Please re-write the following exercises keeping plain language principles in mind.

1. Write in the active voice

If you leave out the subject, sentences are harder to understand. Using active voice clarifies the sentence and the readers’ understanding.

All bursary applications will be reviewed by December 15th.

2. Keep it short

Readers can only take in so much new information at one time.

Adult education policies do not appear to be well understood by front line college instructors, even though this group has primary responsibility for the implementation of these policies.

3. Link your ideas

Don’t shorten sentences by leaving out words such as that, which and who. Use these words to link the ideas in a sentence and make the meaning clearer for your reader.

The driver of the golf cart passing by told the officer in the cruiser the car he saw hit the little girl in the intersection was red.

4. Avoid ambiguity

When a pronoun is used there should be no doubt as to which noun it represents.

Michelle researched and wrote the speech herself which everyone thought was impressive.