1. We spoke about Plain English writing in class. Please answer the following in detail:
a. How would you explain to someone what “Plain English writing” is? (4 Marks)
- Plain English Writing as reference from (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 3) is an English language writing that is clear, concise, and correct. Especially When writing with a purpose and the best way your writing is effective is when people or your audience understand what you are writing about. Plain language helps readers quickly and easily understand what message you are trying to pass to them or say. Reference from (Briscoe, Lecture, February 26, 2025). Because this has to do with our audience especially in the sense of going straight to the point and respecting their time when writing or pass you message reference from (Briscoe, Lecture, February 26, 2025)
- Plain English Writing is mostly about respecting your audience when being clear, concise and correct why this is important is because it gives clarity to your audience , it saves a lot of time and money , it empowers your readers , and most of all makes sure people won’t dread your writing taking note of this when writing is called plain English writing as these are the principles of what makes a good plain English writing references from (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 14). In a main summary nutshell Plain English writing is using common, everyday words, when writing directly to you reader specifically in active voice and short sentences while being positive where possible, reference from (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 22)
b. What makes plain English writing different? (4 Marks)
What makes it different is that plain english writing saves time and money and will not drag what you are doing or the message you are passing, it is about writing as though your readers matter. Reference to (Briscoe, W8 – A – Plain Language Writing (W25).pdf, Slide 15) It is the use of common words which are clear and concise (Briscoe, Lecture, February 26, 2025)
PowerPoint Slides: Briscoe, W8 – W8 – Plain Language Writing Website Copy(W25).pdf, Slide 2
But the most important thing that make plain engish writing different is that it makes for better reading. Backing up my point with these word i would say with the way we just scan , people do not have intrest to be reading complicated senteces or phrases that are not farmiliar to them . So with Plain english everything is easy to scan, very clear and correct that is what set it aside from the extensive writing. They are words we use in our day to day leaving .
An example of use of a plain language:
- We will send you the order confirmation by email within 24 hours
This is clear , concise, and correct
An example of not using plain Language:
- Your Order confirmation would be electronically transmitted to your email address given by you with the time limit of 24 hours
This is not straight to the point, not clear , no short phrases
c. What is plain language writing for the web and in detail and in your own words, why is it important? (4 Marks)
PowerPoint Slides: Briscoe, W8 – W8 – Plain Language Writing Website Copy(W25).pdf, Slide 6
In our recent times where people are busy spending 15 seconds or less deciding on whether to engage in a page, so at this rate you need to get straight to the point in passing your message. With plain language for the web their would be very low bounce rates and high percentage of improved conversion rates because of the easy understanding in the language it is being distributed to the audience , Because based on research from the US-based communications firm labrador also showed that readers are approximately 40% more likely to undertext that are writing in plain language.
In using web plain language would be very important because unlike blog post and report which have lots of expanded space , web pages afford limited word count to capture delivery information, so your messaging has to be clear and concise when targeting ou audience, because in creating something clear and concise you do not have to worry about losing a readers attention a user can easily just read and fully understand you your messaging. Referencing from PowerPoint Slides: Briscoe, W8 – W8 – Plain Language Writing Website Copy(W25).pdf, Slide 14