Plain English Action for plain English December 2010 Microsoft calls from Bangalore

When Plain English Campaign received a call from the Microsoft offices in Bangalore earlier this year, we were keen to return to a country Trainees at Microsoft taking part in a Plain English course in Bangalore we have visited on many occasions since our extensive roadshow back in BBC’s longest gap between episodes 1998. the campaign and Chrissie’s fight The use of international offices for against jargon. business customer services has His trendy 70s outfit and moustache brought its own challenges to people has given way to a more classic in places like Bangalore. Despite look. John clearly remembers the some excellent English education, impact that Chrissie and the other many customer service employees campaigners had on the world of public struggle with language that is information at that time, especially their unfamiliar in their daily lives. When work in distributing tripe to the users of dealing with a worldwide audience jargon. about technical queries, especially The days of tripe distribution have when both parties have varying levels been stopped by Health and Safety of knowledge and understanding, regulations. Sadly the tripe of poor some training is needed. communications continues to be dished out by many organisations who still Sometimes the issue can be as basic use language that confuses the as using the right greeting. The impact public. of unclear communications is felt by both the employer and the customer. ‘Inside Out’ series Inside Out is due to be broadcast John Holmes (pictured above with our during prime-time television in early No-one enjoys coming to work to face founder Chrissie Maher) was the BBC 2011: Chrissie will give an update on more problems than are necessary. presenter who originally appeared the fight for clear communications and Unfamiliar language can create 27 years ago on the ‘Inside Out’ John may well sneak in a bit of tripe – problems from the first hello. programme featuring the early work of just for old times’ sake.

PlainPlain EnglishEnglish Campaign Campaign - working – working for clearer for clearer communication communication POPO Box Box 3, 3, New New Mills, Mills, High High Peak, Peak, Derbyshire, Derbyshire, SK22 SK22 4QP 4QP Phone:Phone: 01663 01663 744409 744409 Fax: Fax: 01663 01663 747038 747038 Email:E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Website:Website: www.plainenglish.co.uk www.plainenglish.co.uk Why is the US clearer Plain language action around the world about plain English? To date, the UK Parliament has failed to make the use of plain English Earlier this year Plain English But we happily acknowledge that the communications into a legal duty. In Campaign appeared on the front page coalition Government were making a 1999, Gyles Brandreth MP raised of the Wall Street Journal with Chrissie serious attempt to ‘talk the talk, walk a private members’ bill (the Plain Maher asking the question “Did jargon the walk’ and cut back – not just on Language Bill), and in 2008 Dr Nick cause the credit crunch?”. public spending but also on political Palmer MP raised another, the Small The people of America replied in gobbledygook. Print Bill. Nothing came of either bill. blogs, emails, letters and calls to the Sweden Best intentions campaign with their opinions. Sweden has had plain language After all, during the general election, Talking plain English finance legislation for over 30 years. the Liberal Democrats’ political The campaign has since seen proof of manifesto clearly proposed that the USA the public’s concern about confusing language of police paperwork be On Wednesday 13 October 2010, financial jargon, and complaints reviewed by the Law Commission President Obama signed the Plain which have resulted in practical and Plain English Campaign. David Writing Bill 2010 into law. It applies to action. Even Mervyn King, Governor Cameron made many references all federal documents such as college of the Bank of England has publicly to clear communications and plain aid applications, tax returns and announced that the bankers were at English, as he fought to push Labour veterans’ administration forms. the root of the problem with a lack out of Number 10. has, of understanding in their financial on more than one occasion, attracted Australia products. the campaign’s attention. He has The Australian Parliamentary Counsel President Obama promoted Reform received a ‘Foot in Mouth’ award for Office is committed to drafting Bills in both health and finance. On his ‘endogenous growth theory’ and Australian legislation in as clear a 21 July 2010, the US Securities and ‘quantitative easing’. They were as style as possible and has produced a Exchange Commission (SEC) voted unclear as the state of affairs that the working guide on drafting