<![CDATA[PlainLanguageAcademy - News, blogs, vids]]>Tue, 05 May 2026 19:15:14 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Brussels Plain Language Experience 2025]]>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:20:47 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/brussels-plain-language-experience-2025Read Kate's full blog post on News - PlainLanguageAcademies.org.

It wasn't just the Belgian chocolates, delicious market smells, or mega restaurant choices that made this such a sweet conference experience. It was the people. The theme Uniting for a brighter future: A new era for plain language. couldn't have been truer.

The energy of the next generation of plain language practitioners and promoters, while still standing by the basics, now embraces the ISO standards, AI, strategic planning, new design methods, democratic communication, to name a few.

Presentations on ethics, best practices, and accessibility made choosing a session challenging. Whether your interest was government, legal, health, or citizens rights, you could find a session to inspire.

If you weren’t able to attend, follow LinkedIn Plain group. Members who attended came away energized and wanting to share. Watch out for an upcoming session on the conference with PLAIN Canada Clair.

Or, get make your future brighter with a plain language course from the Plain Language Academy team. You’ll acquire new knowledge, skills, and friends.
 


]]><![CDATA[From zero to AI hero]]>Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:52:02 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/from-zero-to-ai-heroAI Mastery Course with Romina Marazzato Sparano 

Transform Your Writing Career with AI

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, those who master AI tools lead the industry.
But with AI features growing almost daily and countless tutorials and generic AI courses flooding the market, where can writing professionals find comprehensive, practical training that delivers real results?

The Zero to Hero AI Mastery Course delivers a structured program that takes writers from AI basics to advanced applications, taught by a professional who has scaled writing projects to five figures. Across seven modules, you'll master both the technical foundations and cutting-edge applications of AI writing tools.

A Learning Experience Built for Writers

What sets this course apart is its foundation in cognitive science. Based on neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene’s four pillars of learning, the program includes live sessions, hands-on projects, custom feedback, and a supportive community of fellow writing professionals.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by scattered tutorials, discouraged by expensive training, or frustrated by AI features, this program offers a clear path forward. You’ll learn to implement AI with confidence and deliver higher value to clients.

This course is perfect for:
  • Technical writers and editors
  • Content creators and marketers
  • Translators and plain language professionals
  • Business communication specialists
  • Academic writers and researchers

An Investment in Your Future
Don’t let another year pass while watching others leverage AI to grow their writing businesses. Join a community of forward-thinking writers who are mastering AI to transform their careers and deliver exceptional value to their clients.

Special Academy Rate: $697 (Regular price: $997)
Classes begin:  March 5th
Schedule accommodates various time zones
Ready to advance your writing career with AI? Contact Romina at romina@aiinwriting.com to join our next cohort of AI-empowered writing professionals.

]]><![CDATA[Want a tool to make your writing easier—without signing up for AI?]]>Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:31:40 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/want-a-tool-to-make-your-writing-easier-without-signing-up-for-aiBy Nicole Watkins Campbell
The secret lies in how you write. Clear writing makes reading easier, which means fewer questions, less confusion, and more time for what really matters—for readers and for writers. An international standard can help. No, it won’t let you control your readers’ minds (tempting, though), but it will help them follow your message without frustration.
​
How the plain language standard works
The ISO plain language standard is built on research about how people actually read. And bad news: they don’t read everything. Readers are busy, distracted, and overloaded with information. They scan and hunt for what matters to them.
How do you write for readers like that? The ISO standard offers a roadmap.
 
Plain language in action
To work with your reader’s brain, try these:
            •           Give readers only what they need.
            •           Use more headings.
            •           Break text into bullet points.
Focus on the information readers need
Readers don’t always have time for background or extra details. When you focus on what’s most useful, you save your time writing and their time reading.
Headings help readers navigate
            •           They make key information easier to find.
            •           They break up text so it looks more inviting.
Text that looks easier to read feels easier to read—so people keep going.
Bullet points make scanning easy
Readers scan down any text, and bullet points work with this habit. They help people absorb information quickly and they keep writing clear and concise.

