Notes: (1) This website is for your personal, educational, and non-commercial use only; you must not upload these exercises to any website, intranet, or the cloud. For comments, questions, or corrections, email gtgalacio@yahoo.com (2) This website uses cookies; your continued use of this website means that you agree to such use. (3) If you’re using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet to view this website, Mozilla Firefox is the best option. (4) For the interactive exercises to work, you need to enable Javascript in your browser. (5) This website has more than 840 exercises with an average of 10 items per exercise.

Index of resources and exercises: Overview - PDF: Plain English, Plain Language, or Clear Writing; Why Use Plain Language? (US Census Bureau); Infographic: Plain Englsh, Please! (National Adult Literacy Agency, Ireland) | What is journalese? How is it different from Plain English? | Discussions on journalese (external links)| Resources in journalism (internal links) | PDF style guides for journalism and business institutions (external links) | PDF resources on grammar for journalists (external links) | Resources on Plain Language / Plain English for business writing | Free editing programs (external links) | PDF and PPT resources on Plain English for science writing (external links) | PDF resources on Plain English for academic writing (internal links) | Resources on Technical Writing in Plain English (internal and external links) | Resources on Plain Language for government communications (external links)| OWL Purdue University resources on Engish grammar and composition (external links)| Plain English resources (internal links) | PDF resources on writing for the Internet from 4Syllables (external links) | PDF resources on writing (internal links) | Miscellaneous exercises on Plain English | Plain English exercises on wordy words and phrases vs. simpler words and phrases | Plain English writing and editing exercises (internal and external links) | PDF resources and interactive exercises for legal writing | “Legal Writing in Plain English” by Bryan A. Garner | Miscellaneous English grammar exercises | Common English grammar errors (exercises) | Exercises based on “Grammar Tests” (Birmingham UK resource) | Vocabulary exercises (synonyms, antonyms, logic list, classified phrasal verbs, idioms) | Reading comprehension exercises | Paragraph summarizing and paragraph completion exercises; correct sequence of sentences (making up a story) | Recommended resources in Plain English, Plain Language, or Clear Writing (including health literacy flashcards - medical terms, phrases, references, and their Plain English equivalents or definitions)

What is journalese? How is it different from Plain English? “Journalese” is the artificial or hyperbolic, and sometimes over-abbreviated, language regarded as characteristic of the news style used in popular media (Wikipedia). On the other hand, “Plain English” (aka “Plain Language” or “Clear Writing”) is writing in such a way that readers can find what they need, understand what they find, and use what they find to meet their needs. The goal of Plain English writing is clarity.

Bryan Garner (editor of Black’s Law Dictionary): “The phrase ‘plain English’ certainly shouldn’t connote drab and dreary language. Actually, plain English is typically quite interesting to read. It’s robust and direct—the opposite of gaudy, pretentious language. You achieve plain English when you use the simplest, most straightforward way of expressing an idea. You can still choose interesting words. But you’ll avoid fancy ones that have everyday replacements meaning precisely the same thing.” For more information about what Plain English is, read “Plain Language, Plain English or Plain Writing for government offices, private companies, schools, and organizations” (external link).

PDF resources on journalism (external links): Editorial (overview); Editorial writing tips; The Complete Book of Feature Writing; News writing

PDF resources from JProf (internal links): Principles of clear, effective writing; Preview stories handout; Speech stories handout; Inverted pyramid news story; Rules for using commas

PDF style guides for journalism and business institutions (external links): Associated Press (AP) Style Guide; AP Style Guide Cheat Sheet; The Economist Style Guide; Asian Development Bank Handbook of Style and Usage (2017); Reuters Handbook of Journalism

PDF resources on grammar for journalists (external links): ASJMC Insights 2006 (“When Journalism Majors Don’t Know Grammar” and “Journalism Schools and the Teaching of Grammar”); English Grammar for Journalists; Towards a Working Grammar for Journalists; Got Grammar? (City University of New York); Spelliing and Grammar: Their Importance to Journalism (ERIC); Journalism and media (Pearson Longman)

Free training resources on journalism (external links): Journalism Center (resources for high school and college journalists); Media Helping Media; UNESCO Series on Journalism Education (with internal PDF Journalism, ‘Fake News’ and Disinformation); 1 Million Story Ideas and Writing Prompts for Student Journalists (College Media Matters) with 2019 update; Over 1,000 Writing Prompts for Students (The New York Times)

Miscellaneous PDF resources on journalism (external links): The News Manual (standard text in newsrooms across the Asia-Pacific region, developed with UNESCO); Newspaper Basics for Student Journalists; Handbook of Independent Journalism; A glossary to keep beside the TV; Writing Style Differences in Newspaper, Radio, and TV

Recommended resources on business and general writing (internal and external links): “The Simple Secrets of Writing and Speaking (Almost) Like A Professional” College Edition; “Business English for Success” from The Saylor Foundation (the discussions and exercises in this book can also be used for journalism, law, and general writing); other resources from The Saylor Foundation: Writers’ Handbook and Successful Writing; “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser; “Style, Toward Clarity and Grace” by Joseph M. Williams.

