Latest news

In this section you will find news stories about plain English, and news of our current activities (below). You will also find an archive of news stories, press releases and the worst gobbledygook of the week. You can also read some of our past newsletters. Please note that due the size of our mailing list, which was causing problems with junk mail ('spam'), we now only send out newsletters and bulletins occasionally. The news on this page is regularly updated with plain English-related news.

Crystal Clear campaign wins victory for broadband users

The Crystal Clear Broadband campaign, launched by consumer magazine Computeractive, with support from Plain English Campaign, has convinced industry regulator Ofcom to force network providers to give customers clearer information about their internet connection speeds. More than 11,000 people signed a petition on the Downing Street website to put pressure on Ofcom to act.

The communications regulator has now introduced a Code of Practice that requires companies to give consumers an accurate estimate of the maximum speed their line can support before a contract is signed. Previously network providers were advertising super-fast connection speeds that were impossible to obtain for all but a very few of customers.

According to an Ofcom spokesman, the "issue of broadband speeds is an area of consumer interest and concern, as the Computeractive Crystal Clear campaign helped to highlight. Our Code of Practice will provide real clarity for consumers about the actual broadband speeds they can expect.

The regulator will also be carrying out what it has claimed is the UK's most authoritative and comprehensive broadband speed survey. This will identify actual broadband performance across the country and its relationship to advertised speeds. Many customers are still unaware that the actual speed they can get depends on a number of factors, including how near they live to their telephone exchange.

10p tax band explained

Here at Plain English Campaign we ponder over letters and their meaning and can usually make some sense of the most challenging jargon and gobbledygook.

But when it comes to numbers we have to hold our hands up in despair on occasion – for example if asked to explain the 10% (10p) tax band.

Fortunately, we have access to accounting expertise and we have set out below a clear explanation of the tax band change for people who are struggling to understand it. In 2007/2008 everyone who earned enough was entitled to the 10% tax band (on the first £2,230 of income above the personal allowance).

In 2008/2009 the loss of this tax band will cost extra tax on most salaries up to £16,499. Most people earning more than £16,500 will pay less tax.

From 6 April 2008 the amount you can earn before you start to pay tax has been raised from £5,225 a year to £5,435. At the same time the 10% tax rate has ended and the basic rate of tax has been lowered from 22% to 20%.

So, as an example, if your wage was £8,000 in tax year 2007/2008, after taking away your tax free allowance of £5,225 you would have paid tax on £2,775 (£8,000 minus £5,225).

The first £2,230 would have been taxed at 10% which equals £223.
The remaining £545 would have been taxed at 22% which equals £119.90
So you would have paid £342.90 tax on the £8,000 you earned in 2007/2008.

With the new tax rates, if your wage is still £8,000 in 2008/2009, after taking away your tax free allowance of £5,435 (raised from £5,225 in 2007/2008), you will pay tax on £2,565, at 20% which equals £513. So you will have £170.10 less this year than last (£513 - £342.90).
This is £14.17 less each month.

In 2008/2009, most people earning less than £16,500 will be worse off after tax than they were in 2007/2008 and those earning £16,500 and above could be better off.

Recent survey results from national media sources shows that in 2007 the 1,000 wealthiest people in Britain had a total wealth of £412 billion (£412,000 million). That is four times more than they had in 1997.

Examples:

Police forces accused of using 'ploddledygook'

Plain English Campaign is calling on the country’s police forces to return to basics – starting with the language used to communicate with the public. The campaign has noticed an increase in the number of complaints it receives about police communication, particularly slogans.

Statements about standard policing are made into 'revelatory' slogans such as ‘Committed to fighting crime’ or 'Keeping you safe'. Other taglines such as “Putting you First” and “Our focus is you” suggest an extra commitment to the tax–payer. Forces are also adopting new jargon such as 'Citizen-focused command centre', and referring to members of the public as 'customers'.

Campaigners argue that as police jargon-busters exist on a number of police websites, forces must already know that explanations are needed for some of their commonly-used terms. They say that the longer people have to fight their way through this sort of meaningless jargon, the less they pay attention to the real issues.

