Business writing - Plain English People

Making the most of annual reports

by VICKI JAYNE, Management

Producing an annual report is both an obligation and an opportunity — but are companies making the most of a vital communication tool? Do shareholders and other stakeholders get the full story?

Writing in plain English is smart business

by HOWARD WARNER, Employment Today

Businesses and organisations generate whole forests of written material. Yet how much of it actually gets read? How do we know? And even if it is read, do readers get the right messages? Howard Warner asks some tough questions, and suggests solutions for communication-conscious employers.

Financial advice in plain English is the way to go

by PAMELA YIP, The Dallas Morning News

Along with the efforts to make Americans more financially literate, I’d like to add another goal: to have more financial service companies and advisers talk in plain English. Many are already doing this, and that’s good. But a lot more needs to be done.

Spare us the e-mail yada-yada

from The Economist, New York print edition

Automatic e-mail footers are not just annoying. They are legally useless.

Improving prospectus disclosure

from the website of Malleson Stephen Jaques, an Australian law firm

Following a 12 month investigation period, ASIC has released its much awaited proposals (Consultation Paper 155) on improving prospectus disclosure for retail investors.

Breaking down the language barrier

by HOWARD WARNER, Employment Today

Migrant professionals are increasingly valuable to employers as the skilled-labour pool shrinks. But their main barrier to being effective in the New Zealand workplace is language. There’s a gap in settlement support for this group. So employers should step in and take responsibility, suggests HOWARD WARNER.

SEC makes clear its plan for writing plain English

by LIZ SKINNER, Investment News

The Securities and Exchange Commission has pledged to write more clearly beginning this fall.

Plain English is Greek to some financial advisers

by LIZ SKINNER, Investment News

Many financial advisers are finding out that they aren't as fluent in English as they thought