Why you need plain language

All industries and sectors benefit from improved communication. Readers benefit when they can understand and use information. And organizations gain improved branding, efficiency, and effectiveness of communications products. A plain language standard provides all sectors, in nearly all languages, with a set of guidelines and strategies to make information more accessible and effective.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a plain language standard:
ISO 24495-1:2023  Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines.

What areas of expertise does the Standard benefit?

The standard will help improve written communication for everyone. See what it can do for these areas of expertise. 

• Education
• Finance and insurance
• Government
• Health/medical
• Human resources
• Information technology
• Legal writing
• National standard-setting bodies
• Science

Communications, including:

• Editing
• Information design
• Literacy
• Localizing
• Marketing
• Media
• Strategic communications
• Technical writing
• Translating

News

Read the latest news and announcements about the ISO plain language standard:

• June 2024: Plain language certification for organizations: a Consultation Paper
• The Making of the International Standard for Writing in Plain Language ISO 24495-1: Its Usefulness, Content, and How It Came into Existence
• Plain language standard press release
• Standards, training, certification: An update from the International Plain Language Federation (PLAIN e-journal)
• Update on the International Plain Language Standard (Editors Weekly blog post)
• An International Standard for Plain Language Practitioners (PLAIN Canada CLAIR article)
• A plain-language standard: A tool for all of us (Michigan Bar Journal)
• The ISO plain language standard: For most languages and cultures, and for all sectors (The Language Portal of Canada)

How to get involved

Are you interested in learning more about the ISO standard, how your country can adopt it, or how to join the team advocating for the standard’s adoption and use? Follow the links below to be a plain language advocate!

Guide to adopting the ISO plain language standard

Checklist for adopting the ISO plain language standard

How to get involved in developing the standard

Buy the standard

The standard must be purchased from the ISO to read and use it. Organizations will be able to purchase the standard from the ISO store or your own National Standard Body (NSB). Purchasing from the NSB can be less costly when buying multiple copies, or sharing it within your organization on an intranet. Find your NSB. 

Certification

The current standard is for guidance only and is not intended to formally certify documents, individuals, organizations or training.

The International Plain Language Federation has established a Certification Committee that is developing suitable systems and requirements to enable certification, and it will make further announcements as that develops.

Questions

If you have questions about the ISO standard, the International Plain Language Federation’s work on the standard, or how the standard can help your organization, please fill out the contact form below.