News
Plain English campaign news articles
Clichés
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- Created on Friday, 13 February 2015 16:30
Do you have any examples of clichéd speech or writing you can share with us? We'd love to see them. A few years ago we ran a poll to find the nation's least favourite clichés. We want to see what clichés infuriate most in 2015.
Management speak
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- Created on Friday, 13 February 2015 16:21
Do you have any examples of management speak you can share with us? We'd love to see them. We want to create an up-to-date list of the absolute worst management speak.
We're regularly sent terrible examples of such speech or written communication, and celebrate the worst of it each year. However, the constantly replenished stream of business gibberish demands an up-to-date list (which we will update regularly) of the worst terms.
Foot in Mouth awards
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- Created on Friday, 13 February 2015 16:01
Each year we celebrate the worst gaffe by a public figure with our 'Foot in Mouth' award.
And, we have always managed to find a worthy winner. Last year, Russell Brand couldn't be overlooked. The year before, Mitt Romney could've won for any one of a dozen howlers. Looking further back, the likes of John Prescott, George Bush and Silvio Berlusconi have pretty much selected themselves.
Poor form
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- Created on Thursday, 05 February 2015 14:29
Last year we received numerous Golden Bull entries regarding overlong or badly written (or both) planning consultation forms.
2015 will probably be no different. A Thanet resident has sent in a complaint about a 263-page planning consultation document which is 'very hard to understand'. There's also a questionnaire, which runs to 99 pages.
Blank checks
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- Created on Monday, 02 February 2015 09:32
We're all familiar with online prompts asking us to tick 'Yes' or 'No' boxes. Do we want someone to send us emails about products? Do we want to receive a monthly newsletter? We may need to click on a 'Yes' or 'No' box.
The answer, in any case, is normally 'No'. And we're normally in a hurry to get on with it and get rid of these irritating obstacles, which may mean us quickly making a decision and moving on. But what if you have to remove your agreement before you have even given it?
Clear manifestos
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- Created on Wednesday, 28 January 2015 11:27
With just under 100 days until the general election, we’ve asked all major parties for a clear version of their manifesto.
We know that a large number of people will struggle to read the full-length version. There is no good reason why the parties can’t provide an easy-to-understand, point-by-point summary of their key principles.
Down with the kids
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- Created on Monday, 19 January 2015 13:05
The English Spelling Society (TESS) is up to no good once again with a new scheme. The scheme is aimed at making life easier for children in tests by allowing sentences such as 'my frend has a coff'.
TESS wants to 'open minds to the possibility of an eventual update of English spelling in the interests of improved literacy'. Or, put another way, 'English language should change to a phonetic version so people don't have to bother to learn it'.
More council jargon
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- Created on Friday, 16 January 2015 11:58
Dundee City Council is under fire for writing an 'obscure' letter to parents that's 'a real challenge to read'.
The letter, written by council Education Director Michael Wood, achieves an online readability score of 28.2. Or in other words, it's as difficult to read as the Harvard Law Review. It uses words such as 'redilineation' and contains a paragraph which is over 80 words long.
