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Since the 1970s we have run our Plain English course for all kinds of organisations, training their staff in the techniques and benefits of plain English.

We have worked with a wide range of government departments, high street banks, building societies, manufacturing companies and local authorities. Plain English has helped these organisations to save money. Their customers benefit too.

No one wants to waste time trying to understand wordy, bureaucratic or jargon-ridden literature. And no one thinks kindly of the people who write it! We train writers to put themselves in their customers’ shoes, and to ask ‘How would I feel if I received this and what would I think of the organisation sending it?’

Training objectives

The course is designed to give delegates the skills and awareness they need to:

• recognise some of the traps a writer can fall into;
• understand the features of a plain English style;
• use a clear and concise style to avoid wasting their reader's time;
• identify the most appropriate report writing style for the intended audience; and
• be able to write and set out a model report.

The course will cover the following

• Introduction to the course
• Is the information as clear as possible?
• Report writing styles - is the style appropriate for the audience?
• Shortening sentences
• Suggestions for clear writing
• Using verbs powerfully in reports - being active about passives
• Cutting the waffle out of reports
• Setting report objectives: the key 'sentence'
• Summarising a report
• Bringing it together: writing a short report

This course is available as an open course, an inhouse course or an online course.

The course timings for open courses are

Start 9.30am
Coffee 11am
Lunch 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Coffee 3pm
Finish 5pm

Secure your place on the Plain English reports course as an open course

If you have any questions about this course, or if you want to make a booking, please phone Terri Schabel on 01663 744409 or email terri.schabel@plainenglish.co.uk. Open courses cost £300 + VAT.

If you book two or more places you will receive £50 off each place.

Please check our open course dates for the next available course.