Definition Of Plain Language

Writers Write promotes and teaches plain language writing skills. In this post, we include the definition of plain language in South African law.

Section 22. Right to information in plain and understandable language

(2) For the purposes of this Act, a notice, document or visual representation is in plain language if it is reasonable to conclude that an ordinary consumer of the class of persons for whom the notice, document or visual representation is intended, with average literacy skills and minimal experience as a consumer of the relevant goods or services, could be expected to understand the content, significance, and import of the notice, document or visual representation without undue effort, having regard to—

(a) the context, comprehensiveness and consistency of the notice, document or visual representation;
(b) the organisation, form and style of the notice, document or visual representation;
(c) the vocabulary, usage and sentence structure of the notice, document or visual representation; and
(d) the use of any illustrations, examples, headings, or other aids to reading and understanding

From the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) No 68 of 2008

Writers Write posts updated information on Plain Language Legislation. If you want to improve your business writing skills, we suggest you attend our course – The Plain Language Programme.