Plain language in government

Plain language in government isn't about "dumbing down" content. It's about helping people succeed. That means making information easier to find, understand, and use.

Plain language benefits your organization, too. When people can make sense of your content, they are more likely to complete tasks and less likely to call for help.

This session is a practical introduction to the principles behind plain language. It's especially useful for anyone who wants a framework for evaluating and improving public-facing information.

In this session, we will:

• Discuss what plain language is — and common misconceptions about what it isn't
• Explore why plain language is more than writing style, grammar, or word choice
• Look at examples of government content and explore the principles that guide plain language decisions in practice
• Introduce practical tools for improving content, whether or not writing is your primary role
• Discuss the role of AI in creating and reviewing plain-language content

 Content Lab is a community of practice focused on content strategy. It's open to employees at state agencies and organizations.