How plain language policies improve public communication

Reading time: 2 min

Goal: Show why plain language is harder to maintain in translation and how to adapt content effectively across languages and cultures.

Plain language policies are important tools for improving how governments and institutions interact with the public. These policies go beyond stylistic choices—they help establish a culture of clarity, inclusion, and accountability in public communication. 

Well-designed policies do three key things: 

  1. Define what counts as “clear communication”, often referring to international standards such as ISO 24495-1:2023, which identifies plain language as communication that allows users to “find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.” 
  2. Distribute responsibility, clarifying who is in charge of writing, reviewing, and maintaining clarity standards across departments. 
  3. Integrate plain language into organisational processes, such as digital transformation, citizen engagement, and service design. 

Policy frameworks vary by country, but many draw on both plain language standards and accessibility guidelines, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by W3C, which include requirements for content to be understandable and usable by a wide audience. These frameworks make clear language a part of the accessibility whose effectiveness can be measured, improved and enforced. 

In Sweden, for example, plain language has been embedded in law since the 2009 Language Act, and agencies are required to write clearly. In the Netherlands, the Direct Duidelijk initiative has helped hundreds of public servants adopt checklists and templates for rewriting documents. Norway’s Language Council also supports implementation through training, tools, and evaluation methods. 

Clear writing reduces misunderstandings, cuts down on administrative burden, and increases user autonomy. When organisations use language people actually understand, it supports trust of the audience in them. 

Sources 

Gebruiker Centraal. (n.d.). Direct Duidelijk – Duidelijke communicatie. 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (2023). ISO 24495-1:2023 – Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines. 

Språkrådet. (2021). Klarspråk i staten.

Språklagen [Language Act] (2009:600), (Sweden).

W3C. (2018). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.