approaches for a ruling that means investment new Government faces. and a plain English manual. advisers must provide clients with New Zealand information in brochures. They must Bushisms use plain English descriptions of the However, the lifetime achievement for Numerous New Zealand laws and advisers’ businesses, services and the Foot in Mouth award in 2009 was covenants imply that clear language is any conflicts of interest. given to former US President George vital in government communications, Bush for his catalogue of garbled for reasons of equity, democracy and Goldman Sachs, a market leader in language. It seems to be human nature safety. the investment industry, received a that we push things to the limit before $500 million fine in the High Court Canada coming back to plain commonsense for the misleading small print in their and plain language. Canada has also been a pioneer information to investors. This resulted at drafting laws in plain language. in Royal Bank of Scotland losses of Alberta’s Financial Services Act 1990, over £800 million. We have yet to find an MP who for instance, was written in plain disagrees that using plain language and the Government has English is beneficial to public communications. So why don’t imposed a duty to use plain language Plain english Budget speech they use it? in some financial documents. Back in the UK, we saw the Ask your MP, “Why is there no South Africa Chancellor of the Exchequer plain English act in the UK?”. South Africa’s Constitution is in plain presenting what was the most ‘plain Until we have a UK plain English language and requires plain language. English’ Budget speech for decades. act, sign our Plain English Businesses in South Africa are now We can’t comment on the accusations Charter to show your support required to use plain language when of ‘hidden’ small print that were for clear public information. dealing with consumers as part of the followed by revelations about pension www.plainenglish.co.uk/ The Consumer Protection Act. details. plainenglishcharter. 2

And what about those council ‘Welcome’ signs that greet travellers to Public spending in your local town? An article by Jasper Copping, journalist with the Telegraph, revealed that the cost of these new the public eye signs can amount to over £30,000. – “Welcome to Tower Hamlets – let’s As we hear of doom and gloom Pressure from the Government to make it happen” (£29,677) throughout public services, we want identify public savings has already to suggest a way of cutting back and led to local authorities reducing – “Proud to be part of Sandwell – Great identifying possible savings. their emphasis on plain English, as people, great place, great prospects” communication and training budgets (£20,430) Our advice is no different from over 20 managers have to make difficult years ago when we helped government – “Welcome to Oldham – many places decisions. offices cut back administration costs as one destination” (£30,000) part of the Rayner Review – “Look for We are urging councils and other - “Hyndburn - an excellent council” the waste before you make sweeping organisations who have already (£25,566) decisions”. invested in using plain English to keep their information clear and let plain Tell us about your most amusing or Just as with good copywriting, the English save words, time and money infuriating council sign– send a photo skilled eye learns to get rid of any for everyone. and your own plain English version of unnecessary words and provide the intended message. a clear message and a clear way For example, council rebranding and forward. That old saying ‘can’t see the image makeovers are unnecessary. wood for the trees’ usually means that We have to ask why these public things have become over-complicated services need a new image. The and have lost their true original public know what the council or intentions. the police are there to do, so why use clever logos and marketing For example, ‘political correctness’ bylines? Public services are not in was originally intended to acknowledge a competitive market where a new different social groups and respect Chrissie recently wrote to the Prime image might give them ‘an edge’. diversity. Taken to its extremes this Minister and the Home Secretary Local residents have no choice but has become so cumbersome that it to offer her voluntary services as to use the public services they pay has put a straitjacket on our everyday an ‘ambassador for plain English’ for, so let’s see that money spent on language. Eric Pickles MP made in Government communications in communications that will improve the headlines with his intention to rid the an attempt to cut words rather than service for the public rather than the nanny state of its PC madness and we services. We are waiting for his reply. image of the provider. support him on that.