Clear writing makes reading easier, and that makes work easier—for you and your readers.

Sign up  for our Pain Language International Standard Courses for Organizations and Communicators.]]><![CDATA[Find out what’s new this fall at Academies]]>Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:56:59 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/find-out-whats-new-this-fall-at-academiesPicture













​Keep up. Sign up for courses. Join our mailing list plainlanguageacademy.com.
September 2024

I love autumn. Changing landscapes. Changing weather. Changing seasons. With all this comes motivation to catch up on what is going on around you. What is happening in plain language? The answer: a lot. The new ISO Plain Language Standard is spreading its reach. AI is moving quickly into all our technology, organizations, and communications. Organizations, particularly government related, are being challenged to meet public demands for transparency. We want to help you. We have courses, videos, and an AI Summit to help you strengthen skills to connect with clients.

​Get help integrating the new ISO Plain Language Standard
For Organizations: The ISO Plain Language Standard: How to make new guidelines work for organizations
Online course starts September 26 - December 5, 2024. With Academy instructors Sarah Slabbert and Nadja Green from ​Plain Language Institute. Certificate for successful completion. Limited enrolment. Register now.

Get help writing and editing using Plain Language Standard
For writers, editors, content creators (coming this fall)
Apply plain language standard guidelines for stronger client connections. Instructors Romina Marazzato Sparano and Kate Harrison Whiteside lead this online course. We'll send you registration details when available. Interested? Email your contact details to getintouch@plainlanguageacademy.com.

New! AI in Writing Virtual Summit: Plain Language Edition 
Free, invigorating, actionable. Virtual. Nov 14-16.
"Embrace AI for life-changing automations, creativity, and insights. Amazing speakers will share tips, tools, and strategies," says host Romina Marazzato Sparano, PLAINLii, PLA, educlaro.   An amazing lineup of speakers will share tips, tools, and strategies to help you establish yourself as an indispensable resource for your clients, teams, and readers. Interested? Go to aiinwriting.com/ to save a seat.

Calling all public communicators
Connecting with Citizens and other Stakeholders
Enhance your public communication skills with Nicole Watkins Campbell, starting September 19. Sharing years for experience as an employee and a consultant, Nicole with help energize and focus your communication to really connect using plain language. Find out more on plainlanguageacademy.com blog or by watching our PLAinView Youtube interview. Register now at PlainLanguageAcademy.com

Coming soon 
Getting Started with Accessibility​

Let’s stay connected.
Thanks, Kate


Kate Harrison Whiteside
Plain Language Academies
Director and Instructor
kate@plainlanguageacademy.com
1-250-521-0454

plainlanguageacademies.org
ISO Supporters
]]><![CDATA[Build more skills with Connecting with Citizens and Other Stakeholders course]]>Wed, 04 Sep 2024 18:35:26 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/build-more-skills-with-connecting-with-citizens-and-other-stakeholders-courseby Nicole Watkins Campbell

Citizens’ trust in their governments is disappearing. Plain language can help bring it back. A researcher has called the gap between Spain’s citizens and their government “an abyss.” A similar problem is happening around the world for many reasons. One reason, however, is that governments don’t communicate well with citizens. In Canada, half of adults cannot read the information their governments write. Half.
 
Governments can rebuild the trust. They must: democracy and peace depend upon it.
Plain language can help. By communicating clearly, government show they know who their readers are and that they care about their needs. Readers tend to trust what they can understand. This why marketing writing is so easy to read. It’s also why you should consider learning about plain language: it’s good for your career.
 
Some governments have laws or regulations or policy to require or guide employees to use plain language. The ISO standard 24995 for plain language gives them another tool to build their capacity and improve their communication with citizens and other stakeholders.
 
This course will help municipal, provincial, and federal workers improve their writing or editing for the public, your boss, elected officials, worked in other governments or other departments. It will also be useful to writers or editors who offer services to government clients. 
 
