It is our policy that all written communications from Leeds City Council (that are in English) are produced in plain English.

What is plain English?

• Plain English is something that the intended audience can read, understand and act on the first time they read it.
• Plain English takes account of design and layout as well as language.
• Plain English should be used in any information that ordinary people (that means all of us) rely on when they make decisions.
• Plain English helps us make sure that our writing is clear, helpful and polite.

Using plain English shows the people of Leeds that we are committed to clearer communications. In doing so, it also removes barriers to understanding and improves access to our services.

What does this mean?

• We will communicate as clearly as possible.
• We will use language that is clear, helpful and polite.
• We will make forms as easy to fill in as possible.
• We will write reports clearly so that they are easy to understand.
• We will avoid using abbreviations and acronyms.
• We will avoid using jargon and technical terms.
• We will train our staff in plain English.
• We will keep our communications as brief and as informative as possible.

National Plain English Campaign

The Plain English Campaign is an independent pressure group which fights for all public information to be written in plain English.

Leeds City Council has been a lifetime corporate member of the national Plain English Campaign since July 2003. This cemented our continuing commitment to the people of Leeds that all our communications would be produced in plain English.