Improve Your Writing Using Plain Language

Contributed by: Curtis Newbold, PhD

Difficulty level: Easy

Within the art of effective writing, there are so many things to think about that it can sometimes feel overwhelming to improve. Thankfully, there are many fairly straightforward techniques you can master to see nearly immediate improvement. Artist and author Robin Williams, who authored a series of bestselling books for aspiring graphic designers, once wrote that, “Once you can name something, you’re conscious of it. You have power over it. You’re in control.”¹

That’s the goal of this Shortcut: to name five writing principles—bringing them to your consciousness—so that you can gain power over them and take control. These concepts fall under a broader writing strategy we often refer to as using “plain language”:

• Use simple words

• Avoid jargon

• Aim for active voice

• Remove hidden verbs

• Eliminate noun strings

First: Plain Language

Before we jump into the specifics, let me quickly explain the concept of “plain language.”

President Richard Nixon created early momentum in the 1970s for writing in simple, direct, and easy-to-understand ways when he insisted that the Federal Register be written in “layman’s terms.” Since that time, several U.S. presidents, including Clinton, Bush, and Obama, all issued mandates, initiatives, and even laws that required government agencies and their employees to publish content that was accessible, consistent, and easy to understand. ...