In an article in the Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, Joe Kimble of Thomas Cooley Law School (Lansing, Mich.) described the sense and savings that come from writing plain language. “If readers understand plain language better, then no doubt they’ll like it better than the dense impersonal prose of most public documents,” Kimble wrote.

And the payoff follows naturally, he said. “Because they understand it better, they’ll make fewer mistakes in dealing with it, have fewer questions, and ultimately save time and money – for themselves and for the writer’s company or agency.”

For evidence of the saving and benefits from plain language, Kimble cited three books: The Productivity of Plain English, How Plain English Works for Business: Twelve Case Studies, and Plain English for Better Business.

Several trade association and business officials give testimonials in the books about the benefits from plain language. They included people from the American Council of Life Insurance, the American Gas Assn., Target Stores, Shell Oil, Bank of America and General Motors.

Those officials said plain language helps their businesses in three ways. “It streamlines procedures and paperwork, makes it easier to train staff, and increases staff productivity and morale,” Kimble said. Second, he said, “It reduces confusion, complaints and claims, and it improves customers satisfaction.” And finally, “It increases sales and raises the company’s standing in the marketplace,” Kimble wrote.

When he announced the plain writing effort for the government last year, Pres. Clinton said, “Plain language saves time, effort and money for the government and the private sector.” But where is the evidence to support that claim?

Law school professor Joe Kimble of Lansing, Mich., says there is a wealth of evidence that speaks to the benefits of plain language. He wrote about the benefits in an article published by the Scribes Journal of Legal Writing.

“If readers understand plain language better, then no doubt they’ll like it better than the dense impersonal prose of most public documents,” Kimble wrote. And the payoff follows naturally, he said. “Because they understand it better, they’ll make fewer mistakes in dealing with it, have fewer questions, and ultimately save time and money – for themselves and for the writer’s company or agency.”

Kimble cited three books in his article: The Productivity of Plain English, How Plain English Works for Business: Twelve Case Studies, and Plain English for Better Business.

In those books, trade group and business leaders testify to the value of plain language. They included people from the American Council of Life Insurance, the American Gas Assn., Target Stores, Shell Oil, Bank of America and General Motors.

Kimble said the officials cited three ways in which plain language helps their business. (1) It streamlines procedures and paperwork, makes it easier to train staff, and increases staff productivity and morale. (2) It reduces confusion, complaints and claims, and it improves customer satisfaction. (3) It increases sales and raises the company’s standing in the marketplace.

When he launched the plain writing effort last year, Pres. Clinton said, “Plain language saves time, effort and money for the government and the private sector.” But where is the evidence to support that claim?

Law school professor Joe Kimble of Lansing, Mich., provides some. In an article published by the Scribes Journal of Legal Writing, Kimble said there is a pile of evidence that shows the benefits of plain language.

“If readers understand plain language better, then no doubt they’ll like it better than the dense impersonal prose of most public documents,” Kimble wrote. And the payoff follows naturally, he said. “Because they understand it better, they’ll make fewer mistakes in dealing with it, have fewer questions, and ultimately save time and money – for themselves and for the writer’s company or agency.”

Kimble cited three books in his article: The Productivity of Plain English, How Plain English Works for Business: Twelve Case Studies, and Plain English for Better Business.

In those books, trade groups and business folks testify to the value of plain writing. They included people from the American Gas Assn., Target Stores, Shell Oil, Bank of America, General Motors and many others.

Kimble said they cited three ways in which plain language helps them. (1) It streamlines procedures and paperwork, makes it easier to train staff, and increases staff productivity and morale. (2) It reduces confusion, complaints and claims, and it improves customer satisfaction. (3) It increases sales and raises the company’s standing in the marketplace.