Some useful publications

Putting it Plainly: Current Developments and Needs in Plain English and Accessible Reading Materials

This report was published in 1996 by National Board of Employment, Education and Training. Produced by the Australian Language and Literacy Council, Putting it Plainly reviews current developments in plain English policy, reports on plain English practices in the private and public sectors, and outlines the plain legal language movement. It also includes a chapter on the needs of adults with reading difficulties, as well as detailed case studies of plain English projects.

Available for $19.95 from Commonwealth Government Bookshops around Australia.

 

Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers (Fifth edition)

Since it was first published in 1966, the Style Manual has become a bible, not only for Commonwealth public servants, for whom it was developed, but also for many publishers, authors and editors, as well as businesses, educational and other institutions.

Available for $24.95 from Commonwealth Government Bookshops around Australia.

 

Writing in Plain English

Professor Robert Eagleson's popular handbook was developed for public servants, but is invaluable for anyone who wants to write more clearly. It provides a step-by-step guide to planning, writing, designing and testing documents.

Available for $16.95 from Commonwealth Government Bookshops around Australia.

 

The Gains from Clarity: A Research Report on the Effects of Plain-language Documents

This report describes research into the effects of producing documents in plain language. It also provides practical examples for organisations about to embark on a plain English projects. The Gains from Clarity was written by Gordon Mills and Mark Duckworth, and was a joint project of the Centre for Plain Legal Language, the Centre for Microeconomic Policy Analysis and the Law Foundation of New South Wales.

Available for $15.00, plus $5.00 postage and handling (plus $3.00 for each additional copy in an order) from Publications, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney, Level 6, 175 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

 

Spot On! Correspondence and Report Writing with Guidelines on Plain English

Dr George Stern's comprehensive but succinct manual explains the techniques of writing in plain English, how to write letters that communicate, and how to write effective reports.

Available for $11.95 from Commonwealth Government Bookshops around Australia.

 

Choosing Your Mark: A Guide to Good Expression and Punctuation

In this handy reference work, Dr George Stern gives advice on writing effectively, good English and punctuation. There are clear explanations of aspects which often worry writers, such as subject and verb agreement, the split infinitive and the use of capital letters.

Available for $9.95 from Commonwealth Government Bookshops around Australia.

 

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