After fighting throught the calculations, Contradictory council tax benefits there were two contradictory totals This was the case when we received showing that, firstly, he was not entitled an email from John Parrott in Cumbria, to any money and then immediately pointing out the contradictory afterwards another total showing that statements in his letter about his he would be getting something. council tax benefits. Worrying that any money awarded may Following the diagnosis of his terminal be taken back, John contacted us for a illness, taxi-driver John had been able plain english explanation. to get help with filling in the forms After investigating, we were able to set for claiming benefits. Despite the John’s mind at rest, but it became clear valuable advice, he received a returned that the calculations were laid out in form stating that it was incorrectly such a way that benefited the process John Parrott at home in Cumbria completed, although there was no and computer systems, while leaving indication of what was incorrect. The daily delivery of jargon and the public frustrated and confused. gobbledygook is nothing new at our A second attempt resulted in an award John voices his complaints on BBC offices, but sometimes a particular letter of many pages containing the One Inside Out North East, to be query will really get our blood boiling. breakdown of John’s benefits. shown in early 2011. New look to the awards With this year being tough for most We specifically chose the venue businesses and organisations, it’s as part of the campaign’s growing good to find a reason to celebrate. focus on education and the world of creativity. We have invited the In July, the Liverpool John Moores well-known pianist and university University gave me an Honorary lecturer David Owen Norris to present Fellowship, and then in September our awards. I received two awards for achievements in Public Affairs at the As a special tribute to the work of the ‘Dods and Scottish Widows Women in campaign, David has composed a Public Life’ awards. song for the awards. This new work will be performed as part of a public But I never forget that every recital in the afternoon. recognition I receive is a reflection of the efforts made by every individual If you can’t be with us on the day, who communicates in plain English. then I hope to share the day with you through our website. Another reason for some fun is our Chrissie Maher collecting her Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores annual awards ceremony at Chetham’s Love University - July 2010. Photo courtesy of School of Music, Manchester. Chrissie x LJMU About our host for the awards In the last 12 months, David Owen His projects with the musicians’ Norris has played English music collective The Works (‘a treasure across the UK, in Amsterdam, trove’ BBC Radio 3; ‘a treasure house’ Dresden, Berlin, Taipei, San Diego and Sunday Times) included his Haydn Chicago. adaptation A New Creation, where 600 He also celebrated the 20th children sang, played and danced in anniversary of his appointment as Winchester Cathedral. He is currently the first Gilmore Artist in the Gilmore working on another radio opera, The Body in the Ballroom. David Owen Norris at Elgar’s piano. Festival in Michigan. Photo courtesy of Simon Weir National Plain Over the years those words have become something of a motto for the English Day campaign. Chrissie still stands strong On Friday 10 December 2010 we will in her belief that every individual be recognising National Plain English should have clear public information Day and celebrating the anniversary of that can be understood in a single the start of Plain English Campaign. reading. This gives them the power and responsibility for making their We will be shredding jargon-filled choices in daily life. documents in Manchester City Centre to mirror the event that took place on Chrissie says, “Every person who Parliament Green in Westminster in finds the confidence to ask for 1979. At that time Chrissie and other information they can understand is a campaign supporters were moved on success story for the campaign and a by the police. step closer to a fairer world.” Those now infamous words, Sign the Plain English Charter “Does that mean we have to go?”, on our website to show your uttered by Chrissie in response to a support. www.plainenglish.co.uk/ policeman reading her the words of plainenglishcharter. the Metropolitan Police Act of 1836 Shredding government documents captured the reason for the campaign. in Parliament Square, London Plain English Campaign 30th annual awards in 2010

