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Plain Language
Purpose
Plain Language exists to improve the readability and comprehension of written communication for the broadest possible audience. It makes documents more accessible to people with low literacy, plain English learners, and the general public, without requiring the full structural apparatus of Easy Read.
Scope
Plain Language applies to any written communication, from government documents to commercial correspondence. It is widely used in government, legal, medical, and public communications as a baseline accessibility standard. Plain Language does not fulfil the same accessibility function as Easy Read for people with significant reading disabilities or cognitive impairments.
Components
Active voice as the default register
Short sentences: typically no more than 20–25 words
Common, everyday vocabulary with minimal jargon
Clear document structure with headings and subheadings
Logical sequencing of information
Avoidance of passive constructions, nominalisations, and legalese
Outputs
A document that is more easily understood by a general reader than a standard complex-text version, though without the full accessibility features of Easy Read.
Relationships
Plain Language is part of Accessibility as a component practice
Plain Language is a type of Alternate Format at a lower threshold than Easy Read
Plain Language is distinct from Easy Read: it applies a less rigorous standard and does not systematically use images
Plain Language and Easy Read are often used together in a complementary communication strategy
Authority and Intellectual Property
Plain Language as a discipline has no proprietary owner. Standards are maintained by various bodies internationally, including the Plain Language Association International (PLAIN) and the New Zealand government's plain language guidance. In New Zealand, the Plain Language Act 2022 requires government agencies to use plain language in public documents.
Version control
First published:
17 June 2026 at 12:44:48 pm
Last reviewed:
27 June 2026 at 9:40:45 am