PEC spokeswoman Marie Clair said: "It is reminiscent of politicians announcing that they are ‘taking the terrorist threat very seriously’ and that ‘education is a top priority’. You can’t argue with the sentiment, but the repetition of a widely accepted ‘truism’ isn't acceptable as a replacement for clearly–stated policy.”

She added: "Do the public really understand terms such as 'County Delivery Unit'? It sounds more like a milk round than policing. It seems that administrative confusion is hitting our streets when we really need to spend the resources on policing. Maybe this Ploddledygook is the latest weapon against the criminals - it certainly had me floored."

Plain English Campaign supports MP in call for war on small print

Nottinghamshire MP Dr. Nick Palmer is to call for an end to small print, and Plain English Campaign has pledged its support.
The Broxtowe MP is launching a Bill in the House of Commons on Tuesday 26 February. The Bill has attracted the backing of MPs from across the main political parties. Support also comes from a coalition of campaign groups including RNIB, Age Concern and the Trading Standards Institute.

“The scourge of small print has made life a misery for many people over the years,” said Plain English Campaign spokesman Steve Jenner. “There is absolutely no reason for it apart from making information more difficult to read. If we look at the organisations that are backing the Bill, we can see there’s a whole range of people who are affected. 

“The only conclusion to draw is that when companies and organisations use small print, they don’t want us to understand.
“We’d also hope that by forcing the issue on small print, jargon and gobbledygook will also be ditched. We hope that this Bill makes companies realise that it’s time to re-edit their documents, and get rid of unnecessary small print. Even the most complicated public documents can be written in a way that people can understand.’

Plain English Campaign declares war on ‘buzzwords’

An article by Bill Jamieson in ‘The Scotsman’ has highlighted the way in which ‘Newspeak’ has invaded Scottish life.

The author received a ‘deluge’ of responses, all featuring specific examples. Political ‘buzzwords’ and phrases like ‘policy-based evidence’, ‘consensus’, ‘partnership working’ and ‘connectivity’ came in for particular criticism.

Plain English Campaign has made comments in the media several times about this issue recently and has decided enough is enough. Campaign spokesperson Steve Jenner said today:

“It is frequently suggested to us in interviews that it is acceptable for people to use buzzwords and phrases in the workplace. We don’t think it is. There are a number of reasons why.”

“If a council, health authority or other large organisation holds a training event, the ‘delegates’ are more likely to spend their time playing ‘buzzword bingo’. This is amusing until you remember these events are funded by public money.”

“It also breeds terrible cynicism about the political process. Bill Jamieson credits a contributor for pointing out that ‘public consultation’ and ‘have your say’ usually mean the exact opposite. We have looked at a number of ‘public consultations’ this year which suggest exactly that. We applaud Bill’s ‘overarching purpose’ in writing this article.”

“We also call on all public agencies, political organisations and private companies throughout Scotland to run plain English training sessions. These could feature as part of forthcoming training events. A good starting point would be for each organisation to identify a top ten list of buzzwords or phrases it uses. And then come up with a plain English alternative list.”    

Gordon Brown accused of 'patronising response' at Prime Minister's Questions

Plain English Campaign supporters were ‘angered and dismayed’ by an answer at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday. Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, asked Gordon Brown to withdraw the Heathrow expansion consultation document. Her call came as a result of it being declared ‘atrocious’ by Chrissie Maher, the founder of Plain English Campaign.

The Prime Minister responded, saying that “the consultation is there for the public to involve themselves in” and “I hope people will vigorously join the consultation”.

“This is a totally patronising response,” said Campaign spokesman Steve Jenner. “The Prime Minister just seemed to ignore the issue raised. The consultation document may be ‘there for the public to involve themselves in’ but that just isn’t good enough. Any old rubbish can be ‘there’. And that’s what this document is. Anyone who thinks this is a suitable document for public consultation is holding the public in contempt."

“How can ‘people vigorously join the consultation’ when the document looks as if it has been designed to exclude people from participating?"

“It should be possible to read, understand and act on a consultation document after one reading. I would challenge anyone to do that with this particular document. Irrespective of the rights or wrongs of the Heathrow expansion plans, consultation carried out in this way is just undemocratic."

