plainlanguage.gov

03/12/2024

📆 Tomorrow, March 13, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, ET

Need help addressing the 100+ requirements from the recent OMB memo, M-23-22? We got you covered! Join us for a day of inspiration and collaboration as leading voices across government agencies share stories of innovation and excellence in delivering a digital first public experience.

There is still time to register for DigitalGov’s Spring 2024 Community Summit: Delivering a digital-first public experience.

Federal Chief Information Officer Clare Martorana will kick off the day with a keynote. Then, panels of federal practitioners and civic tech enthusiasts will dive deep into the project lifecycle of websites and digital services.

Register now to attend the event: https://digital.gov/event/2024/03/13/spring-2024-community-summit/?utm_source=summit&utm_medium=facebook

Digital service experts across the federal government will share case studies and best practices on delivering a digital-first public experience.

02/22/2024

is 1 week from today!
Take advantage of the deadline extension. Submit your entry in 1 of 13 categories for the 2024 ClearMark Awards Center for Plain Language.
https://centerforplainlanguage.org/awards/clearmark-entries/.

02/21/2024

and
The has an Easy to Read program to assist people with intellectual . It sets standards and requires the use of plain language to make information easy to understand. Readers look for its logo to quickly identify these resources.
https://www.inclusion-europe.eu/easy-to-read/.

Easy-to-read information is important for people with intellectual disabilities. Find out more.

02/20/2024

uses punctuation to guide the reader. A Guide to Em Dashes, En Dashes, and Hyphens from Merriamwebster dictionary - English/English gives tips and shows writers how to use them. https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/em-dash-en-dash-how-to-use.

Be dashing—and do it well

02/16/2024

Nominate a public servant or the 2024 Service to the Citizen Awards Choose from federal, state, local and international governments. Maybe improved your experience.
Submissions due April 5. https://www.servicetothecitizen.org/nominate.

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to provide citizens with impeccable customer experience?  Then this is YOUR chance to recognize all those deserving public servants.

02/15/2024

and trends
The short list for . See why Dictionary.com chose "hallucinate"--data and word lookups, some of which were driven by . https://content.dictionary.com/word-of-the-year-2023/.

If this is the first time you’re learning about this word, be prepared to start encountering it—and what it refers to—with increasing frequency.

02/14/2024

Deadline extended to February 25 for the 2024 ClearMark Awards! Submit your entry in 1 of 13 categories to by February 25.

The ClearMark Awards recognize the plain language communications created by North American organizations.

02/14/2024

Happy Valentines Day! 8 Uncommon Words Related to Love—so obscure they might not get your point across. Try using and see what happens with everyday words! https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/uncommon-love-words.

02/13/2024

“How I fell in love with plain language”—a German science writer’s blog about navigating her government’s complicated customs requirements and being swept away by . She’s still a fan. “Life is just too short to become an expert in everything.” https://www.science-inbound.com/playground/how-i-fell-in-love-with-plain-language.

Life is just too short to become an expert in everything. How I discovered plain language - a writing style that explains the important facts of many fields, at a level that everyone can understand.

02/12/2024

Deadline this Friday for the 2024 ClearMark Awards!
Submit your entry in 1 of 13 categories to Center for Plain Language Language by February 16. https://centerforplainlanguage.org/awards/clearmark-entries/
You can submit:
Before & After – Print
Before & After – Digital
Shorter Brochures (up to 20 pages)
Longer Brochures (over 20 pages)
Posters, Charts, Fliers
Infographics
Websites
Blog Posts & Summaries
Emails & Newsletters
Mailed Materials
Legal Documents
Apps
Forms, Applications, and Statements
Grand Winner: The top honor given to an entry that represents the best in plain language communication across all 13 categories.

The ClearMark Awards recognize the plain language communications created by North American organizations.