This workshop is now complete.

If you write to lead change in public life in Ireland, the plain English guidelines can help you to reach more people, create meaningful engagement, and save time and money.

Whether you are writing a leaflet, a guide to services, a policy document, a consultation report, a webpage or tweet, clarity is always key.

Join the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) for a fun, interactive and free workshop for community and voluntary organisations.  No matter whether you are joining for an introduction to plain English or for a refresher on the topic, you will learn how to quickly improve the language, structure and design of your communications.

Send examples to our trainer

If you would like for any material that you are working on to feature in the session, please email them to Sean at sdriver@nala.ie with information on the intended reader.

Sean might use your example as an opportunity to promote good practice and also look at where the plain English guidelines can be helpful. We’ll follow the rules from Content Design London on Content Crits when looking at each other’s work to do it in a respectful and helpful way.

About your trainer

Sean Driver is NALA Plain English Editor and Trainer. He has worked with organisations such as Citizens Information, the Central Statistics Office and Bank of Ireland to help train their writers to use the plain English guidelines. Over the last two years, he has trained over 2,000 people and would be delighted if you were to come along to this session.

Join the NALA Plain English Network

If interested in learning more about plain English, join NALA’s Plain English Network on LinkedIn and be part of a movement to have clarity in all public communication.

Resources to get you started

NALA Plain English guidelines  

NALA Plain English checklist   

NALA Writing and design tips booklet 

NALA DPER Plain English Style Guide for the Public Service 

Free online readability checker 

Hemmingway App: Readability Checker 

Writing for the Web 

Content Design London: Readability Guidelines 

Gov.uk Content Design Guide