“Once again we would urge a re – think; this document is not fit for the purpose for which it was intended. We ask the government to withdraw this document and offer a genuine consultation to interested parties.”

Plain English Campaign founder calls for withdrawal of Heathrow consultation document

The founding director of Plain English Campaign, Chrissie Maher, has slammed the government over the Heathrow expansion consultation document. Speaking at the campaign’s headquarters in Derbyshire earlier this week, she described the document as ‘atrocious’.

Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park sent a copy of the document to the campaign. “This document effectively takes away human rights,” said Chrissie. “No ordinary person with an interest in the plans to expand Heathrow could be expected to read and understand this.”

Chrissie found several faults in the document, including the following:

• Excessive jargon in the summary, such as ‘periodic emissions cost assessment’ and ‘external climate change costs.’
• Huge assumptions about the reader’s knowledge of government policy.
• Jargon specific to particular professions, such as ‘net present value terms’ and ‘mixed mode operations’.
• An unclear introduction in Section A of the document.
• Section B makes use of terms which are not familiar to most people.
• Section D uses technical terminology such as ‘operation of runway rotation’.
  

“How can this be a true consultation if most readers cannot understand the document? We’ve seen this time and time again - local councils and government departments are always launching ‘consultations’. But they are not real consultations because they design them in such a way that most people are unable to take part.”

“After all these years of our campaigning, the Government should realise they can’t treat people with the contempt shown in the past. Unfortunately, once again we see more proof that this is not always the case. We are not ‘taking sides’ in the debate, but it is so important that in a democracy, consultations are genuine. People must have a fair chance to understand the documents put before them. Otherwise they cannot tell you what they really think.

“I am calling on the Department of Transport to withdraw and redraft this document.”

Steve McClaren scores another own goal with Foot in Mouth award

Unemployed Steve McClaren has received another blow while he counts his two million pound payoff. The ex-England boss has won the Plain English Campaign’s Foot in Mouth Award for this piece of footballing wisdom:

 'He (Wayne Rooney) is inexperienced, but he's experienced in terms of what he's been through.'

He wins the award despite strong entries from George Bush and Jeremy Kyle.
Last year Naomi Campbell joined previous winners Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Gere and Tracey Emin as the public figure who had made the most baffling comment.

Seven Golden Bulls have been awarded this year, including one to Richard Branson’s Virgin Trains for a response from the company about problems booking online. UKTV have won one for an extremely enthusiastic press release about their new channel, ‘Dave’. In a year where silly signs seem to have dominated the news, BAA at Gatwick Airport have won a Golden Bull for a fine example.

Top comedian and TV personality Lenny Henry will present the awards at the Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SD on 11 December 2007. It will be the 28th annual Plain English awards ceremony.

Winners of Plain English Awards include Liverpool Housing Trust for their ‘Pictorial Tenancy Agreement’ and Alistair Macintosh, Huart Tai Huang and Geoffrey Holden FRICS for their ‘Guide to surveyors’ jargon.’ Stockport Women’s Aid will also pick up a Plain English Award for an advice booklet.

The National School of Government and the Forestry Commission are amongst the winners for the Inside Write Awards. These are given to government departments for clear internal communication.

Media winners include the first International Media award winner, Bruce Hill from the Australian Broadcasting Company, and BBC Five Live’s Midday News which scooped ‘Best National Radio programme’. Teletext has won the Osborne Award for their contribution to plain English.

Download our press release

Go to the Golden Bulls winners page

Top journalists and broadcasters honoured at Plain English Campaign awards

Leading journalists and broadcasters from newspapers, television and radio will celebrate next Tuesday as they collect awards for crystal-clear reporting.

There are seven awards in the media category of the 28th annual Plain English Campaign awards ceremony. The judges take into account nominations and comments from Campaign supporters. They also read, watch and listen to examples of work.

One of the country’s best-loved comics, Lenny Henry, will present the awards at the Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SD on 11 December, 2007. The ceremony is famous for the dreaded Golden Bull booby prizes for the year’s most baffling gobbledygook.

