Executive Secretariat- Link to Home page
text
Link to NIH Staff Interaction with the Executive Secretariat Link to Help with Writing Official Correspondence Link to Plain Language Initiative Link to Reports & Meetings Link to NIH Key Staff Lists Link to About Executive Secretariat
 
Return to: Plain Language Initiative
Return to Previous Page | Return to Home Page
Link to Plain Language Initiative
Introduction Guidelines Training and Resources Coordinating Committee Awards
What is Plain Language? Why Should You Use Plain Language? Where Do You Start?
Why Should You Use Plain Language?

A Government-wide directive requires Federal agencies to use plain language by January 1, 2002, in all documents written for the public.

More importantly, communicating clearly is its own reward-it saves time and money, and it improves reader response to your message. Using plain language avoids creating barriers that set us apart from the people with whom we are communicating.

NIH's mission is complex and involves at least three broadly defined groups with varying interests.
External Groups Typical Interests
* General Public
 
* Citizens (including those with specialized literacy, cultural, and vision needs)
* Constituency groups
* Vendors
* Members of the press
* Job seekers and students
   
 
*

Seeking health information
*

Supporting or criticizing research priorities, budgets, and methods
*

Seeking business opportunities through contracts
* Researching a story or reading a press release
* Seeking information about career opportunities
* Medical & Scientific Community
 
* Medical practitioners
* Researchers
* Readers of scientific publications
* Students
* Advisory committee members
   
 
*

Seeking research protocols for their patients
*

Seeking funding opportunities or regulatory guidance
*

Seeking research data
*

Seeking fellowship opportunities and student loans for advanced studies
* Reading background briefings
* Governmental Community
 
* Members of Congress
* Investigators
* Staff of Federal and State agencies
   
 
* Seeking assistance for their constituents or stating a position
* Seeking background information
* Requesting information for appropriations hearings, briefings, and reports
Because part of the NIH mission is to reach all Americans with health information they can use, we must try to communicate in a way that helps people to easily understand our research results.
Go Back Go to Top
NIH Staff Interaction with the Executive Secretariat Help with Writing Official Correspondence The Plain Language Initiative Reports & Meetings NIH Key Staff Lists About the Executive Secretariat
Last updated: March 28, 2003