Plain English – 1 – key and notes
What is plain English?
Plain English sounds a woolly term, but it refers to the writing and setting out of essential information in a way that gives a co-operative, motivated person a good chance of understanding the document at first reading, and in the same sense that the writer meant it to be understood.
It does not mean using simple words at the expense of accuracy. It must also be honest in conveying essential information in ways that do not mask unpalatable statistics or facts.
Punctuation Did you remember the hyphen in co-operative? If you didn’t, it doesn’t matter! Cooperative is also correct!
Did you remember the comma between the two adjectives in ‘a co-operative, motivated person’?
You may sometimes hear someone say’What’s that in plain English?" meaning ordinary, everyday, understandable English.
Spelling: Did you spell ‘woolly‘, conveying and unpalatable correctly?
Vocabulary
Did you already know the word ‘woolly‘ as used here?
woolly – adj – 1) made of wool 2) vague or confused
eg His ideas are interesting, but very woolly.
set out – phrasal verb – arrange sth, or usually a number of things, in an attractive or organized way
at first reading – the first time you read it
at the expense of – to the detriment of – eg "I can’t work more than two nights a week, as it would be to the detriment of / at the expense of my studies" – i.e. it would harm my studying.
honest – you noticed the silent ‘h’.
convey – verb – communicate (an idea, impression or feeling)
mask – verb – disguise, conceal, hide – did you know this as a verb?
unpalatable – adj – 1) unpleasant to taste 2) difficult to tolerate or accept
Grammar: Notice the structures requiring the -ing form of the verb: refers to the writing and setting out of ….; gives a person a good chance of understanding …..; It does not mean using ….; It must also be honest in conveying ….