plain english

Plain EnglishPlain English

Translating gobbledygook Translating gobbledygook

into plain languageinto plain language

► These are (supposedly) actual statements taken from cards, letters These are (supposedly) actual statements taken from cards, letters and forms received by public assistance agencies. and forms received by public assistance agencies.

► I am forwarding my marriage I am forwarding my marriage certificate and 6 children. I had 7 but certificate and 6 children. I had 7 but one died which was baptized on a one died which was baptized on a sheet of paper. sheet of paper.

► I am writing the Welfare Dept. to say I am writing the Welfare Dept. to say that my baby was born 2 years old. that my baby was born 2 years old. When do I get my money? When do I get my money?

►Mrs. Jones has not had any clothing for Mrs. Jones has not had any clothing for a year and has been visited regularly by a year and has been visited regularly by the clergy. the clergy.

► I cannot get sick pay. I have had 6 I cannot get sick pay. I have had 6 children. Can you tell me why? children. Can you tell me why?

► I am glad to report that my husband I am glad to report that my husband who was reported missing is dead. who was reported missing is dead.

►This is my eighth child. What are you This is my eighth child. What are you going to do about it? going to do about it?

►Please find for certain if my husband is Please find for certain if my husband is dead, as the man I am living with can't do a dead, as the man I am living with can't do a thing until he knows. thing until he knows.

► I am very much annoyed to find you have I am very much annoyed to find you have branded my boy as illiterate. This is a dirty branded my boy as illiterate. This is a dirty lie. I was married to his father a week lie. I was married to his father a week before he was born. before he was born.

► In answer to your letter, I have given birth In answer to your letter, I have given birth to a boy weighing 10 pounds. I hope this is to a boy weighing 10 pounds. I hope this is satisfactory. satisfactory.

► I am forwarding my marriage certificate I am forwarding my marriage certificate and my 3 children, one of which was a and my 3 children, one of which was a mistake as you can see. mistake as you can see.

►Unless I get my husband's money Unless I get my husband's money pretty soon, I will be forced to lead an pretty soon, I will be forced to lead an immortal life. immortal life.

►My husband got laid off from his job 2 My husband got laid off from his job 2 weeks ago, and I haven't had any relief weeks ago, and I haven't had any relief since. since.

►You have changed my little boy to a You have changed my little boy to a girl. Will this make any difference? girl. Will this make any difference?

► I have no children yet as my husband I have no children yet as my husband is a bus driver and works night and is a bus driver and works night and day. day.

► In accordance with your instructions, I In accordance with your instructions, I have given birth to twins in the have given birth to twins in the enclosed envelope. enclosed envelope.

► I want my money as quick as I can get I want my money as quick as I can get it. I have been in bed with a doctor for it. I have been in bed with a doctor for 2 weeks and he hasn't done me any 2 weeks and he hasn't done me any good. If things don't improve I will good. If things don't improve I will have to send for another doctor. have to send for another doctor.

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Example: Job Corps utilizes a comprehensive Example: Job Corps utilizes a comprehensive performance management system to assign performance management system to assign accountability for programmatic goals and accountability for programmatic goals and objectives, and to assess program objectives, and to assess program effectiveness in achieving those goals and effectiveness in achieving those goals and objectives. The performance management objectives. The performance management system is comprised of five outcome system is comprised of five outcome measurement systems as follows: the measurement systems as follows: the Center Outcome Measurement system Center Outcome Measurement system (OMS) and Quality Measurement System (OMS) and Quality Measurement System (QMS), the Outreach and Admissions (QMS), the Outreach and Admissions Outcome Measurement System (OA OMS), Outcome Measurement System (OA OMS), the Vocational Evaluation System (VES)...the Vocational Evaluation System (VES)...

Possible translationsPossible translations

► Job Corps assigns accountability and Job Corps assigns accountability and measures program performance and measures program performance and outcomes through five systems.outcomes through five systems.

► Job Corps measures program Job Corps measures program performance and outcomes through five performance and outcomes through five systems.systems.

► Job Corps measures program Job Corps measures program performance through five systems.performance through five systems.

► Job Corps measures performance five Job Corps measures performance five ways.ways.


