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U.S. Department of Transportation Plain Language Resource Page
General
We are expected to write in plain language. To provide
information to the public as well as people throughout DOT with respect to this
responsibility, we have prepared this web page. It contains links to the following documents with helpful information
concerning plain language:
President
Clinton's Memorandum on Plain Language
The President's memorandum to the heads of
executive departments and agencies directs them to use plain language. The
memorandum also can be found in the Federal Register at 63 Fed. Reg. 31885.
Vice-President's Memorandum on Plain Language
This memorandum provides guidance on how to comply with the
President's memo on plain language.
DOT's Secretary's Memorandum
This memorandum implements the memoranda above.
DOT Action Plan
This plan provides information on the steps DOT took to comply with the above
memoranda.
DOT Semiannual Regulatory
Agenda
Appendix D to DOT's Agenda contains information on DOT rules that are to be,
or have been, reviewed to determine whether changes are necessary to meet our
plain language objectives.
Plain Language: Improving
Communications from the Federal Government to the Public
This link will take the user to the White House web page on plain language,
which provides examples, resources, and guidelines relating to plain language.
Drafting
Legal Documents
This page provides the Office of the Federal Register guide to legal writing.
Resources Within DOT
Various offices within the Department have prepared guides to help their
employees write more clearly. You may find these guides useful for learning more
about plain language and as models for creating a plain language guide.
The links below are to some examples:
The FAA's Plain Language Program Manager,
Bruce Corsino offers the following Plain Language resources within the
FAA:
FHWA Rulemaking Manual
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