The media award winners are listed below with the judges’ comments.

• The International Media Award: Bruce Hill, for ‘Pacific Beat’, Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Bruce Hill wins the Campaign’s first-ever International Media Award for his work on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio programme ‘Pacific Beat’. ABC’s international service broadcasts across the Pacific rim. Bruce often has to deal with interview guests from area development agencies and representatives of international charities. Such organisations often carry a jargon of their own – and Bruce has decided he isn’t going to put up with this anymore. Every time he has been on the receiving end of some obscure jargon or gobbledygook, Bruce ‘lets them have it’ with a ‘hooter’ he has at hand. He then forces his guest to explain themselves properly.  Combined with precise, direct questioning and an obvious commitment to clarity in public service broadcasting, Bruce is a deserving winner of this new award.

• Best National Newspaper: The Sun

Bold, brash and colourful, The Sun is renowned for telling it like it is. The paper’s way with a headline is legendary, and our judges felt it was time to honour its hard-hitting, frank and plain-speaking journalism. It can be difficult to deliver political news without resorting to jargon but the Sun’s writers are skilled atfiling copy which informs rather than condescends.

• Best Regional Newspaper: Western Morning News

This paper concentrates on rural issues that affect the population of the South West, and is renowned for its campaigning and support of local charities and pressure groups. Well-designed and laid out, it reports in language which is easy to understand. The paper’s website is also a good source of local news, jobs and property.

• Best National TV programme: Panorama

One of the BBC’s flagship current affairs shows, Panorama brings intelligent, investigative journalism into the nation’s living rooms. The programme’s team of experienced reporters get to the heart of a wide range of topical issues, especially those with national importance. Although the analysis is serious and probing, the language and presentational style is accessible to viewers of all backgrounds. Panorama brings us the story not the headlines, and that is what good television reporting is all about.

• Best Regional TV programme: Anglia TV Local News West.

This category was closely contested by a number of local networks and a local internet TV service. Observation of the station’s output shows Anglia TV West to have a proper understanding of the needs of local viewers, explaining issues clearly and concisely, especially at the hands of reporter / presenter Matthew Hudson. His piece on the ‘silly signs in Hertfordshire’ broadened out into an effective piece on condescending product labeling and other types of reader abuse, handled with humour and clarity.

• Best National Radio Programme: Radio 5 Live Midday News

The Midday news programme on Radio 5 Live needs a fluid and fast response to a changing news agenda. That’s exactly what it gets from an extremely skilled team. The programme uses language clearly, precisely, and engages even the most distracted listener. At one point the show’s producer even invited Plain English Campaign to assess the show live on air! In the end, Plain English Campaign editors declared the programme a superb example of the art of news broadcasting to a mass audience. We could hardly do any other than present this award to a very deserving winner.

• Best Regional Radio Station: BBC Radio Devon

BBC Radio Devon is a shining example of good local radio. This station focuses on local issues and presents information clearly and cheerfully for the listener. There is a consistent standard of reporting throughout the day and this shows in healthy audience figures in an area where stations are competing hard for listeners. There is a pleasing amount of interaction with listeners, combining topical debate about local and national stories with a touch of humour.

• Web Award: beat for b-eat.co.uk

We received many entries for this award this year, but the beat website stood out. A support site for people affected by eating disorders, it contains a great deal of accessible information and helpful resources. The website is well laid out, with plenty of white space and a comprehensive navigation system. The tone is neither judgemental nor over-emotional, and there are discussion boards which allow sufferers to share their experiences. Perhaps most importantly, there is little jargon, and information is given in plain English.

Campaign Joins Times columnist in demand for straight talk

The Times columnist Rosemary Behan savaged a handful of government ministers in her column today. And Plain English Campaign is calling on ministers to heed her words as the Campaign Awards ceremony approaches.