►High-quality learning environments are High-quality learning environments are a necessary precondition for a necessary precondition for facilitation and enhancement of the facilitation and enhancement of the ongoing learning process. ongoing learning process.

TranslationTranslation

►Children need good schools if they are Children need good schools if they are to learn properly.to learn properly.


► . To the extent that such important influences shape . To the extent that such important influences shape the probability of recidivism, this new study does not the probability of recidivism, this new study does not merely demonstrate that the private sector can and merely demonstrate that the private sector can and typically does offer meaningful rehabilitative typically does offer meaningful rehabilitative programs that serve the public interest effectively. programs that serve the public interest effectively. The study also lends support to APCTO’s often-The study also lends support to APCTO’s often-stated view that sophisticated programs in such stated view that sophisticated programs in such areas as education, vocational training and areas as education, vocational training and substance abuse treatment---without regard to substance abuse treatment---without regard to whether they are delivered by public agencies or the whether they are delivered by public agencies or the private sector---have long-term benefits that too private sector---have long-term benefits that too often are not fully taken into account in often are not fully taken into account in appropriation decisions made by legislative bodies appropriation decisions made by legislative bodies at the local, state and federal levels of government. at the local, state and federal levels of government.

Possible translationsPossible translations► 2. First try. The new study demonstrates that the 2. First try. The new study demonstrates that the

private sector offers meaningful rehabilitative private sector offers meaningful rehabilitative programs that serve the public interest effectively. It programs that serve the public interest effectively. It also shows that sophisticated education, vocational also shows that sophisticated education, vocational training and substance abuse treatment programs training and substance abuse treatment programs provide long-term benefits. These benefits are often provide long-term benefits. These benefits are often ignored by lawmakers when making decisions about ignored by lawmakers when making decisions about how to best spend tax dollars for corrections.how to best spend tax dollars for corrections.

► 2. Second try. Experts say this new research provides 2. Second try. Experts say this new research provides a badly needed comparison between those who are a badly needed comparison between those who are released from private and public prisons. The new released from private and public prisons. The new study shows benefits for taxpayers because private study shows benefits for taxpayers because private prisons can decrease incarceration costs and result in prisons can decrease incarceration costs and result in fewer offenders who return to prison.fewer offenders who return to prison.


► If there are any points on which you If there are any points on which you require explanation or further require explanation or further particulars we shall be glad to furnish particulars we shall be glad to furnish such additional details as may be such additional details as may be required by telephone. required by telephone.


► If you have any questions, please call. If you have any questions, please call.


► It is important that you shall read the It is important that you shall read the notes, advice and information detailed notes, advice and information detailed opposite then complete the form opposite then complete the form overleaf (all sections) prior to its overleaf (all sections) prior to its immediate return to the Council by immediate return to the Council by way of the envelope provided. way of the envelope provided.


►Please read the notes opposite before Please read the notes opposite before you fill in the form. Then send it back you fill in the form. Then send it back to us as soon as possible in the to us as soon as possible in the envelope provided.envelope provided.


► Your inquiry about the use of the entrance area Your inquiry about the use of the entrance area at the library for the purpose of displaying at the library for the purpose of displaying posters and leaflets about Welfare and posters and leaflets about Welfare and Supplementary Benefit rights, gives rise to the Supplementary Benefit rights, gives rise to the question of the provenance and question of the provenance and authoritativeness of the material to be displayed. authoritativeness of the material to be displayed. Posters and leaflets issued by the Central Office Posters and leaflets issued by the Central Office of Information, the Department of Health and of Information, the Department of Health and Social Security and other authoritative bodies are Social Security and other authoritative bodies are usually displayed in libraries, but items of a usually displayed in libraries, but items of a disputatious or polemic kind, whilst not disputatious or polemic kind, whilst not necessarily excluded, are considered necessarily excluded, are considered individually. individually.


►Thank you for your letter asking Thank you for your letter asking permission to put up posters in the permission to put up posters in the entrance area of the library. Before we entrance area of the library. Before we can give you an answer we will need can give you an answer we will need to see a copy of the posters to make to see a copy of the posters to make sure they won't offend anyone. sure they won't offend anyone.

plain english

Education

outcome measurement

accountability andjob

husband isplease

husband whoi

was6 children

little boy

isa boy

marriage certificate