Theme:Usability Examples

Examples of plain language making regulations clearer and easier to follow. Many of these examples have "before" and "after" views.

The plainlanguage.gov site has a large section with examples. These are just a few that seem particularly relevant to this committee.

• This rewritten version of an Army Information Security manual makes good use of sub-sections and white space and eliminates irrelevant information. - http://www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/before_after/govregarmy.cfm

• Improvement in the organization of a regulation from the FAA. - http://www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/before_after/airworthydirective.cfm

• Examples of how using plain language can help remove ambiguous wording and make regulations clearer. - examples of how using plain language can help clear up clarity problems caused by ambiguous wording.

• The bottom of this page has some examples of breaking material into a list to make it clearer - http://www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/before_after/wordiness.cfm

• An FCC rule - http://www.plainlanguage.gov/examples/government/radio.cfm

From the Federal Register site on writing readable regulations, an example of rewriting a short rule. It is shown step by step, but the next links have the beginning and end of the transformation.

• Before: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/write/plain-language/short-rule-1.html
• After: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/write/plain-language/short-rule-5.html