Resources on Plain Language/Plain English for business writing (external links): Are English Majors Good Business Writers?; Introducing Plain Language Principles to Business Communication Students (Rachelle Greer, University of Wyoming); Write in Plain English: Lose The Jargon And Connect With Your Reader (Forbes); How to improve your business writing (Harvard Business Review); Plain English — Essential to Great Business Writing; Business Writing for Everyone: Chapter 1: Exploring Your Reading and Writing Beliefs; Chapter 2: The Writing Process; Chapter 3: Context, Audience, Purpose; Chapter 4: Style and Tone; Chapter 5: Organizing your ideas; and 13 other chapters; Why Plain Language is good for business (The Language Lab, Business Communications); 87 Advanced Business Writing Tips That Actually Work; In Business, Plain Words Say it Best; 21 of the most hated business phrases; How to improve your business writing; The Case for Plain-Language Contracts (Harvard Business Review); Plain English for Better Business Writing; Effective Business Writing: The Importance of Plain Language; 6 reasons why using Plain Language is a bullseye for your business; 8 Business Writing Guidelines to Remember (Acrolinx); What is Plain English and why use it in Business Writing?; Plain English — Essential to Great Business Writing; The need for Plain English in global business (Pearson); Global Business Speaks English (Harvard Business Review); Writing In Plain Language Will Improve Customer Relationships; 6 Causes of Miscommunication — How to Use Plain Language Effectively (Money Crashers); Business Communication Layering: Technical Content For Different Audiences; Why You Should Always Use Plain English in Your Business Communications; In Business, Plain Words Say it Best (Canada One); Five Ways To Achieve Clarity in Your Business Writing (National Center for Business Journalism)

PDF resources on Plain English for academic writing (external links): “Why Academics Stink at Writing” by Steven Pinker; “Academic Writing in English” from University of Helsinki; “Dancing With Professors: The Trouble With Academic Writing” (New York Times); “Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly” (Oppenheimer, Princeton University)

Resources on Technical Writing in Plain English: Internal links (PDF) - Philip Tory’s Technical Writing Course; Improving Your Technical Writing Skills (University of London); External links - Plain Language Is for Everyone, Even Experts (Nielsen Norman Group); Technical Writing Need Not Be Abstruse—Use Plain Language for Maximum Impact; 10 Guidelines for Plain English Technical Writing for Nontechnical Readers; At the Intersection of Plain Language and Technical Communications; Technical Writing in Plain English; Understanding Plain Language and Simplified Technical English; How to fix the 7 most common glitches in technical writing; Why simple language isn't so simple: the struggle to create plain language in documentation; Basics of Plain Language in Technical Documentation

Plain Language for government communications (external links): Why Use Plain Language? (US Census); Plain English Lexicon: 2,700 commonly-used words from public information documents (Living Word Vocabulary); European Commission guide on how to write clearly; Plain English Guide (Government of South Australia); Content design: planning, writing and managing content (gov.uk); Plain Language: how to write clearly to meet the needs of your readers; Plain English Writing Do’s and Don’ts (Klariti); What is Plain English Gobbledygook?; Plain Language in the US Gains Momentum: 1940-2015 (Karen Schriver)

PDF resources from OWL Purdue University resources on English grammar and composition (external links): Eliminating Unnecessary Words; Five Principles of Readability; Parallelism Handout; Micro Level Cohesion Handout; Macro Level Cohesion Handout; Verb Use for ESL Writers Handout; Intra-Paragraph Organization for ESL Writers Handout

PDF resources on Plain English (internal and external links): 15 Top Tips in Plain English Writing; Introducing Plain Language; Writing style guide; Using Plain English (Asian Development Bank); Special English Word Book for radio, television, and Internet (Voice of America)

PDF resources on writing for the Internet from 4Syllables and on website design from DHHS (external links): 10 tips for web writers and editors; Concise writing; Everyday words; Active voice; Making content findable; A-Z of better web writing; Designing scannable content; Verbs: Nominalisations; Writer’s review checklist; Research-based web design and usabillity guidelines (DHHS)

Free editing programs (external links): Rewordify (this program aims at improving vocabulary and reading comprehension, but it can be used as an editing tool); Drivel Defence (this program identifies your long sentences and suggests simpler words).

• Avoid big words and pompous diction (1)     
• Avoid big words and pompous diction (2)     
• Avoid big words and pompous diction (3)     
• Avoid big words and pompous diction (4)     
• Avoid big words and pompous diction (5)     
• Avoid double negatives     
• Avoid doublets and triplets     
• Avoid dummy subjects     
• Avoid hidden verbs (nominalization)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (1)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (2)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (3)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (4)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (5)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon(6)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (7)         
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (8)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (9)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (10)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (11)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (12)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (13)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (14)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (15)     
• Avoid pretentiousness, wordiness, and jargon (16)     
• Avoid redundant modifiers     
• Avoid wordiness (basis, manner, fashion, and way)     
• Omit unnecessary words (“of,” “to,” “on,’ and other prepositions)
• Use short, simple words (1)     
• Use short, simple words (2)     
• Use short, simple words (3)     
• Use short, simple words (4)     
• Use short, simple words (5)     
• Use short, simple words (6)     
• Use short, simple words (7)     
• Use short, simple words (8)
• Use single words instead of phrases (1)     
• Use single words instead of phrases (2)