Learning goals
You will learn to:
1.     identify your purpose in writing 
2.     understand your audiences’ motivations and needs
3.     use 10 writing tactics to make your writing more engaging
4.     test whether your documents are working for readers
 
I will be available by email any time and by phone or zoom if you get stuck. The self-directed course includes some videos, six marked exercises to test your learning, extra readings if you would like to go deeper, and a final assignment. A certificate is awarded for successful completion.

​Watch interview on PLA Youtube.
​
Nicole Watkins Campbell
​Instructor
nicolewcampbell26@icloud.com

​]]><![CDATA[Collaborating for success]]>Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:02:08 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/collaboration-for-success
Picture
Interview on collaboration for PLAIN E-journal. Join to get your copy and more.
PLAIN has just hosted its first Latin American conference: connecting cultures: creating bridges with clear communication. Collaboration was at the heart of it all. Earlier this year I was interviewed, along with my PlainLanguageAcademies.com colleague Sarah Slabbert, Plain Language Institute, SA, about the role of collaboration in plain language, for PLAIN's E-journal. It is at the heart of all plain language initiatives.

Both Sarah and I fell into plain language through our editing work, and then discovered the process had a name. What stood out was how it immediately involved assessing  content, consulting with readers and users, seeking a solution to accessibility, before beginning the editing. In other words, collaboration. Gone was the editor working alone at their desk.

When asked about what kind of collaboration plain language still needed, I replied:
"We need to continue to share our knowledge with and motivate others. I always say plain language knows no boundaries, and this is so important now. We have seen socially, politically, and culturally harmful miscommunications that demonstrate a demand for plain language."

And around the globe amazing collaborations  focused on plain language are leading the way.

The latest PLAIN E-journal includes excellent articles about ISO, AI, new research. 

Join Plain Language Association InterNational to get member, networking and skill-building benefits.
]]><![CDATA[August 24th, 2023]]>Thu, 24 Aug 2023 18:34:06 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/august-24th-2023We are excited about the ISO Plain Language Standard launch. This step towards a global, supported, standard is important for all of  us in the profession—learners, teachers, practitioners, and advocates.

The International Plain Language Federation uses this definition for their upcoming ISO standard document.
​
"A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that:
  • it provides the intended readers with what they want, 
  • ensures they can quickly find what they need,
  • helps them easily understand what they find, and
  • can effectively be used."

It's at the heart of PLA training.

If you have questions, please get in touch with us for coaching, consulting or training support.

Find out more about ISO 24495-1:2023 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines and how to purchase it.]]><![CDATA[Embracing new plain language opportunities]]>Thu, 23 Feb 2023 18:48:16 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/embracing-new-plain-language-opportunitiesPictureLearning. Just do it.









​PlainLanguageAcademies.com Newsletter 23-01


Ready for 2023 

The Plain Language Academies team is looking to the future with excitement and energy. Our French Academy, clairetsimple, is offering its first course; the much-anticipated ISO standard is coming; and, the PLAIN 2023 Conference, Connecting Cultures – building bridges with clear communication in Buenos Aries, Argentina, in September. We are constantly identifying new training needs and creating courses to address them. Let us guide you on your 2023 plain language journey.

Welcome to l'​Académie du langage clair et simple

We welcome the first course from our French Academy, with the award-winning plain language advocates and trainers Chantale Audet and Amélie Bourret, autrementdit.ca.

The Plain Language Academies are pleased to announce the new clair et simple’s online training course in French on Zoom. The training is entitled Writing Clearly to be Understood on First Reading. Students will learn what health literacy is and how to address and reinforce it with plain language.
·       For more information and to register on Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3xyOfHc.
·       To email the L’Académie du langage clair et simple: academie@autrementdit.ca.
·        Visit their page on PLA: Académie du langage clair et simple .
    
​**********************************************************
Bienvenue à l'​Académie du langage clair et simple

L’Académie du langage clair et simple est heureuse d’annoncer la tenue d’une formation en ligne en français sur Zoom. La formation est intitulée Rédiger clairement pour être compris à la première lecture.
Dans cette formation, vous apprendrez ce qu’est la littératie en santé et verrez comment la prendre en compte et la renforcer avec le langage clair et simple.
 
