Step
1: Click Next button to show the guideline or “Before” example. Step 2: Click Next button again to show the explanation or
“After” Plain English revision; Repeat Steps 1 and 2.
Step
1: Click Next button to show the guideline or “Before” example. | Plain English—or plain language—is a message, written for the reader in a style that is clear and concise. It is quicker to write, faster to read, and puts messages across more often, more easily, and in friendlier ways. | Select simple words. Make lists. Keep sentences short. Refrain from giving unnecessary details. Cut down on jargon and use defined terms sparingly. Discard superfluous words. Reduce nominalizations. Avoid weak verbs. Use the active voice with strong verbs. Write personally, as if you were talking to the reader. |
| Avoid clichés The reforms are designed to ensure a level playing field for state-owned enterprises and private companies. | The reforms are designed to ensure equal treatment for state-owned enterprises and private companies. |
| Avoid clichés The project will make an improvement on the ground in the countryside. | The project will make an improvement in the countryside. |
| Avoid clichés The goal is to hit the ground running in July. | The goal is to start immediately in July. |
| Avoid clichés The events at the agency showed you cannot judge a book by its cover. | The events at the agency showed you cannot rely on appearances. |
| Avoid clichés There is no silver bullet for the financial crisis. | There is no single rapid solution to the financial crisis. |
| Avoid clichés Going forward, ADB will ensure that it continues to be relevant. | ADB will ensure that it continues to be relevant. |
| Use the active voice Avoid: This offer should be taken advantage of by ADB. | ADB should take advantage of this offer. |
| Use the active voice Avoid: Surveys were carried out in 2008. | The council carried out surveys in 2008. |
| Use the active voice Avoid: The deadline was missed. | The consultant missed the deadline. |
| Good writing employs only the words necessary to express an idea clearly. | Do not spell out something that is obvious. Some details can be assumed and do not have to be stated. Words such as “level,” “phase,” and “stage,” are overused. The word “sector” tends to be overused (as a noun and as an adjective). It is often redundant and can usually be omitted with no loss of meaning. |
| Do not spell out something that is obvious. The population increased by more than 1 million, from 50.3 million to 51.6 million. | The population increased from 50.3 million to 51.6 million. |
| Do not spell out something that is obvious. The disease mainly affects young adults 18–24 years old. | The disease mainly affects adults 18–24 years old. |
| Some details can be assumed and do not have to be stated. They will hold discussions with relevant government officials and stakeholders. | They will hold discussions with government officials and stakeholders. |
| Some details can be assumed and do not have to be stated. The funds will be used to purchase appropriate education materials. | The funds will be used to purchase education materials. |
| Words such as “level,” “phase,” and “stage,” are overused. Avoid The reforms will take place at the city level and at the village level. | Prefer The reforms will take place in cities and villages. |
| Words such as “level,” “phase,” and “stage,” are overused. Avoid Community leaders will be consulted during the implementation stage. | Prefer Community leaders will be consulted during the implementation. |
| The word “sector” tends to be overused (as a noun and as an adjective). It is often redundant and can usually be omitted with no loss of meaning. Avoid Private sector companies have led the economic revival. | Prefer Private companies have led the economic revival. |
| The word “sector” tends to be overused (as a noun and as an adjective). It is often redundant and can usually be omitted with no loss of meaning. Avoid Many workers in the transport sector are poor. | Prefer Many transport workers are poor. |
| Omit unnecessary words The data will be useful for forward planning purposes. | The data will be useful for |
| Omit unnecessary words ADB proactively monitors and manages all its projects. | ADB |
| Omit unnecessary words Delegates can make advance reservations at the travel desk. | Delegates can make |
| Omit unnecessary words The loan is small in size. | The loan is small |
| Omit unnecessary words ADB and WHO will blend together their assistance to maximize results. | ADB and WHO will blend |
| Omit unnecessary words ADB and the government will collaborate together on the proposal. | ADB and the government will collaborate |
| Omit unnecessary words The timing of the funding is critically important. | The timing of the funding is |
| Omit unnecessary words The consultants will carry out critical assessments. | The consultants will carry out |
| Omit unnecessary words The agreement of the current incumbent will be needed. | The agreement of the |
| Omit unnecessary words The study will be conducted during the period 2008–2010. | The study will be conducted during |
| Omit unnecessary words No other problems were identified during that time period. | No other problems were identified during |
| Omit unnecessary words This became clear during the course of the project, although it may not affect the end result. | This became clear |
| Omit unnecessary words The government is in the process of reforming the finance sector. | The government is |
| Omit unnecessary words The country’s future prospects are good. | The country’s |
| Omit unnecessary words Environmental sustainability is forecast to improve over time. | Environmental sustainability is forecast to improve |
