PLAIN
Forum
Guidelines

Standards of conduct for participation in this free e-mail discussion group

We welcome everyone interested in this group's friendly, professional and helpful discussions about plain language. If you have questions or comments, please contact PLAIN Forum moderator Gary Larson at gary@garbl.com.

Like with any Internet discussion group, this group's discussions don't always appeal to everyone. Our hope is that you'll be motivated to continue reading messages, taking part in discussions that inspire you to comment, and launching discussions that interest others:

• Please share your thoughts when a topic interests you, and ignore topics that don't.
• Depending on your time and interest, you can choose to get individual messages, a daily digest of the discussions in one e-mail message, or no e-mail messages--instead, reading them on the group's Web site.
• To aid group subscribers, include useful clues in your subject line about the content of your message.
• When responding to a message, please include the message you're responding to or include an excerpt from the message that grabbed your attention.
• Preferred responses to messages give new information, add insights and perspectives, ask provocative questions, inspire or amuse subscribers, and describe reasons for agreement or disagreement. Please consider putting simple "thank yous" in your message subject line.

Topics of discussion:

The focus of this group is plain language and clear, concise writing, graphic design and communications. On-topic discussions include issues and questions that come up when we're trying to communicate effectively and efficiently with others.

Our discussion topics have ranged from the use or abuse of communications tools (including spamming) to the meaning and use of particular terms like "fear of crime" to the most legible type fonts to the value of readability testing to the past, present and future of correct cyberjargon usage.

Questions and comments about consistent style, grammar, word usage, spelling, literacy, legal jargon, bureaucratic mission statements, global English and so on are also worthwhile. They can help group subscribers communicate more clearly, more concisely and in language that more people can understand.

Off-topic discussions

• If a few group subscribers are interested enough in a topic to take part freely in a discussion about it--without verbally abusing one another or others--than it's most likely an acceptable discussion for this group.
• But if a discussion takes an extended turn away from plain language and clear, concise communication, it's best carried on privately between or among the interested individuals.
• If only a couple of people end up discussing a topic, direct e-mailing between those people would be more effective and efficient for themselves and the group.
• A group subscriber who continually writes off-topic messages may be moderated, removed temporarily or banned from posting messages.
• The discussion group moderator will immediately remove or ban a subscriber who posts a message that is obviously offensive to this group.

Content and tone of messages:

A key principle of plain language applies to this discussion group: The writer has a responsibility to express himself or herself in language that targeted readers will understand quickly. If readers could be confused, frustrated or offended -- leading to poor communication--it's up to the writer to use language that leads to understanding.

Provocative comments about plain language, writing, communications and the PLAIN organization are acceptable if they prompt discussions about how we communicate in our work; with our audiences, colleagues, families and friends; and within this discussion group. We don't expect unanimity, agreement, acceptance or consensus to be a result of all discussions.

Whatever their acclaim and position, all writers need editors of their work. But in the absence of such editors for our casual, friendly and supportive online conversations, please be understanding, forgiving and even silent if someone makes a typographical or grammatical error.

Abusive language against individual suscribers or the discussion group generally will not be tolerated. If necessary, individual subscribers may be moderated, removed temporarily or banned from the list.