Cette formation est divisée en quatre parties :
·       Le contexte d’information d’aujourd’hui
·       Qu’est-ce que la littératie et la littératie en santé ?
·       Le langage clair et simple
·       Les 6 étapes pour écrire en langage clair et simple: volet pratique composé d’exercices
La formation est répartie sur 2 journées :
·       Mardi 25 avril 2023, de 9 h à 11 h 30
·       Jeudi 27 avril 2023, de 9 h à 11 h
Pour obtenir plus d’information et pour vous y inscrire sur Eventbrite :https://bit.ly/3xyOfHc.
Pour contacter l’équipe de l’Académie du langage clair et simple: academie@autrementdit.ca
Details are on the PLA website
 
New help creating clear design online

Our new course, Clear Digital Design is available now. It’s for non-designers who find themselves needing to make design-related decisions. Annie and Liezl, heyplainjane.com, will help strengthen your clear design skills to prepare you for working on your next project. Find our more from them or email PLA.
Register here.
 
Pick the PLA courses that will get you to your destination

We are expanding our base of Core and Advanced courses to meet increasing knowledge and skill demands.
 Check PLA 2023 Calendar to find courses just for you.
 
We are here to help. Get in touch if you have questions.

Looking forward to connecting,
PLA Team
 
PS Our newsletters will now be posted as blogs.
PLA.com Newsletter Blog 23-01        
kate@plainlanguageacademy.com
Email to unsubscribe


]]><![CDATA[PLAIN Matters: Future of plain language]]>Wed, 02 Nov 2022 17:10:54 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/november-02nd-2022
Picture
The Plain Language Academy team interview on PLAIN Matters live on LinkedIn.

Plain Language Association InterNational (PLAIN) surveyed members and took action on their request for more digital content. During International Plain Language Month (October), PLAIN Matters live  host Romina Marazzato Sparano  interviewed fellow Plain Language Academy team members to find out where the profession is headed. Here are  some  #PlainLanguageAcademy team insights. 

Global expansion

Chantale Audet, Autrementdit.Ca: Global expansion of plain language comes with the fact we are stronger together.

Sarah Slabbert, Plain-Language.Co.Za: Plain Language has evolved over the past number of years from narrowly focusing on language to include design, user needs assessment, and usability testing. This broadening of the scope of Plain Language is an exciting development that makes it essential for the communication platforms of the digital age.

Romina Marazzato Sparano, LanguageCompass.Com and Lenguajeclaro:
We are growing and we are stronger together. We are moving forward and looking at guidelines for many languages. The better the start, the better results.
 
Promoting plain language
 
Kate Harrison Whiteside, PlainLanguageAcademies.Com: We are moving into the human age of plain language, we’re involving audiences. We just can’t afford to be unclear.
 
Chantale Audet, Autrementdit.Ca: We have to keep up our advocacy work: plain language is a very important tool to improve human lives. It helps achieve UN sustainability goals and empowers people to have their rights respected, make better choices for their lives.
 
Sarah Slabbert, Plain-Language.Co.Za: Ask clients what they are spending and what are they are gaining. How much money are you wasting producing communications that aren’t read or understood and are thrown away?
 
Learning
 
Nicole Watkins Campbell, Plain Words: It’s just crucial that we have governments, organizations and companies who have those skills to communicate clearly, simply, effectively and efficiently because there’s almost always going to be a reader or listener who is trying to translate while they take in your message.
 
Kate Harrison Whiteside, PlainLanguageAcademies.Com: Two students with disabilities are studying about plain language at the Academy so they can tell people to consider audience accessibility when they’re communicating and understand the role plain language plays.
 
Sarah Slabbert, Plain-Language.Co.Za: Our experience as instructors of students from different types of organizations from different sectors and our experience in working with corporate clients has taught us that there is not a one-size-fits-all strategy to implement plain language. You have to tailor it for specific needs.
 