Plain English exercises with moderate time limit and automatic scoring

• Avoid big words and pompous diction, Part 1
       
• Avoid big words and pompous diction, Part 2
      
• Avoid double negatives
       
• Avoid doublets and triplets
   
• Avoid dummy subjects
      
• Avoid hidden verbs (nominalization)
       
• Avoid legalese, wordiness, and jargon, Part 1
      
• Avoid legalese, wordiness, and jargon, Part 2
     
• Avoid redundancies Part 1
      
• Avoid redundancies Part 2

Plain English exercises: avoid redundancies (no time limit but with automatic scoring)

• Avoid redundancies (modifiers, pairs, categories) Part 1
       
• Avoid redundancies (modifiers, pairs, categories) Part 2
       
• Avoid redundancies (modifiers, pairs, categories) Part 3
       
• Avoid redundancies (modifiers, pairs, categories) Part 4
       
• Avoid redundancies (modifiers, pairs, categories) Part 5
       
• Avoid redundancies (modifiers, pairs, categories) Part 6

• Flashcards
• Use short, simple words (Part 1)
• Use short, simple words (Part 2)
• Use short, simple words (Part 3)

Exercises from OECD Style Guide 2nd Edition (British English; with time limit and automatic scoring)

• Action verbs Part 1
• Action verbs Part 2
• Avoid foreign words
• Avoid long words
• Ban redundancy
• Prune phrases

Gender-neutral and gender-free language (flashcards; based on British Columbia Securities Commission Plain Language Style Guide)

Plain English exercises on avoiding redundancies (with time limit and automatic scoring)

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

Plain English exercises on avoiding wordiness, formalism, redundancy, nominalization or hidden verbs, doublets, dummy subjects, and double negatives (with extreme to moderate time limit and automatic scoring)

• Part 1     
• Part 2     
• Part 3     
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12

Plain English exercises on avoiding wordiness, pretentiousness, legalese, and jargon (with automatic scoring and time limit of 45 or 60 seconds)

• Part 1     
• Part 2     
• Part 3     
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12
• Part 13
• Part 14
• Part 15
• Part 16

30 seconds per 10-item quiz


• Avoid hidden verbs (nominalizations), Part 1     
• Avoid hidden verbs (nominalizations), Part 2     
• Avoid hidden verbs (nominalizations), Part 3     
• Avoid hidden verbs (nominalizations), Part 4
  
  45 seconds per 10-item quiz
       
• Use simple words, Part 1     
• Use simple words, Part 2     
• Use simple words, Part 3     
• Use simple words, Part 4     
• Use simple words, Part 5     
• Use simple words, Part 6     
• Use simple words, Part 7     
• Use simple words, Part 8     
• Use simple words, Part 9     
• Use simple words, Part 10     
• Use simple words, Part 11     
• Use simple words, Part 12     
• Use simple words, Part 13     
• Use simple words, Part 14     
• Use simple words, Part 15
  
  45 seconds per 10-item quiz
       
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 1     
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 2     
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 3     
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 4     
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 5     
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 6     
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 7     
• Use simple words or phrases instead of legalese
  or wordy phrases, Part 8

Plain English words and phrases (matching-type exercises)

• Exercise 1 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 2 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 3 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 4 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 5 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 6 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 7 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 8 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 9 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 10 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 11 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 12 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 13 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 14 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 15 (no time limit; with time limit)
       
• Exercise 16 (no time limit; with time limit)

Flashcards (based on materials from Department of Management Services Florida, USA; no scoring or time limit)

• Active versus Passive
       
• Positive messages: Turn a Don’t into a Do

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12
• Part 13
• Part 14
• Part 15
• Part 16
• Part 17
• Part 18
• Part 19
• Part 20
• Part 21
• Part 22
• Part 23
• Part 24
• Part 25
• Part 26
• Part 27
• Part 28
• Part 29
• Part 30
• Part 31
• Part 32
• Part 33
• Part 34
• Part 35
• Part 36
• Part 37
• Part 38
• Part 39
• Part 40

Plain English writing and editing exercises (internal and external links)

• “Plain English for Lawyers” by Richard C. Wydick, California Law Review, Volume 66, Issue 4
• Exercises to accompany the SEC’s A Plain English Handbook (with answer key)
• Plain Language Course – Exercise File (with answer key)
• “Philip Tory’s Free Technical Writing Course Training Manual v18.5” (internal link; some exercises have answer keys, some don’t)
• Plain Language Activity (no answer key)
• PLAIN Principles of Plain Language Exercise Packet (no answer key)
• Plain Language Workbook: Five Steps to Clear, Effective Communications for the Federal Communications Commission (no answer key)
• How to Cut the Gobbledegook: an introduction to plain language writing and clear design (no answer key)

Wordy words and phrases vs. simpler words and phrases

• Exercise (1)    
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Miscellaneous English grammar exercises

• English Placement Test (45 items)     
• Multi-level grammar tests for assessment: Test 1 (100 items)     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: Modal verbs     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: Pronouns (2)     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: Conditionals and wish     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: Prepositions     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: Reported speech     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: Verbs (2)     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: The infinitive and the -ing form (2)     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: The passive (2)     
• Oxford Practice Grammar Intermediate Diagnostic Test: This, my, some, a lot of, etc.

• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Emotions     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Speaking     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Thinking     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Travel     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Break     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Bring     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Come     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Down     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Get     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Give     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Go     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Into     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Keep     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Look     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Make     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Pass     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Pull     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Put     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Run     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Take     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Up      

Common English grammar errors (exercises)

• Exercise 01 (nouns - confusion of number)     
• Exercise 02 (habit or custom)     
• Exercise 03     
• Exercise 04 (comparative or superlative)     
• Exercise 05 (comparative - superlative)     
• Exercise 06 (many - much)     
• Exercise 07 (his - her)     
• Exercise 08 (interesting - interested)     
• Exercise 09 (adjectives)     
• Exercise 10 (a -an)     
• Exercise 11 (tenses)     
• Exercise 12 (simple present - present continuous)     
• Exercise 13 (simple past - past continuous)     
• Exercise 14 (simple past tense - present perfect)     
• Exercise 15 (tense)     
• Exercise 16 (don’t - doesn’t)     
• Exercise 17 (tag questions)     
• Exercise 18 (avoid double negatives)     
• Exercise 19 (make - do)     
• Exercise 20 (sit - seat - set)     
• Exercise 21 (rise - raise)     
• Exercise 22 (fly - flow - flee)     
• Exercise 23 (borrow - lend)     
• Exercise 24 (refuse - deny)     
• Exercise 25 (learn - teach)     
• Exercise 26 (see - look)     
• Exercise 27 (hear - listen)     
• Exercise 28 (fall - fell)     
• Exercise 29 (choose the correct word)     
• Exercise 30 (correct position of adverbs, adverbial phrases)     
• Exercise 33 (very - too)     
• Exercise 32 (very - much)     
• Exercise 33 (very much - too much)     
• Exercise 34 (hard - hardly)     
• Exercise 35 (to - at)     
• Exercise 36 (in - into)     
• Exercise 37 (in - on - at)     
• Exercise 38 (choose the correct preposition)     
• Exercise 39 (no - not)     
• Exercise 40 (it’s - its)     
• Exercise 41 (past - passed)     
• Exercise 42 (choose the correct word)     
• Gerund or infinitive, part 1     
• Gerund or infinitive, part 2     
• Gerund or infinitive, part 3     
• Infinitives (without “to”)     
• Miscellaneous, Part 1     
• Miscellaneous, Part 2     
• Miscellaneous, Part 3     
• Miscellaneous, Part 4     
• Miscellaneous, Part 5     
• Miscellaneous, Part 6     
• Miscellaneous, Part 7     
• Miscellaneous (omissions), Part 8     
• Miscellaneous (omissions), Part 9     

• Miscellaneous (omissions), Part 10     
• Miscellaneous (omissions), Part 11     
• Miscellaneous (wrong repetition, double comparative, adjectives, prepositions), Part 12     
• Miscellaneous (wrong repetition, misplaced adverbs, double comparative, adjectives, prepositions), Part 13     
• Miscellaneous (wrong repetition, misplaced words, double comparative, adjectives, prepositions), Part 14     
• Miscellaneous (wrong repetition, misplaced words, double comparative, adjectives, prepositions), Part 15     
• Prepositions, Part 1     
• Prepositions, Part 2     
• Prepositions, Part 3     
• Prepositions, Part 4     
• Prepositions, Part 5     
• Prepositions, Part 6     
• Prepositions, Part 7     
• Prepositions, Part 8     
• Omission of prepositions, Part 1     
• Omission of prepositions, Part 2     
• Unecessary prepositions     
• Unnecessary prepositions     
• Prepositions often confused, Part 12     
• Prepositions often confused, Part 13     
• Prepositions often confused, Part 14     
• Tenses, part 1     
• Tenses, part 2     
• Tenses, part 3     
• Unnecessary articles, Part 1     
• Unnecessary articles, Part 2     
• Wrong repetition of subject, object, preposition     
• Verbs often confused, Part 1     
• Verbs often confused, Part 2     
• Verbs often confused, Part 3     
• Verbs often confused, Part 4     
• Verbs often confused, Part 5     
• Verbs often confused, Part 6     
• Verbs often confused, Part 7     
• Words often confused (very, too, much) Part 1     
• Words often confused, Part 2     
• Words often confused (adjectives), Part 3     
• Words often confused (adjectives), Part 4     
• Words often confused (adjectives), Part 5     
• Words often confused (nouns), Part 6     
• Words often confused (nouns), Part 7     
• Words often confused (nouns), Part 8     
• Words often confused (nouns), Part 9     
• Words often confused (nouns), Part 10     
• Words often confused (nouns), Part 11     
• Words often confused (parts of speech), Part 12     
• Words often confused (parts of speech), Part 13     
• Words often confused (parts of speech), Part 14     