‘Plain English is clearer to read’ Artwork created by Lorenz Jones aged 13 years - art student at Chetham’s School of Music Plain English Campaign annual award winners 2010 Every year the workers and volunteers It is also a time to say thank you to all Along with our award winners today, at Plain English Campaign brace our corporate members, clients and it is the people who refuse to climb themselves for the award nominations. supporters of plain English around the the 10-foot wall of gobbledygook, and It’s a mixed bag of laughter, frustration world. enjoy the benefits of plain English, who and the occasional stunned silence With 30 years of annual awards it are the real winners of the campaign. as we wade through the examples seems that there is no end to the We look forward to as many years of of good and bad communications. Golden Bull nominations. But equally, annual awards as necessary to keep These examples have been sent to us there is a better understanding of our the gobbledygook monster at bay. throughout the year by members of the right to clarity in public information. public. When Plain English Campaign started The awards are a chance to praise the in 1979, Chrissie thought it would be efforts of clear communicators and to great idea to have all information in show the jargon masters where they plain English. She also thought it would can save time and money and get a only take a few years before everyone clearer message across. was using plain English. Plain English Plain English Media Plain English Written Diploma Awards documents Helen Watters Best National Newspaper Liverpool Housing Trust - ‘Keeping you safe from abuse’ Barbara Iwinska Daily Mail Debt Advice network -’Where Marian Garvey Best Regional Newspaper to go for debt help’ Lisa McIntyre York Press TOP Tax Help for Older People Jackie Milligan Best National Television -Tax help booklet Graeme McLatchie BBC Breakfast The 4tAction Plan - ‘Erection Jill Lambert BBC Reporting Scotland problems (ED)’ Nigel Goldsmith Best Regional Television Bladder and Bowel Foundation Elinor Bostock - ‘Do you worry where you’ll ITV Granada Reports find the next one?’ Hayley Daniels Best National Radio Joanne Groenenberg Radical Services - ‘Newcomers’ Handbook’ Joanne Henry Radio Five Live 606 Robbie Savage The National Society Tara Webster for Epilepsy - ‘Epilepsy? Best Regional Radio Elaine Pilmoor Supporting you’ Rock Radio for their five-word Meg Woollam weather report Citizens’ Advice - series of self- help leaflets David Hayhoe International Award ASA Advicenow - ‘Singled out? Korea Herald Sort it out!’ The venue for this year breaks with tradition, as does the front cover of our Our new location for this year awards programme, which has been and expression in language, music Jeremy Pike, Head of Composition, specially designed by Chetham’s art and art. We can also build on the has guided students Joseph Davies student, Lorenzo Jones. important links of education and clear and Frankie Perry in creating two new communication. We have continued pieces for our afternoon recital. This We are honoured to have access to work with the world of business and project shows how the language of to the beautiful medieval venue public services and we are now also music, like words, can take different of Chetham’s School of Music in focusing on young people as they forms for different audiences. Manchester. This is also the site for move into the adult world full of jargon. the UK’s first public library stocked with And finally, we look forward to adding ‘plain books’, at the request of patron To raise awareness in young people to the plain English skills of Gill Humphrey Chetham. of the need for plain English, we Simpson’s English department, for both have been working with Jane Jones’ the students and the school staff. The school makes a fitting location for students of Chetham’s Art department our awards as we bring together the to demonstrate the need for clear wonderful variety of communication instructions and interpretations.

Also highly commended are: Plain English Internal Osborne Award

Metropolitan Police - ‘News from the documents US Representative - Bruce Braley local police’ (Bexley Sidcup Safer The Defence and Science (Iowa) Neighbourhoods Policing Team) Technology Laboratory in-house magazine - Distil Keighley Council - ‘Keighley Town Every Body Matters Plan 2010’ NHS Barking and Dagenham - The Award Loop internal weekly newsletter McDonald’s - Ronald McDonald James McKenna House charities ‘What if’ JBW Group - Bailiff pocketbook Bucrana Tidy Towns committee - Plain English Chrissie Maher Award ‘Swan Park Riverside Walk’ certificates of British Petroleum (BP) recognition Prudential Malaysia/BSN - Takaful Plain English Online documents - being the first in their documents industry to consider using plain Pat on the Back English Award ChildLine (NSPCC) - ‘Neglect Aviva UK Health matters’ Metropolitan Police Service NHS Barking and Dagenham Connexions West of England - ‘Parents and carers - your guide to Web Award Kick in the Pants what connexions is all about www.bupa.co.uk Award