She accuses Jacqui Smith, Hazel Blears and Dawn Primarolo of ‘blathering’ and ‘mechanical, mindless drivel’. Her comments come following an interview with Jacqui Smith by John Humphrys. In answer to a question about the charging of terrorist suspects the MP said “Well, the first thing to say, John, is that these form part of a range of proposals that we put forward for consultation before the summer and we are serious about involving people in that consultation, which is why we’ve had a series of regional seminars about this, it’s why I’ve talked to the Opposition, it’s why we’ve talked to groups about these implications…”

“All politicians – and particularly those in government – should take note of the Rosemary Behan’s comments” says campaign spokesman Steve Jenner.

“Listeners will not be patronised and newspaper readers will not accept platitudes. Plain English does not mean simple and meaningless – it means clear communication. Rosemary Behan cites empty phrases like ‘moving forward’, ‘actively reaching out’, ‘progressing research’ and ‘resolve to build a consensus’ as examples of mindless politico-babble. The old saying ‘say what you mean, mean what you say and stop’ has no more important place than in government.”

The Plain English Awards ceremony takes place in London on 11 December this year. Lenny Henry will present the Campaign awards.

No Ball Games; Plain English Campaign reveals first runner-up in run down to annual Awards ceremony

Leading language pressure group Plain English Campaign today release details of the first runner-up for a Golden Bull Award. The campaign group presents these for prize gobbledygook, jargon and other types of written rubbish.

A nomination which came close to winning a Golden Bull comes from Collingbourne Ducis Parish Council’s recreation ground bye-laws.

‘Where the Council set apart any such part of the ground as may be fixed by the Council and may be described in a notice board affixed or set up in some conspicuous position on the ground, for the purpose of any game specified in the notice board which, by reason of the rules or manner of playing, or for the prevention of damage, danger, or discomfort to any person on the ground, may necessitate the exclusive use by the  player or players of any space on such part of the ground-a person shall not in any space elsewhere on the ground play or take part in any game so specified in such a manner as to exclude not playing or taking part in the game from the use of such space.’

“What’s wrong with ‘No Ball Games’? asks Plain English Campaign’s Steve Jenner.

Plain English watchdog applauds Parliament web centre work

The Parliament Web Centre has changed the design of the Bills before Parliament pages. Plain English Campaign has scrutinised these pages and declared them 'a great improvement'.

"This is clearly the result of testing and listening to feedback from people using these pages", said Plain English Campaign’s Steve Jenner.

"It is clear that Harriet Harman was serious when she said she wanted Parliament to communicate more clearly with the people. We applaud these efforts to make the path to reading and understanding planned legislation more straightforward."

The new pages are available at http://services.parliament.uk/bills. The government is also inviting comments on the changes and for further suggestions: webmaster@parliament.uk

Plain English Campaign urges media boycott of jargon as Blears blurs language of sub-regional development

Plain English Campaign has slammed a government statement which refers to ‘worklessness’. It is urging a news boycott of organisations which feed the press and broadcast media with information littered with jargon and gobbledygook.

“So do we take it that from now on a low birth rate in an area will be referred to as ‘pregnantlessness?’ asks a Plain English Campaign spokesperson. “ And it isn’t the only example of abuse of language in this statement.”

The statement continues by ‘explaining’ that ‘The new plans will enable local government to transcend traditional administrative and structural boundaries and deliver solutions that cover entire commuter routes, housing and employment markets for the first time through Multi Area Agreements (MAAs).’  

“Ignoring the possibility that entire commuter routes covered by solutions might be a risk to road traffic, this is a press release from the government. Plain English Campaign is urging media organisations to reject gobbledygook and jargon, wherever it comes from.”

Combs Infant School saved from closure

Plain English Campaign is calling Derbyshire County Council's recommendation not to close Combs Infants School "a triumph for common sense". The High Peak - based national campaign group played a major part in the push to save the school. In 2006, OFSTED rated the school 'outstanding value for money'.

It provides outstanding levels of service in every category evaluated. It seems Derbyshire County Council recognises, in closing the school, it would not be raising educational standards in the area. It has a statutory duty to raise educational standards.

"This is a triumph for common sense." says Plain English Campaign director Chrissie Maher. "The final stage in saving the school is the Council's Cabinet accepting the recommendation from education officers on 30 October. So many people threw their weight behind this campaign that in the end, justice had to be done."