• Grammar Elementary (Test - 1) 44 items    
• Grammar Elementary (Test - 2) 57 items    
• Grammar Elementary (Test - 3) 60 items     
• Grammar Elementary (Test - 4) 84 items    
• Grammar Elementary (Test - 5) 57 items    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 2 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 4 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 5 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 6 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 7 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 6, Part 8 (7 items)  
• Grammar Elementary Test - 7, Part 1 (10 items)  
• Grammar Elementary Test - 7, Part 2 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 7, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 7, Part 4 (10 items)   
• Grammar Elementary Test - 7, Part 5 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 7, Part 6 (8 items)   
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 1 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 2 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 3 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 4 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 5 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 6 (10 items)   
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 7 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 8 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 9 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 8, Part 10 (10 items)  
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 1 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 2 (10 items)   
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 3 (10 items)    
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 4 (10 items)
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 5 (10 items)
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 6 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 7 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 9, Part 8 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 10, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 10, Part 2 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 10, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 10, Part 4 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 10, Part 5 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 10, Part 6 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 10, Part 7 (6 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 11, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 11, Part 2 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 11, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 11, Part 4 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 11, Part 5 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 11, Part 6 (11 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 12, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 12, Part 2 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 12, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 12, Part 4 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 12, Part 5 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 12, Part 6 (5 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 13, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 13, Part 2 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 13, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 13, Part 4 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 13, Part 5 (13 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 14, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 14, Part 2 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 14, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 14, Part 4 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 14, Part 5 (10 items)     
• Grammar Elementary Test - 14, Part 6 (5 items)     

• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 1 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 2 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 3 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 4 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 5 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 6 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 7 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 8 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 9 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 10 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 11 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 12 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 13 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 14 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 15 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Modals Part 16 (10 items)     

• Multi-Level Grammar Test 15 Question Tags, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 15 Question Tags, Part 2 (12 items)     

• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 1 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 2 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 3 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 4 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 5 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 6 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 7 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 8 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 9 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 10 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test Comparatives – Superlatives Part 11 (10 items)     

• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 1 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 2 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 3 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 4 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 5 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 6 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 7 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 8 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 9 (10 items)     
• Multi-Level Grammar Test 8 Infinitives - Gerunds, Part 10 (10 items)     

• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 1, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 2, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 3, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 4, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 5, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 6, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 7, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 8, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 9, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 10, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 11, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 12, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 13, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 14, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 15, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 16, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 17, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 18, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 19, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 20, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 21, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 22, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 23, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 24, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 25, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 26, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 27, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 28, 10 items)      
• Grammar Test Elementary / Pre-Intermediate Tenses – Passives (Part 29, 10 items)      

Synonyms (intermediate and upper intermediate levels)

• Part 1     
• Part 2     
• Part 3     
• Part 4     
• Part 5     
• Part 6     
• Part 7     
• Part 8     
• Part 9     
• Part 10     
• Part 11     
• Part 12     
• Part 13     
• Part 14     
• Part 15     
• Part 16     
• Part 17     

Synonyms (advanced level; using contextual clues)

• Part 1     
• Part 2     
• Part 3     
• Part 4     
• Part 5     
• Part 6     
• Part 7     
• Part 8     
• Part 9     
• Part 10     
• Part 11     
• Part 12     
• Part 13     
• Part 14     
• Part 15     
• Part 16     
• Part 17     
• Part 18     
• Part 19     
• Part 20     

Antonyms (intermediate and upper intermediate levels)

• Part 01     
• Part 02     
• Part 03     
• Part 04     
• Part 05     
• Part 06     
• Part 07     
• Part 08     
• Part 09     
• Part 10     
• Part 11     
• Part 12     
• Part 13     
• Part 14     

Logic list (intermediate and upper intermediate levels)

• Part 1     
• Part 2     
• Part 3     
• Part 4     
• Part 5     
• Part 6     
• Part 7     
• Part 8     
• Part 9     
• Part 10     

Classified phrasal verbs

• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Emotions     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Speaking     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Thinking     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions about Travel     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Break     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Bring     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Come     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Down     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Get     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Give     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Go     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Into     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Keep     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Look     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Make     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Pass     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Pull     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Put     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Run     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Take     
• Phrasal Verbs: Expressions with Up      

Idioms

• Idioms (Part 1)     
• Idioms (Part 2)     
• Idioms (Part 3)     
• Idioms (Part 4)     
• Idioms (Part 5)     
• Idioms (Part 6)     
• Idioms (Part 7)     
• Idioms (Part 8)     
• Idioms (Part 9)     
• Idioms (Part 10)     
• Idioms (Part 11)     
• Idioms (Part 12)     
• Idioms (Part 13)     
• Idioms (Part 14)     
• Idioms (Part 15)     
• Idioms (Part 16)     
• Idioms (Part 17)     
• Idioms (Part 18)     
• Idioms (Part 19)     
• Idioms (Part 20)     
• Idioms (Part 21)     
• Idioms (Part 22)     
• Idioms (Part 23)     

Reading comprehension exercises based on PDF resource from Birmingham UK

• Reading comprehension (Test 1)
• Reading comprehension (Test 2)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 3)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 4)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 5)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 6)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 7)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 8)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 9)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 10)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 11)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 12)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 13)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 14)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 15)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 16)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 17)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 18)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 19)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 20)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 21)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 22)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 23)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 24)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 25)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 26)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 27)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 28)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 29)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 30)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 31)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 32)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 33)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 34)     

