CINXE.COM
Plain Writing at NEH | National Endowment for the Humanities
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ og: http://ogp.me/ns# rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# schema: http://schema.org/ sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema# " class="no-js"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.neh.gov/plain-writing" /> <link rel="image_src" href="https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/Logo%20--%201200x630.png" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="National Endowment for the Humanities" /> <meta property="og:type" content="page" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.neh.gov/plain-writing" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Plain Writing at NEH" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/Logo%20--%201200x630.png" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@NEHgov" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Plain Writing at NEH" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.neh.gov/plain-writing" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/Logo%20--%201200x630.png" /> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="VoGHUgM_Ont1KZOPiEE_8AN1CICS1iBVYPWG0APGVU8" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="/sites/default/files/favicons/apple-touch-icon.png?neh2"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/sites/default/files/favicons/favicon-32x32.png?neh2"/> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/sites/default/files/favicons/favicon-16x16.png?neh2"/> <link rel="manifest" href="/sites/default/files/favicons/site.webmanifest?neh2"/> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/sites/default/files/favicons/safari-pinned-tab.svg?neh2" color="#232e67"/> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#151c3f"/> <meta name="theme-color" content="#151c3f"/> <meta name="favicon-generator" content="Drupal responsive_favicons + realfavicongenerator.net" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge" /> <title>Plain Writing at NEH | National Endowment for the Humanities</title> <link rel="shortcut-icon" href="/favicon.ico?neh=2024" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#979797"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#979797"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_qlM9t6wu3zrWSd-ySLwH7g_eBzzy5dboJ8NGzY9RC3Y.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxFjVEOwyAMQy8UFWkXQgEyypoSRILGbj8-WlXyh_1k2QHj4U2WmguP9yVKhSgsPch0id442EB_anSuohJkUhWXWQIymAgH7N5QD3VXAprGpR4u9dGQtyuu2U43ww9OUGKK9lpPpO5bUiaDhh1zx7brXX3INmobgYvulP6h0UuL" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/select2boxes/css/select2boxes.theme.css?smurw5" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_nX3vUbBNoMsTKuoKqBqdWhwe5nkeO8-B2BqR1XqYYsA.css?delta=2&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxFjVEOwyAMQy8UFWkXQgEyypoSRILGbj8-WlXyh_1k2QHj4U2WmguP9yVKhSgsPch0id442EB_anSuohJkUhWXWQIymAgH7N5QD3VXAprGpR4u9dGQtyuu2U43ww9OUGKK9lpPpO5bUiaDhh1zx7brXX3INmobgYvulP6h0UuL" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/select2/4.0.5/css/select2.min.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_xSAA0d1GQXCPrTgNEBHZxbxwf7lqVU_rfpfGGFIev_s.css?delta=4&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxFjVEOwyAMQy8UFWkXQgEyypoSRILGbj8-WlXyh_1k2QHj4U2WmguP9yVKhSgsPch0id442EB_anSuohJkUhWXWQIymAgH7N5QD3VXAprGpR4u9dGQtyuu2U43ww9OUGKK9lpPpO5bUiaDhh1zx7brXX3INmobgYvulP6h0UuL" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_8Amh8dTTMRFziw8e_D9PTRf12-SsHQCcuinmLd3j6Mg.css?delta=5&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxFjVEOwyAMQy8UFWkXQgEyypoSRILGbj8-WlXyh_1k2QHj4U2WmguP9yVKhSgsPch0id442EB_anSuohJkUhWXWQIymAgH7N5QD3VXAprGpR4u9dGQtyuu2U43ww9OUGKK9lpPpO5bUiaDhh1zx7brXX3INmobgYvulP6h0UuL" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Playfair+Display:400,400i,700,700i,900,900i" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Urbanist:400,400i,700,700i,900,900i" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lora:400,400i,700,700i,900,900i" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_JeTUDu5PMPaI-1EJvoKiTfhZy9C3FBMTYQA3-coAScw.css?delta=9&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxFjVEOwyAMQy8UFWkXQgEyypoSRILGbj8-WlXyh_1k2QHj4U2WmguP9yVKhSgsPch0id442EB_anSuohJkUhWXWQIymAgH7N5QD3VXAprGpR4u9dGQtyuu2U43ww9OUGKK9lpPpO5bUiaDhh1zx7brXX3INmobgYvulP6h0UuL" /> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/4921","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"gtm":{"tagId":null,"settings":{"data_layer":"dataLayer","include_classes":false,"allowlist_classes":"","blocklist_classes":"","include_environment":false,"environment_id":"","environment_token":""},"tagIds":["GTM-N9J35X"]},"gtag":{"tagId":"","consentMode":false,"otherIds":[],"events":[],"additionalConfigInfo":[]},"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJx1kNFuwyAMRX_IDdJ-CBlwKI2DETZr-vfjIUu1SpOQ8Tl-8JUDxs2bzNdcePe-RKkQ_hk-FKKw9CCHS7TiYLuEL5VLJffBQIfNf3Opj4a8nAiZVGVKaUme1e9Ux-kyS0CGLJKZvGF2eZZPXvCBx1-5g4R1aEQjTzsWvjI27Jg7trv-xnibZdQ2Ahe9UwIlpmhfMz6pe5aUyUBfarTPOyiBiXDAPhfqpu4kGLpSyvLtzzhYkV9WojoWTLcLbzHVH9Zfk4Y","theme":"gesso","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":[],"back_to_top":{"back_to_top_button_trigger":600,"back_to_top_prevent_on_mobile":true,"back_to_top_prevent_in_admin":true,"back_to_top_button_type":"image","back_to_top_button_text":"Back