"Plain English Campaign is happy to have helped in supporting local people in fighting to keep this excellent school open. We'd like to thank local councillors and also the local media organisations for working with us towards this outcome."

Derbyshire County Council is expected to make an official announcement after the Cabinet meeting on 30 October.

Sign the 'Crystal Clear Broadband' petition

(Posted 27 September 2007)
Plain English Campaign have become an official partner in a new campaign for fairer broadband deals for UK customers. Computer Active magazine, which launched its'Crystal Clear Broadband' campaign last week, hope that it will put pressure on government and regulators to force companies to advertise typical broadband speeds rather than theoretical ones. Recently, a survey showed that nearly two-thirds of consumers are achieving less than half of the advertised download speeds from internet service providers (ISPs).

Our spokesman said "many people find modern technology complicated enough without having to plough through small print and jargon. Broadband companies have a responsibility to be honest with their customers and not rip them off."

Nearly 6000 people have signed the petition on the 10 Downing Street website, and the campaign has attracted support from several MPs, including Conservative MP, George Young. The communications regulator Ofcom also welcomed the campaign and said it was raising awareness among consumers about the issues of speed and technical limitations of broadband.

Plain English Campaign slams EU over 'unreadable' treaty

(Posted 26 September 2007)
Giuliano Amato, the former Italian Prime Minister, claims the new European Union treaty is deliberately 'unreadable'. The lack of clarity from the drafters is such that 'any Prime Minister - imagine the UK Prime Minister - can go to the Commons and say look, you see, it's absolutely unreadable, it's the typical Brussels treaty, nothing new, no need for a referendum'.

Plain English Campaign condemns this as an act of deception by the EU.

Press Officer Steve Jenner says "Drafters of the Treaty have a real position of power. Mr. Amato was vice-president of the body that drafted the original Constitution so he knows about this. This is a damning verdict on the new EU Treaty and the intentions of the people who produced it". "It is another example of language being used to confuse an important issue. Plain language is essential if we are to have true democracy."

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague highlighted Amato's comments during a recent speech at the centre for policy studies. But Foreign Secretary David Miliband, speaking at the Labour Party conference, is adamant. He insists the treaty does not contain the kind of changes which would require a national vote.

The revelations come just months after PEC director Chrissie Maher congratulated Angela Merkel for writing the EU's 50th birthday statement in plain language.

Plain English Campaign rues departure of English football's 'finest orator'

(Posted 20 September 2007)

Language group Plain English Campaign says it hopes to see Jose Mourinho’s swift return to football following his departure from Chelsea Football Club. Mourinho, who refers to himself as ‘The Special One’, is well known for his love of using strange and overextended metaphors during press conferences. He is already in the hat for the campaign’s annual ‘Foot in Mouth’ award as a result of his ‘omelettes and eggs’ comments earlier this week (see below).

“Not since Eric Cantona has a footballing figure had so unique an approach to the English language.” said a Campaign spokesman. “Jose Mourinho is possibly the finest orator the English game has seen since Eric Cantona, and will be sorely missed.”

Last year, Plain English Campaign supporters voted Bill Shankly’s famous ‘life and death’ line the best footballing quote of all time.

Six of the best Mourinho quotes

• 'I am more than unhappy. Unhappy is a nice word.'
• 'The moral of the story is not to listen to those who tell you not to play the violin but stick to the tambourine.'
• 'Usually, when you score two and concede one, you win the game.'
• 'Almost. But in football, almost is almost.'
• 'It's like having a blanket that is too small for the bed. You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I cannot buy a bigger blanket because the supermarket is closed. But the blanket is made of cashmere.'
• 'In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem.'

Plain English Campaign joins English standards debate as top grade A-level results top 25%

(Posted 21 August 2007)

Plain English Campaign has joined the debate about the standard of English in British schools and colleges, as government test results revealed 40% of pupils are failing to meet required standards in the ‘Three Rs’. The Government’s Key Stage Three tests showed that nearly 200,000 children failed to write in a formal style or spell words with more than two syllables.

