What is plain language?

Plain language is communication that ensures your readers can find what they need, understand what they find, and use it to make informed decisions or take action. It considers who your audience is, what they want or need to know and how they will be using the information.

“A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.”

— International Plain Language Federation

Why use plain language?

Plain language enables people to find the information they need, understand it, and act on it. Plain language reduces confusion, saves time, and increases customer satisfaction. So, writing in plain language improves access, builds trust and supports better outcomes for everyone.

Plain language makes your documents more effective and accessible.

1. When readers easily understand your documents, they're more likely to follow instructions correctly. This reduces errors, misunderstandings, and the need for clarification. This leads to better outcomes and fewer costly mistakes.

2. Clear, straightforward communication shows respect for your audience's time. It improves their experience with your organisation and builds trust.

3. Plain language reduces support calls, follow-up questions, and the time spent explaining complicated documents.

4. Plain language makes your content understandable to people with different educational backgrounds and cognitive abilities. This includes those who speak English as a second language.

5. Plain language reduces legal risks by helping people understand terms, conditions, and other important information.

Organisations that adopt plain language show their commitment to effective communication while realising tangible business benefits.

Why Enliven?

Enliven — your plain language specialists

We are a leading provider of plain language services and an international award winner in the field. We recognise the importance of clear and concise communication in all aspects of business. For over 7 years, we have been helping organisations communicate in ways that are easy for people to find, understand, and use information.

We contributed to the development of the International Plain Language Standard (ISO 24495-1:2023) through our involvement in the ISO working group, and we continue to support this work through representation and leadership on peak International Plain Language bodies.

At Enliven, we specialise in transforming complex communication into plain language. We do this across all sectors.

Child Safe Standards

In 2022, Enliven were engaged in by the Commission for Children and Young People to convert the Victorian Child Safe Standard into plain language

Examples of our work

Infographic on child safety standards highlighting organizations' responsibilities in child safety and handling complaints, with illustrations of a child and adult speaking on phones and a parent and child reviewing documents.

An informational poster outlining child safety standards 2 and 3, including policies, codes of conduct, rights, and protections for children, with illustrations of children and safety symbols.

“I’m just reaching out about the plain language resources your team designed for the Commission for Children and Young People back in 2022. We just wanted to let you know the resources have been extremely well received and are very popular. So much so that we are now working on potentially translating the resources into a range of languages – so they are even more accessible for Victorians.”

— Bree Furlong, Principal Communications Officer, Commission for Children and Young People

Primary Aldosteronism

CONn Syndrome Screening and Evaluation in Primary Care (CONSEP) trial engaged Enliven’s plain language team to develop a range of resources specifically designed to assist General Practitioners (GPs) during their interactions with patients in the CONn Syndrome Screening and Evaluation in Primary Care (CONSEP).

Diagram showing the effects of excess aldosterone on kidney function, leading to high blood pressure, with text explaining the two main types of primary aldosteronism and their symptoms.

An informational flyer about primary aldosteronism. It discusses symptoms such as feeling anxious, feeling tired, having trouble concentrating, and waking up multiple times at night to pass urine. It also explains how to find out if you have primary aldosteronism through blood pressure tests and consulting healthcare professionals.

Diagram illustrating testing process for primary aldosteronism, including screening blood test, saline infusion test, CT scan, and adrenal vein sampling, with annotations about positive test results and importance of testing and treatment options.

Diagram explaining blood test screening for primary aldosteronism, including reasons for testing, process, interpretation, and next steps.

Infographic explaining a CT scan of the adrenal glands with sections titled 'Why am I having this test?', 'How is the test done?', 'What will it tell my doctors?', and 'What happens next?'; includes an illustration of a CT scanner and a note about a possible adrenal vein sampling test.

“We’re grateful to the Enliven team for their support in developing plain language materials on primary aldosteronism.

The brochures were clear, easy to understand, and visually engaging.

The team was highly responsive, took on board our feedback, and worked collaboratively through several rounds of revision to ensure the final product met the needs of our patients.

We’re very pleased with the result and the impact it will have on patient understanding and engagement.”

— Jun Yan, Chief Investigator, Primary Aldosteronism Centre of Research Excellence (PACE).

Some of our clients

Our training

Learn more about our training options here.