Plain Language Act 2022

Preliminary provisions

5: What is plain language

You could also call this:

“Plain language means using simple words everyone can understand”

Plain language is what this Act talks about. It means using words that are right for the people who will read them. When you use plain language, you make sure your writing is easy to understand. You do this by using clear words, not saying more than you need to, and putting your ideas in a good order. This helps the people reading your writing to quickly grasp what you’re saying.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS701262.

Topics:
Government and voting > Government departments
Rights and equality > Anti-discrimination

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4: Interpretation, or

“This part explains what important words mean in the Plain Language Act”


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6: What documents must use plain language, or

“Which government documents need to be easy to understand?”

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

5What is plain language

  1. In this Act, plain language means language that is—

  2. appropriate to the intended audience; and
    1. clear, concise, and well organised.