This week also saw the publication of a list of writing ‘howlers’ collected by the respected academic Dr Bernard Lamb, who claimed that foreign students were better at spelling than their British counterparts. Yet top grade A level results have risen from just over 15% to around 25% in the last ten years.

'It is so disappointing to know that children are growing up without being able to read and write properly’, said Campaign founder/director Chrissie Maher. ‘Pupils need to be taught grammar and spelling at an early stage so that they develop good writing skills for later life. I couldn't read or write properly when I was a child  and I know how difficult life can be because of this.'

Poacher turns gamekeeper as radio DJ becomes press officer at Plain English Campaign

(Posted 10 August 2007)

Plain English Campaign has just announced the appointment of its new press officer. He is Steve Jenner, afternoon presenter and Operations Director on North West Derbyshire commercial radio station High Peak Radio.

Steve joins the Campaign immediately and will be based at Combs near Chapel-en-le-Frith in the High Peak district of Derbyshire. "I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” said Steve. “I’m setting up an e-mail news service and I’m hoping to be run off my feet with demands for interviews. We have our own ISDN studio and hope to provide you with quick, useable quotes on demand."

Campaign launches its Advanced Grammar Course in Manchester

(Posted 2 August 2007)

Plain English Campaign announced the launch of the Advanced Grammar course in Manchester. Previously the course has only been available in London.

"It's a very popular course but it's not one for the faint-hearted", said the Campaign's Steve Jenner. "It is about the grammar of standard English - the language of print, education, business and the professions. It is very intense but there will be time to discuss problems. Now we're introducing the course in Manchester we're hoping for the same enthusiastic take-up we achieved in London."

The course will take place at the Thistle Manchester Hotel on Portland Street, Piccadilly Gardens on 18 September 2007. Please contact us if you would like to book a place.

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Volkswagen launch plain English advertising campaign

(Posted 7 July 2007)

The car manufacturer Volkswagen has launched a new marketing campaign which attacks the use of gobbledygook and 'spin' in modern advertising. The campaign, which promotes the firm's Passat model, features simple descriptions of everyday items such as a cup of coffee, alongside longer versions such as 'double-choc cinnamon mochaccino with cream'. The car is then 'positioned as a simple concept in a world of fluff' according to Proximity London, the agency behind the campaign. Volkswagen is keen to be seen as a company that 'thinks like its audience'.

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Jargon, bullying and deceit - this is education on ration

(Posted 10 May 2007)

Education chiefs from Derbyshire County Council might have thought they had an easy fight when they proposed closing Combs Infant School in the High Peak. It is the smallest infant school in Derbyshire.   Only 26 pupils, a handful of  families, a small rural population … what could they do?

But there's a shock for the Matlock mandarins.  One of Britain's toughest and most experienced campaigners has rolled up her sleeves and joined the battle.  Chrissie Maher, founder-director of the world famous Plain English Campaign - and a resident of Combs - has an interest in the school's future.

One grandchild already goes there, and loves it.  A second grandchild will start in the autumn.  And a third grandchild - due to be born in October - will attend if this wonderful school remains open.

Chrissie said: "We're fighting for the next generation, as well as the children who attend this lovely little school.  I'm right alongside the mums and dads - including my son Peter and his wife Liz - who refuse to let the civil servants put an end to the school."

Chrissie pulled no punches in her attack on the Derbyshire education authority. She accused them of:

• Jargon, bullying and deceit. 
  "I did my early campaigning in Tuebrook, Liverpool, a deprived inner city area.  Officialdom treated ordinary people with contempt.  Over 30 years later, you don't expect that in a nice rural village like Combs. But officialdom is still the same - get the 'victims' off guard, shock everyone with the speed of the plans, and use gobbledygook and jargon in the reports.  Then, after talking about consultation, let the cat out of the bag and say the plan is to close the school."

• Putting education on ration.
  "The council keep talking about the high cost of educating children at Combs - £5,447 a year compared with the county average of £2,635.  They tried the same argument with Stoney Middleton school, but the school fought back and today we hear they have won. "This is education on ration.  If you go to a little school in a rural area - however wonderful that school is - the authority wants to pull you down to average or mediocre. And to hell with the prospects of the children."

