You to Write (Even More) Clearly

Wed, 13 May 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Learn about the skills and needs of American readers, how we are failing our audiences, and ways to do better.

The Intersection Between Plain Language and 508 Compliance

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 14:00:00 -0500

We’ll discuss how plain language intersects with 508 compliance requirements to make federal electronic documents and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

Readability Audits of Government Websites with Katherine Spivey

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 14:00:00 -0500

In this meeting, we’ll talk about readability audits and formulas and how they work—and don’t work—to improve web content and the users’ experience.

SocialGov Winter Meeting

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 08:00:00 -0500

Join us for talks by colleagues from NIST, IRS, USPTO, PlainLanguage.gov, and DC HSEMA who will speak on the latest social media topics and an opportunity to do some in-person networking.

Plain Language in 2020

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 14:00:00 -0500

A look ahead at the coming year, and what we’ll accomplish together.

Plain Language Summit 2019

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 10:00:00 -0500

A day of talks and conversations on how to advance plain language in government communications, hosted by the federal Plain Language community of practice.

Federal Plain Language Report Card Planning

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 15:00:00 -0500

Come and help us plan for this year’s federal report card review.

How to Develop an Agency Brand Voice That Connects With Customers Online

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 15:00:00 -0500

Come join the Plain Language community on the 12th of June and learn how to develop an agency brand voice!

Principles of Speaking Plainly

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:00:00 -0500

This seminar adapts principles of plain language to the context of speaking, covering not only wording but also structure and integration with visual aids.

Managing Your Plain Language Career

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 15:00:00 -0500

We’ll discuss how to document and publicize your formal and informal plain language work — teaching, training, reviewing, or copyediting.

Plain Language Summit 2018

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 10:00:00 -0500

The federal Plain Language community is holding their first all-day summit in Washington D.C., and you’re invited!

January PLAIN Monthly Meeting

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 13:00:00 -0500

Monthly meeting of the Plain Language Community of Practice.

An Around the World Recap PLAIN Monthly Meeting

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 14:00:00 -0500

In this online event, PLAIN co-chairs will provide a recap of international plain language initiatives discussed at the 2017 Plain Language Association International conference in Graz, Austria.

How to Tell Your Agency’s Story—Plainly

Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:00:23 -0400

You’ve got the right words, the active verbs, the carefully chosen adjectives and adverbs. You’ve got the facts. You’ve got the talking points. All you have to do is put it together, right?

Plain Language Expert

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:24:42 -0400

A few days ago a coworker asked me to look at a paragraph. He said it was on the top customer service priorities in our division. So I scooted my chair over and looked at it. Then I looked at him and asked, “But what