An independent research group found federal agencies still don’t communicate with the public in language everyday people can understand — if anything, they’re using more jargon.
The Center for Plain Language has issued its seventh annual report card on agencies on their use of concise, understandable writing. The center also graded agencies on their compliance with the 2010 Plain Writing Act, which requires organizations to train employees to write clearly and follow other best practices.
Of the 23 agencies included in the report, only four—the Agriculture and Education departments, Social Security Administration and Small Business Administration—received grades of “A-minus” or above for writing quality. No groups failed the evaluation outright, but three agencies—the Homeland Security, Treasury and Housing and Urban Development departments—earned grades of “D-plus” or lower.
The average writing grade dropped from a “B” to a “C” since last year.
Keep reading this article at: https://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/2018/10/report-agencies-still-dont-write-understandable-language/151985/
PLAIN is operated by a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communications from government and that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money — and provides better service to the American public.