to top"},"colorbox":{"opacity":"0.85","current":"{current} of {total}","previous":"\u00ab Prev","next":"Next \u00bb","close":"Close","maxWidth":"98%","maxHeight":"98%","fixed":true,"mobiledetect":true,"mobiledevicewidth":"750px"},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":true,"extTargetAppendNewWindowLabel":"(opens in a new window)","extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"0","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssInclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":true,"extAlertText":"You are now leaving the NEH website. NEH takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over, the organizations, views, or accuracy of the information contained on this server.","extHideIcons":false,"mailtoClass":"0","telClass":"","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","telLabel":"(link is a phone number)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"append","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","extAdditionalLinkClasses":"","extAdditionalMailtoClasses":"","extAdditionalTelClasses":"","extFaTelClasses":"fa fa-phone","whitelistedDomains":null,"extExcludeNoreferrer":""}},"csp":{"nonce":"d4GXMde_JTMxRigTSVy8Hg"},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"733a1944127d766a6b83aa58abff0a5b60f343bffde8411a7d385ab2b592dffb"}}</script> <script src="/themes/gesso/js/lib/modernizr.min.js?v=3.11.7"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_J6eKi40TOQTHOjI08ZDrfBx9YNtEibKmvRq6LySal48.js?scope=header&delta=1&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxdztEOgzAIBdAfqpLshxraIunEYoRu7u_ng3GZCQ-cm0BuwjxH12NWSL89Pi1kFd2S7lBowi5-BbE2qY3g5sBkpsCiCSV0m6iwviKrslDEhvLxmg1EsQwXh1xaoN2PDzOUra8o48lwnjoysC__RL57xCfuQdPULaNTpAWrXOWNhLI_jrpk8K6Fyb8MJWKH"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/google_tag/js/gtm.js?smurw5"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/google_tag/js/gtag.js?smurw5"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_2ZHUYo7XxUTZ6KpSruKmH4K7fQ2qS84tMfslp7BA2kA.js?scope=header&delta=4&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxdztEOgzAIBdAfqpLshxraIunEYoRu7u_ng3GZCQ-cm0BuwjxH12NWSL89Pi1kFd2S7lBowi5-BbE2qY3g5sBkpsCiCSV0m6iwviKrslDEhvLxmg1EsQwXh1xaoN2PDzOUra8o48lwnjoysC__RL57xCfuQdPULaNTpAWrXOWNhLI_jrpk8K6Fyb8MJWKH"></script> </head> <body class="path-node not-front node-page node-page--node-type-page"> <div class="skiplinks"> <a href="#main" class="skiplinks__link visually-hidden focusable">Skip to main content</a> </div> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-N9J35X" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div class="l-container"> <!-- page.header --> <header class="l-header" role="banner"> <div class="l-header__inner"> <div class="l-constrain l-constrain--wide l-constrain--no-padding"> <div class="l-header__innerer"> <div class="l-header__first"> <a class="site-name" href="https://www.neh.gov/" title="Home" rel="home"> <span class="site-name__text">National Endowment for the Humanities </span> <span class="site-name__print"> <img src="/themes/gesso/images/logo-header.svg?neh=2024" height="40" width="165" alt=""> </span> </a> </div> <div class="l-header__second"> <!-- Main Navigation in head. Desktop only --> <ul class="c-dropdown-menu"> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--grants has-subnav is-expanded"> <a href="/grants" class="menu__link--grants c-dropdown-menu__link js-top-level has-subnav is-expanded" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/14506">Grants</a> <ul class="c-dropdown-menu__subnav"> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--search-grant-programs"> <a href="/grants/listing" class="menu__link--search-grant-programs c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/17131">Search Grant Programs</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--application-review-process"> <a href="/grants/application-process" class="menu__link--application-review-process c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5606">Application Review Process</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--manage-your-award"> <a href="/grants/manage" class="menu__link--manage-your-award c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5596">Manage Your Award</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--grantee-communications-toolkit is-collapsed"> <a href="/grants/manage/grantee-communications-toolkit" class="menu__link--grantee-communications-toolkit c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2401">Grantee Communications Toolkit</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--neh-international-opportunities"> <a href="/initiatives/international-opportunities" class="menu__link--neh-international-opportunities c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36541">NEH