NHS Leeds Community Healthcare Financial Services Authority - ‘Nerve damage to feet in diabetes’ Plain English Communicator Award Food Standards Agency - ‘The Foot in Mouth Award eatwell plate’ Sport - John McCririck Jamie Redknapp NSPCC - ‘Handle with care - a Arts - Peter Grant guide to keeping your baby safe Business - John Timpson Some of our Golden Bull winners The Australian Business School The Association of Revenue and Customs ‘This new program reflects the need Argyll & Bute Council for a more holistic perspective on risk On the underside of a coaster supplied as well as specialistion in discrete by this trade union ‘For 2010-the additional GAE that areas of risk management. It views was allocated to the Council through organisations as complex structures ‘Non Reflective Surface the secondary indicator for primary interacting with one another and Wipe Away Dust and Dirt’ school teaching staff was £2.644m. with the wider system, and with The Council understands the separate people being a component of both. components of how this is made up. Surrey County Council Local Its core courses address concepts of The secondary indicator element of Committee globalisation of risks and the super GAE effectively comprises 2 parts. structure necessary to manage them; Part of the ‘Q and A’ in the agenda The first is a contribution into a pot complexity and diversity of new for the Surrey County Council Local for redistribution which amounts to classes of emerging risks; Committee: a reduction in GAE calculated by system-wide responses under the primary indicator of 5.25% in the conditions of uncertainty, and ‘-Why is Charlton Lane the most case of Argyll and Bute Council this resilience as a mechanism to enhance suitable site for the Eco Park? amounts to £0.755m. The second a systems ability to manage unknown element is a share of that redistribution risks. -Charlton Lane is located in location pot based on the percentage of pupils Wandsworth Council that is proximate to the majority of the in small rural schools. In the case of Adult Social Services Charging population of Surrey.’ Argyll and Bute Council for 2010-11 Policy Consultation the percentage of pupils in small rural schools was 21.8% and this led to NHS Lanarkshire Percentage to be applied to Personal an allocation from the redistribution Budgets pot of £3.399. The net effect of both “These are cascaded to senior staff elements is the secondary indicator across the organisation through It is proposed that 100% of an GAE effect of £2.644m (a contribution to frontline staff via a structured individual’s personal budget be subject to the redistribution pot of £0.755M and mechanism to facilitate ownership of to an assessed contribution i.e. a an allocation from the redistribution data.” means tested charge towards the pot of £3.399m). The financial impact cost of an individual’s care. This is paper simply states the net effect. The consistent with the charging policies Council is aware of both elements and ’s Transport for has modelled the GAE reductions in developed by the London Boroughs London cycle hire scheme of Richmond and Ealing. Other local the financial impact paper Annex 4 Appendix 2 (page 50 of the papers) to boroughs are still in the process of A cyclised city of pioneers policy development. The application take account of both elements. of 100% to the calculation of a service user’s maximum assessed contribution Lord Jackson’s report ‘Review of will act to promote choice; a key NICS HR Connect website Civil Litigation Costs’: Final Report principle of the personalisation regime. Taking a half-day holiday ‘Personal injuries litigation is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paradigm instance of litigation A Foreign and Commonwealth ‘If the annual leave request that you are in which the parties are in an job advert contains the following entering is less than a full day on the asymmetric relationship, as explanation of the duties of a First Day or the Last Day, then please discussed in chapter 9 above.’ ‘reputation manager’: select Hours from the drop down list of values in the Part Days Unit of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) ‘Maintenance and development of Measure field. Then select the amount news report in Calgary, Canada. job narrative around FCO and its of hours absent on the first day in the value proposition, using insights Fraction of Start Date field or the last EMS spokesman Adam Loria reported from research and evaluation as day in the Fraction of End Date field. it like this: “He was missing a body well as knowledge of the evolving If the absence is only for one day, use part to the side of his head due to the FCO strategy to inform resonant the Fraction of Start Date field to record assault. Luckily he was (in) stable and messaging….’ the hours absent.’ non-life-threatening (condition).” Plain English Awards 2010 30 years of Plain English

2009 Lenny Henry 2008 Rory Bremner presenters 2007 Lenny Henry 2006 Mary Nightingale 2005 Matthew Pariss 2004 Ian Hislop 2003 Fiona Bruce 2002 Sandi Toksvig 2001 John Humphrys 2000 Sir Richard Wilson 1999 Dermot Murnaghan 1998 Martin Lewis 1997 Edward Enfield 1996 Sir Michael Angus 1995 Toyah Willcox 1994 Pam Ferris 1993 Jack Dee, David Mellor and John Ward 1992 Gyles Brandreth 1991 Graeme Garden 1990 Willie Rushton 1989 Lord Soper 1988 Hilary Crowson 1987 Michael Cashman 1986 Esther Rantzen 1985 Gian Sammarco 1984 Julie Walters 1983 Paul Eddington 1982 Lord Denning 1981 Mrs Ethel Owen and Tom Vernon 1980 John McGrath