• A kick in the teeth for Ofsted.
  "It was only last September that Ofsted produced its report on Combs - 'an outstanding school' they called it, with 'outstanding value for money'.  So why kick Ofsted in the teeth as well as the school?  And why now?  Were they planning the closure even last year when Ofsted went to Combs and handed out Grade 1 in every category? Don't Derbyshire want standards raising?  Wouldn't they rather other schools tried what Combs has successfully done?  Derbyshire's message to the children, teachers and parents is that Ofsted doesn't matter.  It's money that matters.  Truly a case of knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing!"

• Betrayal of a generation of children. 
  "It's such a little school, that every child knows every other child.  They are the future of the village and the valley.  They have the security of friendship and very good teachers.  If Combs closes, children could be scattered into several schools.  What's that going to do to them, after the best start youngsters could get anywhere in Britain? We support the governors, the parents and the wider community in saying Save Our School."

• Condemning a rural community to slow death.  "Combs is such a small community.  There is no shop, no post office, one pub, and the school.  It uses the church hall, the only public building in the whole valley.  If the school goes, the rent to the trustees goes, then maybe the hall itself would no longer be viable. If the children go, the spark would go out of the village. During the day, you would never hear kids singing in the school.  Derbyshire wants to dump the Combs children in Chapel. Well, we don't.  We want to keep them here and give the village a future."
  

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Plain English Campaign quiz council about 'school closure gobbledygook'

(Posted 10 May 2007)

Plain English Campaign (PEC) has challenged Derbyshire County Council to explain why it has used 'gobbledygook, obscure words, woolly thinking and inaccurate statements' in communications with villagers in Combs.

PEC asks why it took the council 151 words to say to parents: 'There will be a meeting at Combs Infant School on Tuesday May 22 at 6.30pm to discuss the future of the school. Derbyshire County Council is considering closing the school to save money.'

The council's long introduction to the letter received by parents on May 9 is just one of the points being queried in Plain English Campaign's reply to David Humphrey, the council's Head of Development. More gobbledygook occurs in a document sent to school governors in the council's attempt to assist them.

Here is an example: 'However, the Strategy recognised that there are many alternative strategies for addressing surplus places and that these may be necessary in instances where no individual project at a single school could address the problem; when an area perspective indicated that a review across numbers of schools was required the solution may involve all schools.'

Elsewhere the council uses words like 'cohorts' and 'discontinuance' and clumsy phrases such as 'commitment of resources', which, says Plain English Campaign, means 'expense.' PEC asks Mr Humphrey to explain 'net capacity' at the school. Does this mean number of pupils? Is there a 'gross capacity'? What is the 'published admission number'? What is 'PLASC 2007 (% surplus)'?

PEC's founder-director Chrissie Maher, who lives in Combs and has a grandchild at the school, says 'One inaccuracy is their statement that our children progress to Chapel-en-le-Frith Primary School. In fact not one child from Combs has gone there in the past eight years. If they cannot express themselves clearly, and make inaccurate statements, how do we know they are thinking clearly? It looks as though gobbledygook is once again swamping common sense, clarity and good government.'

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Governor of Florida introduces plain language initiative

(Posted 3 May 2007)

The Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, has introduced a 'plain language' initiative within the state, to ensure that documents and other communications issued by his office are as clear and concise as possible. The initiative, contained in an Executive Order issued in January, extends to any other agencies under the Governor's control.

Documents must include

• Clear language that is commonly used by the intended audience;
• Only the information needed by the recipient, presented in a logical sequence;
• Short sentences written in the active voice that make it clear who is responsible for what; and
• Layout and design that help the reader understand the meaning on the first try (including adequate white space, bulleted lists, and helpful headings).

Governor Crist writes on his website that

'It needs to be clear that the people are the boss of state government, not the other way around. In the business world, a business would not be successful if those responsible for making important decisions could not understand what the employees were saying. It is not too much to ask us to speak clearly to our employers.'

We were delighted to hear about this move. Is it too much to hope that other states and departments will follow Governor Crist's example?

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