International Opportunities</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--workshops-resources--tools is-collapsed"> <a href="/workshops-resources-tools" class="menu__link--workshops-resources--tools c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36111">Workshops, Resources, & Tools</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--search-all-past-awards"> <a href="https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/default.aspx" class="menu__link--search-all-past-awards c-dropdown-menu__link">Search All Past Awards</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--divisions-and-offices"> <a href="/divisions-offices" class="menu__link--divisions-and-offices c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/17936">Divisions and Offices</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--professional-development is-collapsed"> <a href="/grants/professional-development" class="menu__link--professional-development c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18106">Professional Development</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--sign-up-to-be-a-panelist"> <a href="https://apps.neh.gov/signup/" class="menu__link--sign-up-to-be-a-panelist c-dropdown-menu__link">Sign Up to Be a Panelist</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--equity-action-plan"> <a href="/equity-action-plan" class="menu__link--equity-action-plan c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36056">Equity Action Plan</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--emergency-and-disaster-relief"> <a href="/impact/emergency-and-disaster-relief" class="menu__link--emergency-and-disaster-relief c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36136">Emergency and Disaster Relief</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--impact--stories has-subnav is-expanded"> <a href="/impact" class="menu__link--impact--stories c-dropdown-menu__link js-top-level has-subnav is-expanded" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36071">Impact & Stories</a> <ul class="c-dropdown-menu__subnav"> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--states-and-jurisdictions"> <a href="/impact/states" class="menu__link--states-and-jurisdictions c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36091">States and Jurisdictions</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--featured-neh-funded-projects"> <a href="/essentials" class="menu__link--featured-neh-funded-projects c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36146">Featured NEH-Funded Projects</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--honors is-collapsed"> <a href="/impact/honors" class="menu__link--honors c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36061">Honors</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--humanities-magazine"> <a href="/humanities" class="menu__link--humanities-magazine c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/17156">Humanities Magazine</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--information-for-native-and-indigenous-communities"> <a href="/our-work/native-humanities" class="menu__link--information-for-native-and-indigenous-communities c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/31336">Information for Native and Indigenous Communities</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--information-for-pacific-islanders"> <a href="/PICI" class="menu__link--information-for-pacific-islanders c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34661">Information for Pacific Islanders</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--search-our-work"> <a href="https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/default.aspx" class="menu__link--search-our-work c-dropdown-menu__link">Search Our Work</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--initiatives has-subnav is-expanded"> <a href="/initiatives" class="menu__link--initiatives c-dropdown-menu__link js-top-level has-subnav is-expanded" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36151">Initiatives</a> <ul class="c-dropdown-menu__subnav"> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--american-tapestry"> <a href="/americantapestry" class="menu__link--american-tapestry c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/32116">American Tapestry</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--international-engagement"> <a href="/initiatives/international-engagement" class="menu__link--international-engagement c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36536">International Engagement</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--federal-indian-boarding-school-initiative"> <a href="/bsi" class="menu__link--federal-indian-boarding-school-initiative c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/32861">Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--humanities-perspectives-on-artificial-intelligence"> <a href="/AI" class="menu__link--humanities-perspectives-on-artificial-intelligence