Cheryl Stephens, CherylStephens.Com: We need to get our clients to stop for a moment and consider the situation and background of their readers. Practitioners need to get up to date on recent science in communication, modernize what clear communication means.
 
Involving readers and end-users
 
Chantale Audet, Autrementdit.Ca: There’s so much to be gained by involving readers from the beginning of the process. Ask them about what they already know, what they need to know, and their ideas how we can best convey the information. When we have readers on our team they can help us see if we are on the right track, if there’s an information gap, or if we need to clarify something.
 
Sarah Slabbert, Plain-Language.Co.Za: Often the communication process only includes the plain language practitioners right at the end. And then, if you have the budget you test with end-users. That’s hopelessly too late. You will have a much more effective process if you bring practitioners and end-users in at the beginning.
 
ISO (Plain language standard coming in 2023)
 
Chantale Audet, Autrementdit.Ca: The issues around and standards. I think having standards helps us explain to French-speaking communities what plain language means. We always see a reaction when we say ISO standards are coming.  It really convinces.

Nicole Watkins Campbell, Plain Words: There are so many people who don’t understand what plain language is. The more people who are describing it in the same way, the easier to hear exactly what it is. It will give us something to go back to when we are teaching.
 
Romina Marazzato Sparano, LanguageCompass.Com and Lenguajeclaro: Plain language ISO standard will need people’s alignment not hesitation around regulations.  In reality, the idea of ISO is the opposite: it is about guidelines for clarity of the process behind the communication. One of the aspects of standards being embraced is the human intervention, especially for tasks, like translation, which are becoming increasingly automated. We need to have that human intervention.
 
Cheryl Stephens, CherylStephens.Com: I see the ISO standard as a means of quality control. When Kate and I founded Plain Language International, over 30 years ago, this was one of our main concerns. We were having to repeat our pitch on what plain language is and why it would be beneficial.
 
Kate Harrison Whiteside, PlainLanguageAcademies.Com: For the first time we will have a unified or a set of guidelines that we can all use. The guidelines will be set, and they will make what we offer to others even stronger.
 
Celebrating IPLDay
 
Nicole Watkins Campbell, Plain Words: So much worth celebrating. We have online training. People can study when they want, and many opportunities to learn. There are so many people in so many languages who understand the importance of plain language and want to learn, especially about health.
 
Romina Marazzato Sparano, LanguageCompass.Com and Lenguajeclaro: We are growing and we are stronger together. We are moving forward and looking at guidelines for many languages, the better the start, the better the results.
 
Cheryl Stephens, CherylStephens.Com: When Kate and I founded #IPLDay in 2011 we wanted to celebrate progress. For 30 years we’ve been making slow progress. Look at all the work our organizations have accomplished. It’s time to celebrate.
 
We encourage you to celebrate your #PlainLanguage achievements all year long.
 
#PlainLanguage #LearningExperience #GlobalEducation #ISO #IPLFederation #PLISO #IPLDay
 
 

]]><![CDATA[Plain language project success tips]]>Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:48:19 GMThttps://www.plainlanguageacademy.com/blog/pain-language-project-successfulWhether you work with internal or external clients, staff or freelancers, a successful plain language project requires open-minded, committed, knowledgeable clients and practitioners.
 
Earlier this year, I was so lucky to have a client who:
       1. was open-minded to plain language for internal, external, print, and online information; and sharing project developments along the way.
       2. committed to having training and updating their style guide.
       3. knew the importance of testing during the whole plain language process. They had already done testing before we started.
 
All this resulted in a satisfying and successful project, certainly from my side.
 
Successful plain language projects involve learning and leading from both sides.
 
Steps to success

     1. Do your research.
     2. Develop a strong plan that is also flexible.
     3. Be prepared to educate and learn along the way.

Successful plain language projects involve learning and leading from both sides. And, don’t forget to put the audience, readers, users at the front. They have the answers, or at least the questions that need answering and form your project plan.
 
Best of luck with all your plain language initiatives. If you need help or advice, take a course, book some coaching, hire an Academy consultant (services in English, French, and Spanish). We’re here to chat.]]>