We built a focused plain English workshop for a technical team within the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
These technical experts come from diverse backgrounds, and for many English is not their first language.
The TGA manager identified specific topics, and we built a workshop to develop the relevant skills.
Topics covered
- Find your purpose
Be clear about what your writing is meant to achieve - Step into the reader's shoes
Write to meet their needs - Choose content
Decide what to include, and what to omit - Use the inverted pyramid
Lead with the key messages - Make simple word swaps
Replace complicated words with simpler ones - Shorten fragments and sentences
Cut empty phrases and wordy terms - Write sentences that tell a story
Use active, intentful verbs - Fix grammar and expression
Recognise and correct errors
What participants said
Thank you for the great training.— Participant
Thank you. I learnt a lot.— Participant