c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33691">Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--pacific-islands-cultural-initiative"> <a href="/PICI" class="menu__link--pacific-islands-cultural-initiative c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34661">Pacific Islands Cultural Initiative</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--united-we-stand-connecting-through-culture"> <a href="/unitedwestand" class="menu__link--united-we-stand-connecting-through-culture c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/32576">United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--a-more-perfect-union"> <a href="/250" class="menu__link--a-more-perfect-union c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/22716">A More Perfect Union</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--about has-subnav is-expanded"> <a href="/about" class="menu__link--about c-dropdown-menu__link js-top-level has-subnav is-expanded" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5726">About</a> <ul class="c-dropdown-menu__subnav"> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--neh-leadership is-collapsed"> <a href="/about/chair" class="menu__link--neh-leadership c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/30861">NEH Leadership</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--staff is-collapsed"> <a href="/neh-staff" class="menu__link--staff c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36166">Staff</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--history is-collapsed"> <a href="/about/history" class="menu__link--history c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5571">History</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--open-government is-collapsed"> <a href="/open" class="menu__link--open-government c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5476">Open Government</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--contact-neh"> <a href="/about/contact" class="menu__link--contact-neh c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5566">Contact NEH</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--translate"> <a href="/translate" class="menu__link--translate c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34876">Translate</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--news has-subnav is-expanded"> <a href="/news" class="menu__link--news c-dropdown-menu__link js-top-level has-subnav is-expanded" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/36081">News</a> <ul class="c-dropdown-menu__subnav"> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--press-releases"> <a href="/newsroom?f%5B0%5D=news_type%3A281&f%5B1%5D=newsroom_content_type%3Anews" class="menu__link--press-releases c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-query="{"f":["news_type:281","newsroom_content_type:news"]}" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18171">Press Releases</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--neh-in-the-news"> <a href="/newsroom?f%5B0%5D=news_type%3A416&f%5B1%5D=newsroom_content_type%3Anews" class="menu__link--neh-in-the-news c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-query="{"f":["news_type:416","newsroom_content_type:news"]}" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18171">NEH in the News</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--humanities-magazine"> <a href="/humanities" class="menu__link--humanities-magazine c-dropdown-menu__link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/17156">Humanities Magazine</a> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--contact-neh is-collapsed"> <a href="/about/contact" class="menu__link--contact-neh c-dropdown-menu__link is-collapsed" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5566">Contact NEH</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="c-dropdown-menu__item menu__item--search"> <a href="/search" class="menu__link--search c-dropdown-menu__link js-top-level" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/18121">Search</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="l-header__alert"> </div> <div class="search"> <div class="l-constrain l-constrain--tiny"> <form id="views-exposed-form-header-search" class="views-exposed-form" action="/search" method="get" accept-charset="UTF-8" _lpchecked="1"> <div class="form-item form-item--textfield"> <label for="edit-keywords-header-search" class="form-item__label">Search this Section</label> <input type="text" id="edit-keywords-header-search" name="keywords" value="" size="30" maxlength="128" class="form-item__text" placeholder="Enter search terms"> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions-header-search"> <input type="submit" id="edit-submit-header-search" value="GO" class="form-actions__submit" data-drupal-selector="edit-submit"> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <!-- page.navigation --> <!-- page.help --> <main id="main" class="main" role="main" tabindex="-1"> <div class="l-preface"> <div class="l-constrain"> </div> </div> <div class="l-content"> <article about="/plain-writing" typeof="schema:WebPage" class="node node--type-page node--display-mode-full basic-page"> <div class="l-left-sidebar "> <div class="l-constrain l-constrain--narrow"> <div class="l-left-sidebar__inner"> <div class="l-left-sidebar__main"> <!