top of page
IMG_20210619_191512.jpg

WHY PLAIN LANGUAGE?

GENERAL BENEFITS

PUBLIC PREFERENCE

For the People

  • People overwhelmingly prefer it, even judges, 82% of them to be precise

  • People can easily find information, understand it, and use it

PUBLIC SERVICE

Local Governments

Neglecting plain language can:

  • result in costly and time-consuming litigation over ambiguous ordinances;

  • greatly increase emails and calls asking about city ordinances and other information; and

  • cause citizens and businesses to become frustrated because they cannot read and understand the law.

JUSTICE

Access and Equal Use

  • Everyone should have the right to read and understand legal documents

  • If people can't easily understand legal documents, they get frustrated, stop reading, and then don't comply with the law

BUSINESS SENSE

Grow Your Business

Plain language can:

  • streamline internal procedures; 

  • make it easier to train staff; 

  • increase staff productivity;

  • reduce client confusion and complaints; and

  • increase customer satisfaction. 

BUSINESS BENEFITS

TRUST AND CREDIBILITY

84% of people are more likely to trust a company that uses jargon-free language in its communications.

*Joseph Kimble, Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please

PRODUCTIVITY

61% of workers use legal information at work, but 79% spend more than 15 minutes trying to decipher legal information
*Christopher R. Trudeau and Christine Cawthorne, “The Public Speaks, Again: An International Study of Legal Communication”

CONSUMER PREFERENCE

In the US, more than 80% of people prefer plain language
*“The Public Speaks, Again: An International Study of Legal Communication”

PREVENT LITIGATION

Legalese is more likely to cause ambiguity and mistakes and engender litigation

bottom of page