News
Plain English campaign news articles
University makes It crystal clear
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- Created on Friday, 05 November 2010 11:36
A University of Derby online application form has been recognised for its straightforward style with a Crystal Mark. It is the first form of its kind to be recognised by the Plain English Campaign in this way.
The Plain English Campaign gives the award with their distinctive Crystal Mark logo to documents and websites that provide information clearly, with the best use of English and correct use of punctuation and grammar.
Parking fine whines
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- Created on Monday, 25 October 2010 10:16
Parking notices are frequently named by drivers as a serious irritation.
Misreading a parking sign can lead to a hefty fine, particularly if the penalty notice is also unclear. Plain English Campaign feel it is time to apply plain English to everything connected with parking to make life easier and less costly for all involved.
Councils have to invest in managing parking to please businesses, residents and drivers. Due to the number of emails we have received, there is no doubt that parking is a sensitive subject for drivers.
Whether it’s the signs, the lines, or the fines – parking creates nothing but whines.
Traffic wardens have to cope first hand with the negative response to their attempts at managing the growing number of vehicles on our roads. Meanwhile, drivers struggle with the looming threat of a parking fine.
Richmond Borough Council has tried to tackle the problem by introducing a ‘humane parking’ scheme, which in reality is little more than an attempt to introduce a ‘reasonable parking’ scheme. Sadly, the name itself left many drivers puzzled by the use of such language.
Stockport Express article
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- Created on Thursday, 14 October 2010 16:15
This page shows the content of an article published in the Stockport Express on October 13, 2010
Chrissie's a winner, plain and simple
The Plain English campaign has proved it has staying power after its founder scooped a top gong at the Women in Public Life Awards.
Chrissie Maher OBE, from the organisation based in New Mills, was named winner in the public affairs category at a glitzy ceremony at the Northumberland Hotel, London.
Nanny McPhee - bull or champion?
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- Created on Monday, 11 October 2010 14:03
The annual awards are coming and the jargon is pouring in - particularly a number of nominations for Emma Thompson, the actress, who recently spoke out against the sloppy language of teenagers.
You can read a report of her comments in the Mail Online.
It must be the first time that the same person and the same comment has been nominated for both the good and bad categories of our awards. And that divided public opinion is reflected within the campaign's offices.
Too few houses, too many words
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- Created on Monday, 11 October 2010 10:26
The housing market is being attacked on all fronts with buyers struggling to get mortgages and house prices dropping by £200 each day in the last month alone.
This means the rental market is under greater pressure.Tenants and landlords are faced with worrying contractual responsibilities. Landlords face the possibility of being caught with a tenant and no rent as a result of unemployment and redundancies. Equally, tenants face confusion over their responsibilities in times of crisis. And where there is confusion, there is opportunity for some to take advantage of the vulnerable – whether landlords or tenants.
