Plain language

Plain language, better outcomes workshop

Write Group's Thomas McGrath's presentation slides for his Community Comms Collective workshop on plain language (4 April 2025).

• Plain language, better outcomes

  (PDF 3mb)

Let's be clear workshop

Write Group's Inez Romanos' presentation slides for her Community Comms Collective workshop on writing with clarity (30 June 2017).

• Let's be clear – the why and how of plain language

  (PDF 1.7mb)

Plain language insights and tools

• Write Limited's free plain language tools

  (writegroup.io/resources/free-tools)

• Write Limited’s blog on plain language

  (writegroup.io/blog)

• Clearlingo's blog on better writing

  (clearlingo.co.nz/blog)

Developing a writing style guide

Clearlingo's advice and template for developing a style guide for your organisation for clear, coherent, consistent communication.

• How to keep your organisation’s writing on-brand – style guides

  (clearlingo.co.nz)

Plain language tips

• Use ordinary words—plain and precise alternatives for unnecessary long words

• Avoid wordy phrases—simpler alternatives for wordy phrases

• Commonly confused and mixed up words—words we commonly misuse and their meanings

• ‘Close’ proximity, ‘end’ result, and more redundant words to delete from your writing

Hemingway text editing app

An online writing and editing tool designed to help you polish your writing.

• Hemingway text editing app

  (hemingwayapp.com)

Writing for the web

Useful information on the whys and hows of writing user-friendly website content.

• Content design guidance

  (digital.govt.nz)

• Writing for the web

  (usability.gov)