Plain Language

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.

Katherine Spivey

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

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David Lipscomb

Katherine Spivey

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

Katherine Spivey

Meredith Larson

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

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Katherine Spivey

Katina Stapleton

This Week's IDEA

Spring Cleaning Tips for Web Content

This week, we’re providing a few tips for tidying up redundant, outdated, and trivial content.

Ammie Farraj Feijoo

Apr 07, 2020

Watch this special presentation featuring 18f Content Strategist, Ryan Johnson, where he discusses how you can effectively write accessible web content.

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Ryan Johnson

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.

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Katherine Spivey

UX

Call for Participation: Government UX Summit 2020

We’re looking for speakers to share their experiences as UX practitioners in government.

Jean Fox

Feb 27, 2020

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.

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

Katherine Spivey

How does content strategy mesh with business, user experience (UX), and a marketing strategy?

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Ginny Redish

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

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

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David Lipscomb

Katherine Spivey

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

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Katherine Spivey

Leslie O’Flahavan

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

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Christopher ‘Chip’ Crane

Katherine Spivey

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

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Join us for our traditional winter finger-food potluck where we’ll discuss the Clarity 2018 conference and plan out our 2019 meetings.

We will discuss the Federal Plain Language Report Card and how to address the issues the report card brings up.

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

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Join the the Plain Language Community of Practice for an hour-long conversation about how best to revise forms and convince your agency that the long-term benefits outweigh the cost.

Plain Language

2020 Federal Plain Language Summit

Federal Report Card Update

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

The Intersection Between Plain Language and 508 Compliance

Spring Cleaning Tips for Web Content

Writing for the Accessible Web

Readability Audits of Government Websites with Katherine Spivey

Call for Participation: Government UX Summit 2020

SocialGov Winter Meeting

Plain Language in 2020

Ginny Redish: How to Collaborate on Strategies

Plain Language Summit 2019

Federal Plain Language Report Card Planning

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

Principles of Speaking Plainly

Managing Your Plain Language Career

December PLAIN Meeting and Holiday Gathering

Responding to the Federal Plain Language Report Card

Plain Language Summit 2018

PLAIN Language: Forms-a-palooza

More News and Events on Plain Language