Writing Well

The art of writing well is writing simply. But what does that mean? How do you do it?

The U.S. federal government’s Plain Language initiative has tips, training materials and other information to help you. The organization’s definition of Plain Language begins:

Plain language (also called Plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it.

Plain Language is a sensible idea that’s time has come! The U.S. Congress and President found Plain Language so powerful, they’ve mandated its use in federal documents.

The university encourages all faculty and staff to study the UTB Style Guide and Plain Language principles, and apply them to university communications, such as:

• Brochures
• Emails
• Forms
• Flyers
• Letters
• Memos
• Press releases
• Websites

The resources below will help you master Plain Language, improve your writing, and communicate with your readers – the ultimate goal!

Quick Reference Tips (plainlanguage.gov)

• Quick Tips to Help You Write More Clearly <-- Start here.
• Checklist of Plain-language Elements
• Checklist for Writing on the Web
• Mary Dash’s Writing Tips
• Plain English at a Glance

Training

• Grammarbook.com – excellent review of tricky grammar and punctuation rules
• Plain-language Training Resources – variety of training resources at plainlanguage.gov
• National Institutes for Health – online Plain Language-training course

Resources

• Associated Press Stylebook – model for UTB style
• Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
• Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary – UTB’s official dictionary
• The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) – superb overall guide to writing and grammar
• UTB Style Guide – the university’s standard