• Reading comprehension (Test 35)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 36)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 37)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 38)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 39)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 40)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 41)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 42)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 43)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 44)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 45)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 46)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 47)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 48)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 49)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 50)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 51)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 52)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 53)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 54)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 55)
• Reading comprehension (Test 56)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 57)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 58)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 59)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 60)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 61)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 62)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 63)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 64)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 65)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 66)     
• Reading comprehension (Test 67)     

Paragraph summarizing and paragraph completion exercises;
correct sequence of sentences (making up a story)
based on PDF resource from Birmingham UK

• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 1)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 2)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 3)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 4)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 5)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 6)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 7)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 8)     
• Paragraph summarizing exercises (Part 9)     

• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 1)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 2)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 3)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 4)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 5)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 6)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 7)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 8)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 9)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 10)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 11)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 12)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 13)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 14)     
• Correct sequence of sentences (Part 15)     

• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 1)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 2)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 3)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 4)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 5)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 6)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 7)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 8)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 9)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 10)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 11)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 12)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 13)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 14)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 15)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 16)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 17)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 18)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 19)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 20)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 21)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 22)     
• Paragraph completion exercise (Part 23)     

Plain English PDF resources for legal writing

Plain Language Guide: How to Incorporate Plain Language into Court Forms, Websites, and Other Materials (National Association for Court Management, USA)

“Readers’ Expectations, Discourse Communities, and Effective Bar Exam Answers” by Denise Riebe, Duke University School of Law, Senior Lecturing Fellow

Resources by Judge Gerald Lebovits, adjunct professor at Columbia, Fordham, and New York University law schools

• Plain English: Eschew Legalese
• On Terra Firma with English
• Apostrophes and Plurals
• Fact vs Fiction Writing the Facts Part I
• Fact vs Fiction Writing the Facts Part II
• If I were A Lawyer: Tense in Legal Writing
• Legal Writing Don'ts Part I
• Legal Writing Don'ts Part II
• Legal Writing Do's Part I
• Legal Writing Do's Part II
• Legal Writing: Grammar Part I
• Legal Writing: Grammar Part II
• Legal Writing: Punctuation Part I
• Legal Writing: Punctuation Part II
• Legal Writing: Punctuation Part III
• Legal-Writing Ethics Part I
• Legal-Writing Ethics Part II
• Legal-Writing Myths
• Legal-Writing Myths Part II
• Pause that Refreshes Commas Part I
• Pause that Refreshes Commas Part 2
• Persuasive Writing for Lawyers Part I
• Persuasive Writing for Lawyers Part II
• Problem Words and Pairs in Legal Writing Part I
• Problem Words and Pairs in Legal Writing Part II
• Problem Words and Pairs in Legal Writing Part III
• Problem Words and Pairs in Legal Writing Part IV
• Powerful Writing Techniques to Help You Persuade Judges and Win Clients
• Usage Controversies Part I
• Usage Controversies Part II
• Write to Win

Plain English exercises based on Judge Gerald Lebovits' articles (except for flashcards, all exercises have time limit and automatic scoring)

• Alternatives for “of” prepositional phrases
  (Part 1)     
• Alternatives for “of” prepositional phrases
  (Part 2)     
• Alternatives for “of” prepositional phrases
  (Part 3)     
• Alternatives for “of” prepositional phrases
  (Part 4)     
• Alternatives for “of” prepositional phrases
  (Part 5)     
• Avoid doublets and triplets (Part 1)     
• Avoid doublets and triplets (Part 2)     
• Avoid doublets and triplets (Part 3)     
• Avoid “of” phrases (flashcards)     
• Avoid redundancies (flashcards)
• Avoid redundancies (Part 1)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 2)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 3)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 4)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 5)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 6)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 7)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 8)     
• Avoid redundancies (Part 9)     
• Convert prepositional phrases to adverbs or adjectives     
• “To” can be stilted and legalistic; trim “to” stilts (Part 1)     
• “To” can be stilted and legalistic; trim “to” stilts (Part 2)     
• Lessen “to” legalisms (Part 3)     

Plain English interactive exercises for legal writing

• Before and After comparison: US Federal Rules of Evidence (December 2010) 
• Avoid nominalizations (hidden verbs)      
• Collapse clauses into a word or two     
• Convert [article] [noun] of into an -ing form     
• Edit “of” phrases: use possessives     
• Edit prepositional phrases: use possessives or adjectives

• Australian Securities and Investment Commission
• Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission      
• Malaysia Securities Commission     
• New Zealand Financial Markets Authority     
• US Securities and Exchange Commission
• Plain English Handbook for Writers in the US Federal Government

Preferred Expressions (Drafting Legal Documents, Federal Register; all exercises have time limit of 2 minutes and automatic scoring)

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10

• Words and phrases to be avoided and preferred usages, Hawaii Legislative Drafting Manual     
• Word Use Guide, Idaho Legislation Drafting Manual     
• Alternative words and shorter phrases, Illinois Bill Drafting Manual     
• Use simple language, Part 1, Maine Legislative Drafting Manual     
• Use simple language, Part 2, Maine Legislative Drafting Manual        
• Words to be Avoided, Montana Bill Drafting Manual 2012     
• Preferred Words and Phrases, Oregon Bill Drafting Manual       
• Legalese and Preferred Usage, Texas Legislative Drafting Manual     
• Preferred Words and Phrases, Part 1, West Virginia Drafting Manual     
• Preferred Words and Phrases, Part 2, West Virginia Drafting Manual         
• Preferred Words and Phrases, Part 3, West Virginia Drafting Manual     
• Preferred Words and Phrases, Part 4, West Virginia Drafting Manual     

