Principles of Clear Writing (2024)

These principles are based on the Federal Plain Language Guidelinesand tailored for regulations. Visit plainlanguage.gov for more guidance on using plain language.

Write in the active voice.

The active voice eliminates confusion by forcing you to name the actor in a sentence. This construction makes clear to the reader who is to perform the duty.

The passive voice makes sentences longer and roundabout. Who is responsible is much less obvious. Passive verbs have a form of the verb to be plus the past participle of a main verb.

plus

EXAMPLES:

The passive voice reverses the natural, active order of English sentences. In the following passive example the receiver of the action comes before the actor.

Passive: The regulation [receiver] was written [verb] by the drafter [actor].

Active: The drafter [actor] wrote [verb] the regulation [receiver].

Passive constructions are confusing when used in regulations. Active sentences must have actors, but passive ones are complete without them.

Putting the actor before the verb forces you to be clear about responsibility.

• The messenger will deliver the material.
• The contractor will decide the start date.
• The administrator must approve the figures.

Use the passive voice when the actor is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. This does not usually apply in regulatory text.

• Small items are often stolen.
• The applications have been mailed.

Use action verbs.

Avoid words like this:

They are called "nominals" -- nouns with verbs inside. They are hard to read and make sentences longer. Action verbs are shorter and more direct.

Use "must" instead of "shall".

To impose a legal obligation, use "must."

To predict future action, use "will."

DON'T SAY: The Governor shall approve it.

SAY: The Governor must approve it. [obligation]

or

SAY: The Governor will approve it. [future action]

Be direct.

Talk directly to your readers. Use the imperative mood. Regulations lend themselves to this style, especially procedures, how-to instructions, and lists of duties.

Directness avoids the passive voice:

SAY: Sign all copies.

SAY: Attach a copy of your W-2 to your return.

This style results in procedures that are shorter, crisper, and easier to understand.

Use the present tense.

A regulation of continuing effect speaks as of the time you apply it, not as of the time you draft it or when it becomes effective. For this reason, you should draft regulations in the present tense. By drafting in the present tense, you avoid complicated and awkward verb forms.

DON'T SAY: The fine for driving without a license shall be $10.00.

SAY: The fine for driving without a license is $10.00.

Write positively.

If you can accurately express an idea either positively or negatively, express it positively.

DON'T SAY: The Governor may not appoint persons other than those qualified by the Personnel Management Agency.

SAY: The Governor must appoint a person qualified by the Personnel Management Agency.

A negative statement can be clear. Use it if you're cautioning the reader.

EXAMPLES:

Don't run.
Don't smoke.

But avoid several negatives in one sentence.

DON'T SAY: A demonstration project will not be approved unless all application requirements are met.

SAY: A demonstration project will be approved only if the applicant meets all requirements.

It's better to express even a negative in positive form.

Avoid use of exceptions.

If possible, state a rule or category directly rather than describing that rule or category by stating its exceptions.

DON'T SAY: All persons except those 18 years or older must...

SAY: Each person under 18 years of age must...

However, you may use an exception if it avoids a long and cumbersome list or elaborate description. When you use an exception, state the rule or category first then state its exception.

DON'T SAY: Alabama, Alaska,... and Wyoming (a list of 47 states) must ration...

SAY: Each state except Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona must ration... (Note that the category "each State" is established first and then the exceptions are stated.)

Avoid split infinitives.

The split infinitive offends many readers, so avoid it if you can.

DON'T SAY: Be sure to promptly reply to the invitation.

SAY: Be sure to reply promptly to the invitation.

or

SAY: Be sure to reply to the invitation promptly.

Use the singular noun rather than the plural noun.

To the extent your meaning allows, use a singular noun instead of a plural noun. You will avoid the problem of whether the rule applies separately to each member of a class or jointly to the class as a whole.

DON'T SAY: The guard will issue security badges to the employees who work in Building D and Building E.

SAY: The guard will issue a security badge to each employee who works in Building D and each employee who works in Building E.

unless you mean

The guard will issue a security badge to each employee who works in both Building D and Building E. (There are other possible meanings.)

Be consistent. Don't use different words to denote the same things.

Variation for the sake of variation has no place in regulation writing. Using a synonym rather than repeating the precise term you intend just confuses the reader.

