Plain English.English is a language that is rich in choice of words Noun 1. choice of words - the manner in which something is expressed in words; "use concise military verbiage"- G.S.Patton phraseology, wording, diction, phrasing, verbiage . It is possible to say the same thing in a straightforward way that is easily understood, or in a complex way that leads to confusion. Communicating is a basic human instinct. If we are honest and sincere in what we are saying, we should express ourselves so that our words are not confusing. This should be the case, especially when providing legal services legal services n. the work performed by a lawyer for a client. and in other business activities. Our contracts and arrangements should be unambiguous, so that each party knows what to expect and what is expected of them. If we are trying to explain something then our explanation should remove, rather than add to confusion. The use of plain English Plain English (sometimes known, more broadly, as plain language) is a communication style that focuses on considering the audience's needs when writing. It recommends avoiding unnecessary words and avoiding jargon, technical terms, and long and ambiguous sentences. therefore involves using short sentences and a choice of words that is appropriate for the listener or reader. Using plain English does not stop at using words and sentences that are clear and easy to understand. It should also avoid printing the less attractive parts of a contract in a miniscule min·is·cule adj. Variant of minuscule. Adj. 1. miniscule - very small; "a minuscule kitchen"; "a minuscule amount of rain fell" minuscule font size or in a separate document that is unwieldy or less accessible. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , the whole communication, not just the sales pitch, needs to be in plain English. So why do people not use plain English? There can be various reasons. People may be uncomfortable and uncertain of their position and seek to protect themselves with a veil of complex words. Alternatively they may want to show their superiority, whether socially or intellectually. Or perhaps it is laziness, or the fact that they are not very good with words! Professionals and businessmen do use jargon or unnecessarily complex language because it is a form of shorthand. When they do, they should understand exactly the meaning and intention of what is being said. However, a proper translation is needed for the layman LAYMAN, eccl. law. One who is not an ecclesiastic nor a clergyman. . In the business world, it is necessary to use plain English between businessmen in order to express clearly what goods or services are being supplied and the other main aspects of the contract. It is also essential to use plain English in selling these goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. to the consumer. Business reputations take years to build up, but can be tarnished in a brief moment. Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. thrives on ambiguity! The Law Society of Scotland's website recognises the importance of using language that is easy-to-follow. The Client Care section recommends the use of straightforward language and keeping to the point when reporting to, or communicating with clients. It also says that writing to clients in terms that they cannot be expected to understand perpetuates the unnecessary mystique mys·tique n. An aura of heightened value, interest, or meaning surrounding something, arising from attitudes and beliefs that impute special power or mystery to it: the cowboy mystique; the mystique of existentialism. of the law. Lawyers are wordsmiths - we thrive on words, and we use them to negotiate the best achievable position for our clients. If we are reporting to a client on the terms of a legal document, our job is to translate it from highly technical jargon and legal language into plain English. Lawyers are there not only to identify and enforce remedies for the client, but also to interpret the law for the benefit of the client. However it is essential that having written or spoken to a client that he or she fully understands the meaning and effect of the matter. There is absolutely no point in a client being informed but none the wiser! Plain English does not mean using words of one syllable syllable Segment of speech usually consisting of a vowel with or without accompanying consonant sounds (e.g., a, I, out, too, cap, snap, check). A syllabic consonant, like the final n sound in button and widen, also constitutes a syllable. or dumbing down. Nor does it mean sacrificing accuracy or tone. It means expressing oneself in a way that others can understand. Lawyers and business people should be champions of this art. In the UK there is the Crystal Mark Award for use of plain English. Various government departments have earned it. There is a very helpful website www.plainenglish.co.uk dedicated to the promotion of plain English. There is also an environmental argument for using plain English – if people express themselves clearly and in plain English, they are not only likely to use less print and less paper, but they will also generate smaller quantities of hot air! The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances. Mr Ken Gerber Anderson Strathern LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol 1 Rutland Court Edinburgh EH3 8EY UNITED KINGDOM URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. : www.andersonstrathern.co.uk Click Here for related articles (c) Mondaq Ltd, 2008 - Tel. +44 (0)20 8544 8300 - http://www.mondaq.com |
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