Many of us can probably recite the definition of plain language by heart: “A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.” This definition shows that plain language is so much more than the language we use, yet many discussions focus only on the words.
So, the next issue of PLAIN’s e-journal will focus on structure and design.
What we are looking for
We are looking for article submissions from people around the world about how to structure and design text, so readers can easily find what they need. Articles may cover any aspect of this theme, including:
- Introducing plain language practitioners to basic design;
- Designing inclusive, multilingual documents in print and online;
- Creating accessible documents for people with various disabilities; and
- Making the connection between plain language and search engine optimization.
PLAIN members have specifically asked for tools, templates, checklists, style guides, and tips. So please share your resources to help both newcomers to the field and experienced plain language practitioners.
Guidelines
Articles should be 800 to 1,000 words. All articles are published in English; however, we prefer to include a second version in the author’s native language.
We prioritize submissions:
- from new contributors,
- about different industries,
- from people in different regions of the world, and
- from PLAIN members (non-members may also submit articles).
We also welcome ideas for the Ask the Experts series and book reviews on plain language structure and design.
Submissions are due on March 2, 2025. The issue will be published in June 2025.
If you are interested in submitting an article, please send a message with a summary of your article to publications@plainlanguagenetwork.org.