Princess Anne presenting The Inside Write awards to the Civil Service Plain English Awards 2010 3 Bose sound systems are loud and clear We challenged sound-system market Chrissie Maher, founder of Plain leaders Bose to put their latest ‘plain English Campaign says, “These days English’ technology to the test with user we have little choice but to accept instructions that should bring painless much of the technology that is thrust and plain instructions to the world of in front of us, whether it’s digital sound systems. switchovers or online banking. New Mills School students and Head of English Peter Wells review instruction The digital age of technology often “The recession has meant falling leaflets promises simplicity, but complaints sales of many consumer products. and instructions. Bose, as one of received at our offices from members Manufacturers need to take into the market leaders of quality sound of the public are often about the account the frustrations of their systems, have risen to this challenge technical jargon companies use just to customers, cut down on customer with their latest product and are making tell us how to switch on the power. complaints and increase their sales by all the right sounds – on the road to using plain English in their information plain English.” Awards galore It’s already been a busy year for awards. After Chrissie’s surprise at receiving an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University in July, she was stunned to win two categories of the Dods and Scottish Widows ‘Women in Public Life’ awards in September. Sian Williams, the BBC presenter,(pictured left) handed over the weighty trophies to our Press Officer, Marie Clair, who attended the ceremony on Chrissie’s behalf. As Chrissie points out, “Every success Bristol comedian Paul Parry for the campaign is a recognition of Public Service Communications the public’s right to clear information Awards’ at Manchester’s Comedy and I intend to get our shelves Store. In turn, we invited one of our strengthened ready for the events of young supporters, Bristol comedian 2011!”. Paul Parry, to entertain the audience In early November, we were invited to with his routine based on the misuse of present an award at the ‘How-do the word ‘literally’. ‘Arty farty’ language is no more than hot air Plain English Campaign are the first investigate the language of creative can alienate the audience or get in the to agree that language is creative and industries. As Mike Marcus, the way of personal interpretation? Any fun and should have free rein – with artist, says “What is the point of the background explanations should be the appropriate audience. But we ‘nuances’ and ‘subtleties’ in creative clear and understandable to anyone have been surprised to receive an language if the audience miss the with an interest in art, and not the increasing number of enquiries from point altogether. Surely any creative privilege of a few.” Mike’s work will be the worlds of art and music, where work should speak for itself, without shown at our annual awards. www. pleas for plain english have led us to the need for unfamiliar language that mikemarcus.co.uk 5

Corporate membership still Plain English training kit offer If you have your own trainer, you can run your own courses with excellent value at 1998 prices one of our plain English training The value of the membership fee is kits. If you order more than one, soon appreciated when taking the we are offering a 10% discount allocated training courses for any on every kit you buy. membership level. Despite the recession, we are pleased And remember that if you choose that there has been little change in the to upgrade to a higher membership membership applications from private level, we will deduct any previous Compact plain organisations. And joining fees are membership fees already paid in unchanged from our 1998 price. Also, previous years. our editing and training charges have English course only seen minimal increases. Do you need to train your staff on a budget? Then try our compact plain English course. This new course caters for people in a hurry. Crystal Marks for your online We know that many people would like documents to go to one of our one-day training courses but lack the time to commit a full day. So, we have taken some of Now that a website has become more the main parts of the one-day course than just a shopfront for organisations, and put them into a three-hour we are seeing technology being used session. In that time you will learn the to its full extent, with information and basics of plain English, and you will many services accessed online. This take away the same workbook we has resulted in a vast reduction in the give to delegates on our full one-day amount of printed information being course. distributed. It saves resources to offer Forms can be a particular problem online versions