Plain Language in Regulations and Policy

Regulations tell Americans how to get benefits, how to meet safety standards, and how to pay their taxes. Regulations that are unclear or unreadable make work for the reader and for the agency that issues them. Writing all our regulations in a clear and easily readable style would result in a tremendous savings of time and effort for the federal government and for citizens affected by them. Regulations don’t have to be written in "legalese." Don’t let anyone convince you that outmoded forms of language are needed in regulations. Plain language works for regulations just as it does for other important forms of written communication.