Section Five

Clear Writing and Advocacy

Public information should be clear and easy to read

Advocates of clear writing are most concerned about public information — information that everybody needs and has a right to know. That includes information about health, safety, the law, public services, individual rights, workplace rules or community programs. It includes information about groups and organizations that have an important role in the community — consumer organizations, lobby groups, political parties, even literacy programs.

Public information that is hard to read and understand reinforces the isolation of people who have reading problems.

	It assumes that everyone will be able to use the information as it is presented. It ignores more than six million people, and denies their right to be as informed as the rest of the population.
	It prevents people from getting information that may be essential for their health, safety, or legal rights.
	It excludes people from participating in community programs and services by not informing them in an appropriate way that the programs are available and open to them. By excluding more than 30% of the population, it also undercuts the effectiveness of community programs.
	Complex writing can be used to obscure or confuse ideas. Clear writing can help clarify policies, and may raise important questions about the effects of these policies for people who don’t read well.