| Omit unnecessary words It would have the exact same result. | It would have the |
| Omit unnecessary words Credit to small-scale industries has actually declined. | Credit to small-scale industries has |
| Omit unnecessary words This form of financing is the new innovation that was agreed upon. | This form of financing is the |
| Omit unnecessary words As past experience has shown, community support is essential. | As |
| Omit unnecessary words There is a real danger that this will recur again. | There is a |
| Omit unnecessary words The Ministry of Health will revert back to ADB regarding any significant changes. | The Ministry of Health will |
| Omit unnecessary words The flow of remittances at the end of the year will offer a temporary reprieve. | The flow of remittances at the end of the year will offer a |
| Omit unnecessary words The project will build a total of 15 new schools. | The project will build |
| Omit unnecessary words All things being equal, the reform program has a good chance of success. | |
| Omit unnecessary words Basically, the problem cannot be solved by money alone. | |
| Omit unnecessary words The contractor will rehabilitate the existing roads. | The contractor will rehabilitate the |
| Omit unnecessary words The project will be implemented in three towns, namely: Battambang, Kampot, and Kompong Cham. | The project will be implemented in three towns, |
| Omit unnecessary words Construction is not possible in the months of December and January. | Construction is not possible in |
| Omit unnecessary words The floods completely destroyed 20 villages. | The floods |
| Omit unnecessary words The participants have not reached a consensus of opinion on the inflationary effects. | The participants have not reached a consensus |
| Omit unnecessary words The consultants must be knowledgeable experts on environmental sustainability. | The consultants must be |
| Omit unnecessary words The treatment plant is in close proximity to several schools. | The treatment plant is |
| Omit unnecessary words The report will be disclosed to the general public. | The report will be disclosed to the |
| Omit unnecessary words The problem dates back to the early 1990s. | The problem dates |
| Omit unnecessary words Four components have been completed to date. | Four components have been completed |
| Omit unnecessary words Progress in achieving the targets slowed down during the regional financial crisis. | Progress in achieving the targets slowed |
| Omit unnecessary words The mission visited seven different ministries in April. | The mission visited seven |
| Omit unnecessary words Each and every complaint was investigated. | Each |
| Omit unnecessary words Rising foreign imports have reduced the country’s gross international reserves. | Rising |
| Omit unnecessary words The headquarters will be located in Colombo. | The headquarters will be |
| Omit unnecessary words A survey was needed in order to determine the number of potential microfinance recipients. | A survey was needed |
| Omit unnecessary words The main focus of the study was the impact of rural finance on poverty reduction. | The |
| Omit unnecessary words The specific details of each individual subproject have not been finalized. | The |
| Omit unnecessary words Each assessment will determine whether or not outputs were satisfactorily delivered. | Each assessment will determine whether |
| Avoid jargon Use plain language wherever you can. ADB documents should be comprehensible to the well-informed general reader. Common English words are preferable to technical jargon, ADB slang, or non-English terms. Avoid: The loan will include a piggybacked TA project to build capacity in the ministry. ADB will concentrate on its core deliverables: constructing the dam and the approach roads. ADB provided software support for training and hardware support for building schools. | The loan will include an associated TA project to build capacity in the ministry. ADB will concentrate on constructing the dam and the approach roads. ADB provided support for training and for building schools. |
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Exercises created by Atty. Gerry T. Galacio based on copyrighted materials available on the Internet. You can use these exercises only on a personal, educational, and non-commercial basis; you must not upload these exercises and resources to an intranet, to a website, or to the cloud. For comments, questions, or corrections, email gtgalacio@yahoo.com
Exercises created with freeware Hot Potatoes v. 6.3 from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.
Free seminar-workshops on English proficiency and on photojournalism for Metro Manila schools: email gtgalacio@yahoo.com or text 0927-798-3138
Family Matters (complete text of the Family Code of the Philippines; frequently asked questions; relevant laws like RA 9262; legal procedures and Rules of Court)
Legal Updates (in-depth discussions of issues affecting the Filipino family, legal procedures, support, inheritance, etc.): Plain Language / Plain English for government offices, private companies, schools, and organizations; Clear, concise English for effective legal writing; Legal procedures in civil and criminal cases; Heirs and inheritances |
Better English resources and exercises (free resources on grammar, pronunciation, spelling, writing, vocabulary, idioms, reading comprehension, public speaking, etc.); Related website: Interactive English grammar and vocabulary exercises based on Korean historical dramas such as A Jewel In The Palace, Dong Yi, Jumong, Empress Ki, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds (Love In The Moonlight), etc.
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