6.3 Improving the substance of non-legal documents

Plain language practitioners are familiar with the idea that plain language improves accuracy, certainty, and precision. But the substantive benefits of plain language go even further than that. This point was made by Merwan Saher, Director of Communications with the Office of the Alberta Auditor General in his paper at this Conference when he said:

What we’ve learned so far is that structure that forces the auditor to discretely set out audit criteria, findings, and implications exposes substandard work. So clear, concise writing influences our audit rigour by identifying the need for more thought or evidence. In summary, by exposing unsupported audit recommendations, plain language improves audit quality.³³

Merwan's point is worth dwelling on. The theme of this plain language conference is "At the heart of communication across disciplines and around the world". And that is a true and worthy point. But Merwan's point shows us that plain language can be at the heart of more than just communication. Plain language can also be at the heart of the substantive activities to which communications relate. It's as simple as this: by improving the communications relating to their audits, the people in the Office of the Alberta Auditor General improved the quality of their audits.

7. If plain language is "beyond a movement", what it it?

Plain language has indeed evolved to become more than a movement. In fact it's now 4 different things:

• one of them somewhat burdensome for business—though great for consumers; and

• the other 3 ripe with opportunities and promise for all.

7.1 The burden

Plain language can be burdensome when seen as something that a regulator requires an organization to comply with—as with the SEC regulations in relation to prospectuses.