News
Plain English campaign news articles
A burning issue
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- Created on Friday, 26 June 2015 16:28
A Royal Pharmaceutical Society survey suggests that many people don’t know what protection ratings on sun-cream bottles mean.
According to the survey, one in five are unaware that the SPF rating, or factor number, does not mean protection against all sun damage. Only 8% of those surveyed understood that the SPF rating on the bottle means protection from UVB rays only.
The SPF rating shows protection against sunburn, but not from UVA rays, which cause long-lasting skin damage. Protection against UVA rays is shown by a star rating. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer.
More golden rules
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- Created on Thursday, 25 June 2015 16:37
Back in 2013, we applauded Michael Gove for demanding clearer written communication. He set out a list of ‘golden rules’ for everyone working under him at the Department of Education.
Gove, now Justice Secretary, has laid out similar rules for his current staff.
Yet more ploddledygook
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- Created on Thursday, 14 May 2015 15:58
We've heard a fair bit of ‘ploddledygook' before now, and we've covered plenty of it on these pages. The police, however, continue to make very little sense.
They've come under fire, once more, for talking absolute nonsense in their ‘Candidate Information Pack' extended job advert.
The police, according to the information pack, are looking for a ‘pioneer in blue-light collaboration' who can ‘reframe dilemmas'.
Plaid Cymru plain English manifesto
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- Created on Thursday, 30 April 2015 16:07
With a week left until the general election, only one party has taken us up on the offer to work with them on a plain English manifesto – Plaid Cymru.
Medical miscommunication
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- Created on Monday, 20 April 2015 11:02
Doctors and nurses are using far too much jargon when dealing with patients, according to a recent survey.
The survey suggested that one in five patients has taken the wrong dose of medication on at least one occasion. It also found that 39% of patients surveyed would like their doctor, nurse or pharmacist to avoid technical terms when explaining medical matters.
Plain English in Cardiff
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- Created on Friday, 10 April 2015 16:46
We have a small number of places left on our Thistle Cardiff City Centre plain English course on 24 June. To get £50 off one of the remaining spots, contact Terri on 01663 744409, or email info@plainenglish.co.uk.
For all updates on any other discounts and further course information, check our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Opt-in scam
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- Created on Monday, 30 March 2015 09:33
This isn’t the first time we’ve mentioned this issue, but it’s now serious enough for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to want to ban it.
The FCA has suggested that ‘opt-out’ selling, where a customer has to untick a box to avoid buying something, is earning £108million a year. Almost a fifth of those falling for the scam are completely unaware of having done so.
More mis-sold deception
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- Created on Monday, 23 March 2015 16:49
We've already commented at length on the mis-sold PPI policy disaster. Banks and building societies have seemingly found a new way to dupe their customers.
