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Plain English open course

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;
  • to understand the features of a plain English style;
  • to understand the importance of plain English in caring for customers;
  • to realise how important writing style is in projecting an image of themselves and their organisation; and
  • to avoid wasting time by getting their message across first time and using a style and tone appropriate for the intended audience.

The course will cover the following:

  • Introduction to the course
  • Is the information as clear as possible?
  • Is the style appropriate for the audience?
  • Shortening sentences
  • Suggestions for clear writing
  • Being active about passives
  • Righting some writing wrongs
  • Revealing hidden verbs
  • Using lists
  • Setting out and organising good documents and letters
  • Planning and drafting a complete letter

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 4.30pm

(These timings are just a guide.)

Ordering a place on the Plain English 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 £330 + VAT.

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

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

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