that can be printed at You can then practise your new when downloaded by the user. the user’s convenience. plain English skills, and extend Something that looks fine on your your knowledge of plain English Our Internet Crystal Mark will give computer screen can become a techniques, in your spare time. accreditation for websites that have jigsaw puzzle of words and boxes The price for up to 15 delegates been reviewed for overall usability, when you print it out to fill it in. accessibility, design and format. It is £795 + VAT. (We may charge Adding documents to your would be unreaslistic for this to cover travelling expenses if our trainer has webpages in this way is a practical every word on numerous webpages, to travel more than 50 miles.) way of extending the web user’s that are possibly updated every day. For more details, or for details about access to any documents that have any of our other courses, contact The style of writing for webpages is been edited or even gained the Terri Schabel on 01663 744409. often governed by different needs to accreditation of a Crystal Mark. Just those of printed information. There be sure that any Crystal Marked is a danger that specific documents documents are within their two-year Editing offers added to webpages and needing review period. action by the public could be written We will edit and Crystal Mark several You may have pages on your with insufficient clarity or inappropriate documents of up to 4500 words in website that are regularly printed language. total for £995. As an indication of by the public.These could be savings, editing and Crystal Marking Of course, any documents or forms website terms and conditions or three documents of up to 4500 can be added to a website in a the organisation’s background as words would normally cost £1995. file format, such as a pdf (portable featured in the ‘About Us’ section The savings would be even greater document format), so that what the of your websites. It might be worth if you send us four or more short user sees on the computer screen is contacting us for an estimate to edit documents with a word count of up to exactly what prints out. and Crystal Mark this information. 4500. 6 Open course training dates Thistle Euston Hotel (London) Thistle Hotel (Birmingham City) 2011 2011 Wednesday 19 January (Grammarcheck) Wednesday 16 March (Grammarcheck) Thursday 20 January (Plain English) Thursday 17 March (Plain English) Thursday 27 January (Writing for websites) Wednesday 14 September (Grammarcheck) Thursday 10 February (Plain English) Thursday 15 September (Plain English) Thursday 17 March (Plain English) Wednesday 13 April (Plain English and forms design) Thistle Hotel (Manchester) Tuesday 19 April (Grammarcheck) 2011 Wednesday 20 April (Plain English) Tuesday 8 February (Grammarcheck) Tuesday 17 May (Plain English) Wednesday 9 February (Plain English) Wednesday 18 May (Writing for websites) Thursday 17 February (Advanced Grammar) Wednesday 15 June (Advanced Grammar) Wednesday 13 April (Plain English) Wednesday 22 June (Plain English) Wednesday 8 June (Plain English) Wednesday 13 July (Grammarcheck) Thursday 11 August (Plain English) Thursday 14 July (Plain English) Wednesday 19 October (Grammarcheck) Wednesday 10 August (Plain English) Thursday 20 October (Plain English) Tuesday 13 September (Plain English) Tuesday 6 December (Plain English) Wednesday 21 September (Plain English and report writing) Thistle Hotel (Edinburgh) Wednesday 28 September (Writing for websites) 2011 Wednesday 5 October (Plain English and forms Wednesday 23 March (Grammarcheck) design) Thursday 24 March (Plain English) Wednesday 12 October (Grammarcheck) Wednesday 5 October (Grammarcheck) Thursday 13 October (Plain English) Thursday 6 October (Plain English) Thursday 27 October (Advanced Grammar) Wednesday 2 November (Plain English for medical Thistle Hotel (Glasgow) writers) 2011 Thursday 10 November (Plain English) Thursday 23 June (Plain English) Tuesday 6 December (Plain English)

About our courses Help the public to understand your We offer a range of training courses to teach you how to write in plain English. documents - with a Crystal Mark In-house courses More than 20,000 documents now carry our Crystal Mark as a sign of clarity. Our trainers will come to your organisation’s offices where your staff can take the course. We will not allow the Crystal Mark to appear on any Online courses document unless our testing shows that the intended We offer some of our training, including our business-writing audience understand and can act on it. course, online. Open courses If you have a document you would like us to look at, We hold these courses regularly at various hotels around and would like a quote for the work, please e-mail the country. [email protected] or phone Tony Maher on 01663 744409. Plain English Diploma This is a course that you take over a period of a year. If you have any questions about our range of courses, please phone us on 01663 744409 and ask for Terri Schabel, our training administrator.