A definition of plain English

'A communication is in plain English if it meets the needs of its audience by using
language, structure, and design so clearly and effectively that the audience has the
best possible chance of readily finding what they need, understanding it, and using
it.'
"Plain English is clear, straightforward expression, using only as many words as are
necessary. It is language that avoids obscurity, inflated vocabulary and convoluted
sentence construction. It is not baby talk, nor is it a simplified version of the English
language. Writers of plain English let their audience concentrate on the message
instead of being distracted by complicated language. They make sure that their
audience understands the message easily."
Professor Robert Eagleson

What is plain English, and why should you use it?

Simply put, plain language is language thats easy for the reader to understand.
These two quotes from authorities in the field explain it better than I can:
Writing is an instrument for conveying ideas from one mind to another; the writers
job is to make the reader apprehend his meaning readily and precisely. Sir Ernest
Gowers in The Complete Plain Words (1954).
Plain English refers to the writing and setting out of essential information in a way
that gives a co-operative, motivated person a good chance of understanding it at
first reading, and in the same sense that the writer meant it to be understood.
Martin Cutts in Oxford Guide to Plain English (2004).

When should you use plain English?

Its nearly always important to get your meaning across clearly, but sometimes its
vital (that is, essential, absolutely necessary), such as when you write instructions
that could lead to damage, injury, death, financial loss, and so on, if your reader is
unable to understand you.
Somewhat less dramatically, if you want your reader to do what you tell them to do
(or feel the way you want them to feel) when they read what youve written, you
should use plain language.

Some rules for writing plain English

George Orwell set out for writing English in his essay Politics and the English
Language (1946)
1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to
seeing in print.
Avoiding stilted writing of this kind can be difficult, but if you succeed it will keep
your writing fresh, and force you to think more carefully about what youre trying to
say which is usually a good thing.
2.
3.

Never use a long word where a short one will do.

If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

This rule is about cutting out verbiage. You can find examples and guidance on the
subject of avoiding redundant expressions .
4.

Never use the passive where you can use the active.

An active verb has a subject which is performing the action of the verb, for
example:
The teenagers fixed the fence.
[Fixed is the verb. The teenagers are the subject they were doing the fixing.
Good for them!]
A passive verb has a subject which is undergoing the action of the verb, rather than
carrying it out, for example:
The fence was fixed.
[but we dont know who did it. The fence didnt do anything. It just stood there,
passively, being a fence, while being fixed by a hidden hand.]
Martin Cutts amends Orwells rule to Prefer the active voice unless theres a good
reason for using the passive, and devotes a short, very useful chapter to this in
the Oxford Guide to Plain English.
In short, if you know who the do-er or subject in the sentence is, its better to
name this person or thing and rewrite the sentence in the active voice (in other
words, make the do-er the subject of the sentence).

5.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think
of an everyday English equivalent.
Jargon, by definition, is the opposite of plain English. Jargon is special words or
expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to
understand. This post on the Oxford Dictionaries blog looks at some of the worst
examples of corporate jargon.
Its important to avoid jargon when youre talking to people outside of your field, or
writing documents or instructions for public use. Of course, it can sometimes be
appropriate to use less-than-plain language in your work or studies. For example, if
youre writing an article on a scientific topic for a journal, you cant (and shouldnt)
avoid using longer words and phrases that arent familiar to everybody. If youre a
Marketing Executive and youre writing a report for your Marketing Manager, you
could probably use terms and phrases that are specific to your department or
specialism, safe in the knowledge that your reader will understand the meaning you
want to get across. You can write devise strategies to drive institutional
subscription usage as shorthand for come up with a few different ways to help
librarians to encourage their patrons to use the online services that the libraries
have paid for more frequently.
However, if you are going to use this kind of language, make sure you know the
meaning of any specialist terms, long words, or jargon you use, and use these
correctly, and as sparingly as you can.
6.

Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Its been some time since I read the whole essay, but I think this is Orwells way of
saying that common sense should always have a place in your writing!
If you want to improve your English, these rules could be a good starting point; but
more recent and more detailed rules and guidelines for writing plain English are also
available, including the Oxford Guide to Plain English.
For me, the golden rule is: think about your readers, and dont make them
work too hard. When you follow that rule, you will find yourself striving to get your
meaning across effectively, and doing the hard work of writing plainly yourself,
rather than risk confusing your readers.
Idioms are expressions that do not have a literal meaning; rather, they establish
their connotation by how they are used in speech. Clichs are expressions that are
so common and overused that they fail to impart any real impact on your
sentence. Jargon is the specialized, often technical, language that is used by
people in a particular field, profession, or social group. Slang is the informal

language of conversation, text messages, and other casual social communication

among friends.Euphemisms are milder words or phrases used to blunt the effect of
more direct or unpleasant words or phrases. If you know when to use or avoid these
expressions, your writing will be more effective.
Examples of Medical Jargon

Agonal - Term to signify a major,

negative change in a patients
condition

10-4 - Radio jargon meaning

Okay or I understand

Code Eight - Term that means

officer needs help immediately

BP - Medical shorthand for blood

pressure

FX - Medical jargon meaning

bone fracture

Code Eleven - A code that

means the individual is at the scene of
the crime

FTP - The failure of an individual

to pay a fine

Assumed room temperature: An

individual has died

JT - A joint
NPO - A patient should not take
anything by mouth
IM - Intramuscular