• How to avoid ambiguity
• Methods of shortening or clarifying long sentences

(3) Flashcards, based on “Drafting Legislation in Hong Kong: A Guide to Styles and Practices”

“Legal Writing in Plain English” by Bryan A. Garner

Bryan A. Garner is a U.S. lawyer, lexicographer, and teacher who has written several books about English usage and style, including “Garner’s Modern American Usage” and “Elements of Legal Style.” He is the editor-in-chief of all current editions of Black’s Law Dictionary. He has coauthored two books with Justice Antonin Scalia: “Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges” (2008) and “Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts” (2012). Garner is the only co-author of a Supreme Court Justice in the history of the Court.

Founder and president of LawProse, Inc., he serves as Distinguished Research Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University Law School.

Garner has contributed to the field of procedural rules. In 1992-1994, he revised all amendments to the various sets of Federal Rules-Civil, Appellate, Evidence, Bankruptcy, and Criminal-by the United States Judicial Conference. In the mid-1990s, he restyled the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which were adopted by the Judicial Conference, then by the United States Supreme Court, and enacted by Congress. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure were restyled in 1993-1994 and adopted on December 1, 2007. The Administrative Office of the United States Courts has printed and distributed Garner’s booklet “Guidelines for Drafting and Editing Court Rules” (1996).

Garner has revised the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the California Rules of Appellate Procedure, the California Judicial Council Rules, the Local Rules of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, and the Rules on Judicial-Conduct and Disability Proceedings (for federal courts).

Since 2012, Garner has had a monthly column in the American Bar Association Journal. Since 1999, he has had a similar column in the ABA's Student Lawyer.

As a grammarian, Garner has written books on general English usage, including Garner’s Modern American Usage. When the University of Chicago Press published the 15th edition of the influential The Chicago Manual of Style (ISBN 0-226-10403-6) in 2003, Garner contributed a chapter on grammar and usage. Garner is the only solo author of a section in The Chicago Manual of Style. (From Wikipedia)

(Note: Clicking the links below will take you to the exercises. You can download all fifty exercises in a single ASCII text file. Model answers are in Garner’s book.)

01 Have something to say--and think it through.

02 For maximal efficiency, plan your writing projects. Try nonlinear outlining.

03 Order your material in a logical sequence. Use chronology when presenting facts. Keep related material together.

04 Divide the document into sections, and divide sections into smaller parts as needed. Use informative headings for the sections and subsections.

05 Omit needless words.

06 Keep your average sentence length to about 20 words.

07 Keep the subject, the verb, and the object together--toward the beginning of the sentence.

08 Prefer the active voice over the passive.

09 Use parallel phrasing for parallel ideas.

10 Avoid multiple negatives.

11 End sentences emphatically.

12 Learn to detest simplifiable jargon.

13 Use strong, precise verbs. Minimize is, are, was, and were.

14 Turn -ion words into verbs when you can.

15 Simplify wordy phrases. Watch out for of.

16 Avoid doublets and triplets.

17 Refer to people and companies by name.

18 Don't habitually use parenthetical shorthand names. Use them only when you really need them.

19 Shun newfangled acronyms.

20 Make everything you write speakable.

21 Plan all three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end.

22 Use the “deep issue” to spill the beans on the first page.

23 Summarize. Don’t overparticularize.

24 Introduce each paragraph with a topic sentence.

25 Bridge between paragraphs.

26 Vary the length of your paragraphs, but generally keep them short.

27 Provide signposts along the way.

28 Unclutter the text by moving citations into footnotes.

29 Weave quotations deftly into your narrative.

30 Be forthright in dealing with counterarguments.

31 Draft for an ordinary reader, not for a mythical judge who might someday review the document.

32 Organize provisions in order of descending importance.

33 Minimize definitions. If you have more than just a few, put them in a schedule at the end--not at the beginning.

34 Break down enumerations into parallel provisions. Put every list of subparts at the end of the sentence--never at the beginning or in the middle.

35 Delete every shall.

36 Don’t use provisos.

37 Replace and/or wherever it appears.

38 Prefer the singular over the plural.

39 Prefer numerals, not words, to denote amounts. Avoid word-numeral doublets.

40 If you don’t understand a form provision--or don’t understand why it should be included in your document--try diligently to gain that understanding. If you still can’t understand it, cut it.

