The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires US federal agencies to write for the public in "clear" language. What counts as clear?
Federal benchmarks
• HHS guidance: target Flesch-Kincaid grade 6–8 for health info
• CDC Clear Communication Index: aim for 60+ points (separate framework)
• plainlanguage.gov: recommend grade 8 or below for public-facing material
• GOV.UK style guide: target reading age 9 (roughly grade 4)
What reviewers flag
1. Acronyms not spelled out on first use
2. Sentences over 25 words
3. Jargon specific to the agency
4. Passive constructions in instructions
5. Nominalizations ("the implementation of" instead of "implementing")
Workflow
1. Draft in normal prose
2. Run through our grader to establish baseline
3. Target Flesch Reading Ease of 60+ and Gunning Fog of 10 or lower
4. Read aloud — if you stumble, rewrite
5. Get a stakeholder who isn't a subject matter expert to read it
Government writing has the highest stakes. An unreadable benefits form doesn't just hurt comprehension — it blocks people from services they qualify for.