-- left_sidebar_main --> <h1 class="page-title page-title--xlarge">Plain Writing at NEH</h1> <section class="paragraph paragraph--type-text paragraph--display-mode-default l-section"> <div class="l-section__content "> <div class="field-body-rte"><p><a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ274/content-detail.html">The Plain Writing Act of 2010</a> requires federal agencies to write “clear Government communication that the public can understand and use.” President Obama also emphasized the importance of establishing “a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration” in his January 21, 2009, <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/01/26/E9-1777/transparency-and-open-government">Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government</a>.</p> <p>The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is committed to writing documents in plain language, using the <a href="https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/">Federal Plain Language Guidelines</a>.</p> <p>We need your help to comply with the act. Let us know if you have trouble understanding our documents or the pages on our website.</p> <p>NEH's Chief Funding Opportunity Officer is responsible for overseeing our plain language efforts. If you wish to communicate with the National Endowment for the Humanities about the clarity of its documents, please send an e-mail message to <a href="#" data-mail-to="tenagznantrzrag/ng/aru/qbg/tbi" data-replace-inner="@email">@email</a>.</p> <p>We aim to ensure that you—the reader—will benefit from our products and services. To this end, we intend to use plain language in any document that</p> <ul> <li>is necessary for obtaining any federal government benefit or service;</li> <li>provides information about any federal government benefit or service; or</li> <li>explains to the public how to comply with a requirement that the federal government administers or enforces.</li> </ul> <p>Please let us know if we haven’t written a document in plain language.</p> <p>As mentioned above, we invite your help in ensuring that our information is clear and accessible to our readers. Please let us know if you find any of our documents or web pages hard to understand, by sending an e-mail message to <a href="#" data-mail-to="tenagznantrzrag/ng/aru/qbg/tbi" data-replace-inner="@email">@email</a> with “Plain Language” as the subject. Be sure to give the title of the publication or URL if you’re referring to a particular publication or web page. Thank you in advance for your help in making us better at serving you.</p></div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </main> <footer class="l-footer" role="contentinfo"> <!-- block preface --> <div class="l-section"> <div class="l-section__content "> <div class="full-bleed newsletter-subscribe-block-container"> <div class="newsletter-subscribe-block-inner"> <div class="newsletter-subscribe-block-text-content"> <div class="field field--name-field-heading field--type-string field--label-hidden"> <div class="field__item"> <h3>Sign up for NEH updates</h3> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-body field--type-string-long field--label-hidden"> <div class="field__item"> Subscribe to receive the latest news and updates from the National Endowment for the Humanities. </div> </div> <div> <a class="button" href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNEH/subscriber/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SUBSCRIBE</a> </div> </div> <div class="newsletter-subscribe-block-logo"> <img src="/themes/gesso/images/bookburst.png" alt=""> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-constrain"> <div class="l-footer__main"> <div class="l-footer__main-first"> <div class="site-logos"> <div class="site-logo-item footer-site-logo"> <a class="" href="/" title="Home" rel="home"> <img src="/themes/gesso/images/logo-neh-seal-tagline-full-color.png" width="200px" height="200px" alt="The National Endowment for the Humanities"> </a> </div> <div class="site-logo-items-projects"> <div class="site-logo-item site-logo-project"> <a href="https://edsitement.neh.gov" class="site-logos__edsitement">Edsitement!</a> </div> <div class="site-logo-item site-logo-project"> <a href="/americantapestry" class="site-logos__american-tapestry">American Tapestry</a> </div> <div class="site-logo-item site-logo-project"> <a href="https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov" class="site-logos__chronicling-america">Chronicling America: History American Newspapers</a> </div> <div class="site-logo-item site-logo-project"> <a href="/unitedwestand" class="site-logos__united-we-stand">United We Stand</a> </div> </div> </div> <!