News
Plain English campaign news articles
Chrissie takes up arms against voice recognition
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- Created on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 09:57
Following reports that Birmingham City Council's automated phone system is unable to recognise Birmingham accents, Chrissie Maher, our founder commented:-
"The millions of pounds which goes into building these systems is just stupid.
Anyone calling a rent arrears department will be anxious and upset anyway but to then have their voice not recognised because of their accent is awful.
The Brummie accent is instantly recognisable and should be celebrated. You can bet the people who developed these systems are posh or from London."
Media coverage:-
Gaffe-happy Mitt’s a (mealy-mouthed) winner
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- Created on Monday, 05 November 2012 11:22
He’s about to discover whether or not months on the campaign trail have paid off. Regardless of the outcome, Mitt Romney’s a way-out-in-front winner with us at Plain English Campaign as the only feasible candidate for our Foot in Mouth award.
Throughout 2012 Romney has managed to provide, with what might seem a keen satirist’s eye, potentially damaging gaffes on an alarmingly regular basis. And, following a faux-pas happy line of US politicians, always seems to have a steady stream of gibberish ready for the next particularly unsuitable opportunity.
Debenhams clears up coffee confusion
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- Created on Friday, 02 November 2012 13:07
Debenhams has provided customers with a ‘plain English’ coffee menu, replacing potentially confusing terms such as ‘Cappuccino’ and ‘Caffe latte’ with ‘frothy coffee’ and ‘really really milky coffee’.
So, rather than ordering something that sounds exotic but which you’re not entirely sure about, you can now get precisely what you want in no uncertain terms.
Universal confusion over Universal Credit?
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- Created on Thursday, 27 September 2012 13:32
One of the most important changes to the law in this country is due to come into effect in October next year. But straight-talking supporters of Plain English Campaign fear that few of the people who this law will be relevant to will understand how it will work.
Chrissie Maher, founder of the campaign, had this warning for the Department for Work and Pensions.
‘I have read the draft Universal Credit Regulations and the Briefing Notes. They are frightening. It is almost as if we haven’t been campaigning for clarity in public documents for all these years. The Government keeps referring to ‘clarity’ and to the use of ‘plain English’ in these – but at no point has the Department for Work and Pensions consulted us on this.
On the soapbox
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- Created on Monday, 30 July 2012 13:27
With our press officer, Marie, having no mobile reception while holidaying in Devon, I was left to take up the soap box last week. It was a whirlwind of radio and newspaper interviews with some hefty report readings that brought me headaches and a vivid reminder of why I've spent a lifetime shredding these documents and shouting Scouse curses at the jargon masters.
On Monday I woke up to the news that my cheques would no longer be acceptable. This wasn't because I've spent my entire pension, but because the banks felt it would be easier for them. The box came straight out and my trusty stand-in press officer Steve Jenner came to the rescue so that I could add my voice to the objections.
Of course it isn't about plain English and I'm the first to admit that I'm no financial whizz-kid. This isn't the Campaign trying to be financial experts, but just me having a say as a customer.