DON'T SAY: Each motor vehicle owner must register his or her car with the Automobile Division of the Metropolitan Police Department.

SAY: Each automobile owner must register his or her automobile with the Automobile Division of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Don't use the same word to denote different things.

DON'T SAY: The tank had a 200-gallon tank for fuel.

SAY: The tank had a 200-gallon fuel container.

Use parallel structure.

Arrange sentences so that parallel ideas look parallel. This is important when you use a list.

Nonparallel construction:

The duties of the Executive Secretary of the Administrative Committee are:

• To take minutes of all the meetings; (phrase)
• The Executive Secretary answers all the correspondence; and (clause)
• Writing of monthly reports. (topic)

Parallel construction:

• To take minutes of all the meetings;
• To answer all the correspondence; and
• To write the monthly reports.

Prefer simple words.

Government writing should be dignified, but doesn't have to be pompous. Writing can be dignified when the language is simple, direct, and strong. To make your writing clearer and easier to read -- and thus more effective -- prefer the simple word.

Omit needless words.

Don't use compound prepositions and other wordy expressions when the same meaning can be conveyed with one or two words.

Avoid redundancies.

Don't use word pairs, if the words have the same effect or where the meaning of one included the other.

EXAMPLES:

Avoid...

Use concrete words.

Government writing often concerns abstract subjects. But abstract words can be vague and open to different interpretations. Put instructions in simple, concrete words.

Don't use words that antagonize.

Words can attract or repel readers. It is possible to choose words in our writing that do not make the wrong impression or antagonize our readers. Use words to which people react favorably rather than words that they resent.

Avoid noun sandwiches.

Administrative writing uses too many noun clusters -- groups of nouns "sandwiched" together. Avoid these confusing constructions by using more prepositions.

DON'T SAY: Underground mine worker safety protection procedures development.

SAY: Development of underground procedures for the protection of the safety of mine workers.

or

SAY (more likely): Development of procedures for the protection of the safety of workers in underground mines.

Which meaning is intended becomes clearer when this four-word sandwich is broken up.

Don't use gender-specific terminology.

Use the singular "they" when necessary and avoid the gender-specific job title:

DON'T SAY: The administrator or his designee must complete the evaluation form.

SAY: The administrator or the administrator's designee must complete the evaluation form.

Be careful when you rewrite to avoid the problem. The following examples don't necessarily have the same meaning --

• Each Regional Director will announce his or her recommendations at the conference.
• The Regional Directors will announce their recommendation at the conference.

Write short sentences.

Readable sentences are simple, active, affirmative, and declarative.

The more a sentence deviates from this structure, the harder the sentence is to understand.

Long, run-on sentences are a basic weakness in legal documents.

Legal documents often contain conditions which result in complex sentences with many clauses.

The more complex the sentence, the greater the possibility for difficulty in determining the intended meaning of the sentence.

Solutions

• State one thing and only one thing in each sentence.
• Divide long sentences into two or three short sentences.
• Remove all unnecessary words. Strive for a simple sentence with a subject and verb. Eliminate unnecessary modifiers.
• If only one or two simple conditions must be met before a rule applies, state the conditions first and then state the rule.
• If two or more complex conditions must be met before a rule applies, state the rule first and then state the conditions.
• If several conditions or subordinate provisions must be met before a rule applies, use a list.

Make lists clear and logical in structure.

Listing provides white space that separates the various conditions. Listing can help you avoid the problems of ambiguity caused by the words "and" and "or". When you list, use the following rules:

• Use parallel structure.
• List each item so that it makes a complete thought when read with the introductory text.
• If the introductory language for the list is a complete sentence --
  • End the introduction with a colon; and
  • Make each item in the list a separate sentence.
• If the introductory language for the list is an incomplete sentence --
  • End the introduction with a dash;
  • End each item in the list except the last item with a semicolon;
  • After the semicolon in the next-to-last item in the list, write "and" or "or" as appropriate; and
  • End the last item in the list with a period.

Use short paragraphs.

A writer may improve the clarity of a regulation by using short, compact paragraphs. Each paragraph should deal with a single, unified topic. Lengthy, complex, or technical discussions should be presented in a series of related paragraphs.

Proofread.

Use a checklist and review your draft for each of these principles separately.