Who needs a lesson in plain language? That's our question this afternoon and we have Michelle Black from the Plain Language Association joining us from our Toronto studio. And from Cathy we go to Jacqueline in Fenwick. Hi Jacqueline!

Good afternoon. How are you?

Good, thanks. Who do you think needs a lesson in plain language?

Well I think anyone needs a lesson in plain language who's writing something for someone else to read and sometimes even if the language is plain, I think it should be put aside for a couple of days and you read it again yourself to see if it really says what you want it to say.

And I have an example to share. I purchased a cookbook, and it has a section on household helps and hints: "To remove odour from plastic containers, wipe the container with tomato juice, wash the container and lid with soap and water, dry well and put lid and bowl separately in freezer for a couple of days. Also can be used to remove odours from inside of refrigerators and dogs."

[all laugh]

Like, just read it over before it goes out!

And as we say in radio, "Out loud." Because it might not have been as evident on the page, or there might have been a comma after "inside refrigerators, and dogs" and it might have...

So do we mean "the outside of refrigerators and dogs?"

Well that's what it sounded like when you read it."

Or does it mean that we put the dogs inside of the refrigerator...

That's what I was thinking!

I mean the whole thing is just ludicrous, and it provided a bit of levity. I enjoyed reading it and laughing, but I've had trouble reading it out loud because I burst into laughter every time I come to "the inside of refrigerators and dogs"!