Examples of Military Jargon

TD - Temporary duty

K - The elemental symbol for

potassium

AWOL - Absent without leave

Examples of Business Jargon

SQDN - A squadron

Bang for the buck - A term that

means, to get the most for your
money

SAM - Surface-to-Air missile

PCS - A permanent change of

station

LES - Leave and earning

statement

Due diligence - Putting effort

into research before making a
business decision

Sweat equity - Getting a stake

in the business instead of pay

The 9-to-5 - Business jargon

meaning a standard work day

Left wing - Political jargon for

liberal, progressive viewpoint

Right wing - Jargon meaning a

conservative viewpoint

Getting on a soapbox - Making a

speech in public

Chief cook and bottle-washer - A

person who holds many
responsibilities
Examples of Police Jargon

Suspect - A person whom the

police think may have committed a
crime

Examples of Political Jargon

POTUS - President of the United

States

SCOTUS - Supreme Court of the

United States

Examples of Internet Jargon

BTW - By the way

CYA - See you around

HTH - Hope this helps

MOTD - Message of the day

YMMV - Your mileage may vary

IIRC - If I remember correctly

IANAL - I am not a lawyer

LOL - Laugh out loud

BFF - Best friends forever

TTYL - Talk to you later

Slang Words
Frenemy - This term is a
combination of the words "friend" and
"enemy." It is a person who appears on
one hand to be your friend but, at the
same time is antagonistic towards
you.

In the nick of time: This means

something happened just in time

Lost track of time: This means

you stopped paying attention to the
time or to how long something was
taking

Lasted an eternity: This refers to

something that lasts for a very long
time (or that feels like it does)

A matter of time: This refers to

something that will eventually happen
or eventually become clear

A waste of time: This refers to

something that was silly or not
valuable to do

Rushed for time: This means

you do not have sufficient time to do
something

In a jiffy: This means something

will happen soon

The time of my life: This refers

to a really great time

At the speed of light: This

means something done very quickly.

FAQ - Frequently asked

questions

Supersize - Starting with a

way to order a bigger order of fries,
"supersize" now is used to point
anything, anyone or any idea that is
excessively large.
Chick --- A young and pretty girl.
I'm Booted --- I'm hip or I
understand.
It's cool, man, I know just what you
mean, "I'm booted."
Jake --- Okay.

Clichs that Describe People

As old as the hills: This

describes someone very old

Fit as a fiddle: This describes

someone in great shape

Without a care in the world: This

describes someone who is not plagued
by problems or worries

A diamond in the rough: This

describes someone who has a great
future.

Brave as a lion: This describes a

very brave person.

Clichs that Describe Time:

Time will tell: This means that

something will revealed or become
clear over time

Weak as a kitten: This describes

a very weak person.

Clichs About Life, Love and

Emotions

Opposites attract: This means

that people who like different things
and have different views are likely to
fall in love or to become friends

Scared out of my wits: This

describes being very frightened

Frightened to death: This also

describes being very frightened

All is fair in love and war: This

clich stands for the premise that you
can do whatever you have to in order
to capture the heart of your lover

Alls well that ends well: This

means that even if there were
problems along the way, it doesn't
matter as long as there is a happy
ending

Every cloud has a silver lining:

This means that even when bad things
happen, it may be possible to find
some good in them

Haste makes waste: This clich

stands for the premise that you will
make mistakes when you do things too
quickly
The writing on the wall: This
refers to something that should be
clear or apparent and that is
essentially a foregone conclusion
Time heals all wounds: This
means that all pain and suffering will
get better over time
What goes around comes
around: This clich teaches the lesson
that the way you treat others will
eventually be the way you are treated

When you have lemons, make

lemonade: This clich encourages you
to have a positive attitude even when
things are going bad.

A euphemism is a polite expression

used in place of words or phrases that
otherwise might be considered harsh
or unpleasant to hear. Euphemisms
are used regularly, and there are
many examples in every day
language.
Types of Euphemisms
To Soften an Expression
Some euphemisms are used in order
to make a blunt or unpleasant truth
seem less harsh.
Examples of euphemisms that fall into
this category include:

Passed away instead of died

Correctional facility instead of

jail
Departed instead of died

Differently-abled instead of
handicapped or disabled

Fell off the back of a truck

instead of stolen

Ethnic cleansing instead of

genocide
Adult entertainment instead of
pornography

Adult beverages instead of beer

or liquor

Au natural instead of naked

Big-boned instead of heavy or

overweight

Portly instead of heavy or

overweight

Chronologically-challenged
instead of late

Comfort woman instead of

prostitute
Use the rest room instead of go
to the bathroom
Batting for the other side
instead of homosexual
Bit the big one instead of died

Bit the farm instead of died

Cement shoes instead of dead

Bit the dust instead of died

Croaked instead of dead

Kick the bucket instead of die

Blow chunks instead of vomited

Hide the sausage instead of sex

Making whoopee instead of sex

Well-hung instead of having a

large penis