41 Use a readable typeface.

42 Create ample white space--and use it meaningfully.

43 Highlight ideas with attention-getters such as bullets.

44 Don’t use all capitals, and avoid initial capitals.

45 For a long document, make a table of contents.

46 Embrace constructive criticism.

47 Edit yourself systematically.

48 Learn how to find reliable answers to questions of grammar and usage.

49 Habitually gauge your own readerly likes and dislikes, as well as those of other readers.

50 Remember that good writing makes the reader’s job easy; bad writing makes it hard.

Recommended resources in Plain English, Plain Language, or Clear Writing

A Plain Language Handbook for Writers in the U.S. Federal Government (internal PDF; interactive flashcards also available)

Health Literacy Thesaurus: Medical terms, phrases, references, and their Plain English equivalents or definitions (flashcards; internal links):

• Simply Put: A Guide for Creating Easy-to-Understand Materials (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Easy Does It! Plain Language and Clear Verbal Communication (Canadian Public Health Association)
• Quick Guide to Health Literacy (external link)

Toolkit for Making Written Material Clear and Effective (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; external link)

Before and After revisions and discussions from some government communications (external links)

• Plain English, Plain Language or Plain Writing for government offices and private companies in the Philippines
• DepEd Order No. 88 s. 2010
• RA 9994 Expanded rights of senior citizens
• BSP Circular No. 702, Series of 2010 on protection of credit card holders
• DSWD Travel Clearance for Minors
• Public Attorney's Office guidelines
• PVAO educational benefits
• Senate impeachment rules in Chief Justice Corona's trial
• PDIC notice to Banco Filipino depositors

Plain Language videos (external links)

• Essentials of Plain Language (HowTogov)
• Social Media: You Still Need Plain Language (HowTogov)
• USCIS Plain Language: Active Voice
• USCIS Plain Language: Proofreading
• USCIS Plain Language: If-Then Tables
• USCIS Plain Language: Acronyms
• The right to understand: Sandra Fisher-Martins at TED
• Reader Focused Writing Orientation: Plain Language Letter
• The Baffling Banker - Demand to Understand
• The Elusive Lender - Demand to Understand
• Dr. Doubletalk - Demand to Understand
• The power of simple words
• The Power of Words
• Good news: clarity's a-coming!
• Invasion of the Space Lobsters

Plain Language groups you can join (external links)

Learn more about Plain Language (external links)

“Writing English as a Second Language” by William Zinsser (a talk to the incoming international students at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism; external link)

• Part 1 A guide to writing stories about numbers
• Part 2 A guide to presenting statistics
• Part 3 A guide to communicating with the media
• Part 4 A guide to improving statistical literacy

• How to Use Plain Language on a Government Website
• Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines (US Department of Health & Human Services)
• Plain Language in Practice: Writing for the Web
• Web accessibility checklist
• Web readability guidelines
• Writing for the Web
• NASA web usability basics
• How To Increase Usability of Government Websites (Flash video)
• Health Literacy Online: A Guide to Writing and Designing Easy-to-Use Health Web Sites
• Using Plain Language to Communicate Health Information
• 4 Syllables: great web content
• Ginny Redish: Writing Vibrant, Compelling Copy - The Content in Content Strategy; Content! Content! Content!; Focusing on Conversations and Key Messages
• Jakob Nielsen: How Users Read on the Web; F-Shaped Pattern For Reading Web Content; Usability 101: Introduction to Usability; Top 10 Mistakes in Web Design
• IPU Guidelines for parliamentary websites
• IPU Guidelines for the content and structure of parliamentary Websites

Slideshare presentations about Plain Language (external links)

Writing and editing sentences

English grammar and writing resources (PDFs and external links open in new tab)

E-books on writing and other topics from Bookboon (free registration required)

Siegel+Gale Simplicity Survey (PDFs open in new tab)

Exercises created by Atty. Gerry T. Galacio based on copyrighted materials available on the Internet. You can use these exercises only on a personal, educational, and non-commercial basis; you must not upload these exercises and resources to an intranet, to a website, or to the cloud. For comments, questions, or corrections, email gtgalacio@yahoo.com

Exercises created with freeware Hot Potatoes v. 6.3 from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

Free seminar-workshops on English proficiency and on photojournalism for Metro Manila schools: email gtgalacio@yahoo.com or text 0927-798-3138

Better English resources and exercises (free resources on grammar, pronunciation, spelling, writing, vocabulary, idioms, reading comprehension, public speaking, etc.); Related website: Interactive English grammar and vocabulary exercises based on Korean historical dramas such as A Jewel In The Palace, Dong Yi, Jumong, Empress Ki, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds (Love In The Moonlight), etc.

Plain Language, Plain English or Plain Writing for government offices, private companies, schools, and organizations — overview, definitions, benefits, and guidelines (external link)

Be a better writer or editor through StyleWriter 4: this software checks 10,000 words in 12 seconds for hundreds of style and English usage issues like wordy and complex sentences, passive voice, nominalization, jargon, clichés, readability, spelling, etc. StyleWriter 4 has a graded 200,000 word and phrase dictionary, covering most of the words you will ever use in writing.

StyleWriter 4 is widely used in the US federal government (for example, Environmental Protection Agency). It is used in banks, law offices, and by professionals from various fields. It is fully customizable and comes with three versions: USA, UK, and Australian. StyleWriter 4 can edit memos, articles, essays, business letters, speeches, thesis, dissertations, books (fiction or non-fiction), and all kinds of corporate communications.

Family Matters (complete text of the Family Code of the Philippines; frequently asked questions; relevant laws like RA 9262; legal procedures and Rules of Court)

Legal Updates (in-depth discussions of issues affecting the Filipino family, legal procedures, support, inheritance, etc.): Plain Language / Plain English for government offices, private companies, schools, and organizations; Clear, concise English for effective legal writing; Legal procedures in civil and criminal cases; Heirs and inheritances