policy-in-plain-language

# Rewriting a policy for residents The test is whether somebody can work out what to do. Not whether the summary is accurate — accurate and unusable is the normal failure. ## Rewrite Short sentences, active voice, everyday words, second person. Replace defined terms with what they mean and keep the defined term in brackets once. ## Lead with the reader's question "Am I eligible, and what do I do?" comes before purpose, scope and background. Most policy documents are ordered for their author. ## Keep every obligation and every deadline Simplifying is not shortening. A duty, a deadline, an exception or an appeal right that is dropped changes the policy — and this is a rewrite, not a revision. ## Structure What this is about · who it applies to · what you must do, as steps · deadlines · what happens if you do not · how to appeal or complain · who to contact. ## Never Resolve an ambiguity in the source by choosing a reading — flag it. Never soften a consequence.