Less jargon, less paper used

The Singapore government is continuing its efforts to write simply so that the average person can understand "the fine print", otherwise known as Terms and Conditions. To be honest, how many of us actually read every word of the T&Cs before we agree? I certainly do not.

Therein lies the root of all legal disputes. We sign our lives away without realising what we are resigning ourselves to.

To communicate better with the general public and to reduce the number of disputes by frustrated customers, this new government initiative is bringing more benefits than expected. People now understand the new government policies, while government agencies and all other companies that produce contracts (e.g. banks, insurance companies) have reduced the amount of paper needed to print the documents. Win-win situation all around!

Communication is all about getting the message understood. Simplifying the language is one step towards that goal.

Maybe more people will start writing, rather than lament that writing is so difficult.

Give it a try! Write simply!

Read the fine print?

Just over a year ago, the Singapore government started a campaign to get government agencies to write simply. Since then, some commercial companies have followed suit by rewriting their terms and conditions to allow the average person to understand what he is getting himself into.

Too often we look at a thick legal document and put it aside before even reading the first line. Technical jargon, legal speak, do not understand, ... Who bothers to read the Terms and Conditions, or "fine print" for that matter? The sales person explained everything to me already.

Since the move to simplify legal documents, the number of pages has also been drastically reduced, by up to 50%! How about that for saving the environment by using less paper? I think many people actually bother to read the Terms and Conditions now.

It is certainly timely. We could all benefit from less confusion and more direct writing styles. The earth would benefit from the reduction in paper usage. Win-win situation all round!

Here's to clear and simple written communication!

Write simply, be simply understood

The language of bureaucracy. Happens everywhere. Somehow, a letter from a government department must always sound "official". But, does the reader understand what the letter is saying? Not always. It depends on how "powerful" your English is, or "powder-ful", as Singaporeans put it.

Communication is not complete until the recipient understands what is being said. If the writing sounds pompous, the image I receive is "official", but if I fail to understand the content, then the writer has failed in his communication. What good will that be to anyone, especially if the message is important (like a change in electricity rates or a notice to appear in court).

To battle this bureaucrat-speak, the British government started a drive to make all UK civil servants write simply. The Singapore government is following suit. Not everyone is good at English. We just know how to use it in daily life. As long as I am understood, I don't have to spout fancy words to make myself seem important. I am happy with who I am now. As we all should be.

So, here's to writing simply to be simply understood! Hooray!

Have fun writing simple English!

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