-- block main_first_content --> <ul class="menu menu--social-links menu--social-links-menu"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/NEHgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" class="menu__link menu__link--twitter">Twitter</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--facebook"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nehgov/" class="menu__link menu__link--facebook">Facebook</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--youtube"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPQ3xb0ky2WsNM_U1FKjrNQ" class="menu__link menu__link--youtube">YouTube</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--instagram"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nehgov/?hl=en" class="menu__link menu__link--instagram">Instagram</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--linkedin"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-endowment-for-the-humanities/" class="menu__link menu__link--linkedin">LinkedIn</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--govdelivery"> <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNEH/subscriber/new" class="menu__link menu__link--govdelivery">GovDelivery</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-footer__postscript"> <div class="l-constrain"> <!-- block postscript --> <ul class="menu menu--footer"> <li class="menu__item menu__item--foia"> <a href="/about/foia" class="menu__link menu__link--foia" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5456">FOIA</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--no-fear-act"> <a href="/about/legal/no-fear-act" class="menu__link menu__link--no-fear-act" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5541">No Fear Act</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--office-of-the-inspector-general"> <a href="/about/oig" class="menu__link menu__link--office-of-the-inspector-general" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4891">Office of the Inspector General</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--accessibility"> <a href="/accessibility" class="menu__link menu__link--accessibility" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4926">Accessibility</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use"> <a href="/privacy-terms-of-use" class="menu__link menu__link--privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4936">Privacy Policy and Terms of Use</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--website-disclaimers"> <a href="/about/website-disclaimers" class="menu__link menu__link--website-disclaimers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4506">Website Disclaimers</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--open-gov"> <a href="/open" class="menu__link menu__link--open-gov" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5476">Open Gov</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--plain-writing-at-neh is-active-trail"> <a href="/plain-writing" class="menu__link menu__link--plain-writing-at-neh is-active-trail is-active" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4921" aria-current="page">Plain Writing at NEH</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--vulnerability-disclosure-policy"> <a href="/vulnerability-disclosure-policy" class="menu__link menu__link--vulnerability-disclosure-policy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/29451">Vulnerability Disclosure Policy</a> </li> <li class="menu__item menu__item--scam-advisory"> <a href="https://www.neh.gov/news/press-release/2016-06-21" class="menu__link menu__link--scam-advisory">Scam Advisory</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_PGE7fiSQuucfmzYYc4aXclKv61mhXQoQiTRObtu7w90.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxdztEOgzAIBdAfqpLshxraIunEYoRu7u_ng3GZCQ-cm0BuwjxH12NWSL89Pi1kFd2S7lBowi5-BbE2qY3g5sBkpsCiCSV0m6iwviKrslDEhvLxmg1EsQwXh1xaoN2PDzOUra8o48lwnjoysC__RL57xCfuQdPULaNTpAWrXOWNhLI_jrpk8K6Fyb8MJWKH"></script> <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery-modal/0.9.1/jquery.modal.min.js"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_xu53NVRxoRSrCd5QQ0L-dbPBoDoy15Sn1MU7nm-cXfk.js?scope=footer&delta=2&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxdztEOgzAIBdAfqpLshxraIunEYoRu7u_ng3GZCQ-cm0BuwjxH12NWSL89Pi1kFd2S7lBowi5-BbE2qY3g5sBkpsCiCSV0m6iwviKrslDEhvLxmg1EsQwXh1xaoN2PDzOUra8o48lwnjoysC__RL57xCfuQdPULaNTpAWrXOWNhLI_jrpk8K6Fyb8MJWKH"></script> <script src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?yt=1" id="_fed_an_ua_tag"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_cLe8kmMI_jdj_YV4eFIOIphz9Ak424ALklWdcGBFfjg.js?scope=footer&delta=4&language=en&theme=gesso&include=eJxdztEOgzAIBdAfqpLshxraIunEYoRu7u_ng3GZCQ-cm0BuwjxH12NWSL89Pi1kFd2S7lBowi5-BbE2qY3g5sBkpsCiCSV0m6iwviKrslDEhvLxmg1EsQwXh1xaoN2PDzOUra8o48lwnjoysC__RL57xCfuQdPULaNTpAWrXOWNhLI_jrpk8K6Fyb8MJWKH"></script> <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/select2/4.0.5/js/select2.full.min.js"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/select2boxes/js/select2boxes.js?v=4.0.5"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function googleTranslateElementInit() { new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en'}, 'google_translate_element'); } </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit"></script> </body> </html>