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Course Description

Plain language is the key to effective communication, allowing you to get the most important information to the right people as clearly and as effectively as possible. In this course, you’ll learn the writing standards and practices outlined within the plain language field. You’ll also develop a sensitivity to the issues of literacy and work toward empowering people who may have been marginalized or sidelined by a tangle of “bureaucratese.”

This course will introduce you to the basics of preparing materials that are clear and understandable. Whether you work on public documents, books, articles, forms or web material, the process and considerations are the same. Topics include understanding your purpose and your audience, doing research, writing and editing skills for plain language, and plain language design.

The final project for this course is due one week after the course ends.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in
Section Title
Plain Language Principles
Type
Self-paced within deadlines
Dates
Oct 21, 2025 to Nov 10, 2025
Contact Hours
9.0
Location
  • Online
Course Fee(s)
Fee $375.00
Drop Request Deadline
Oct 16, 2025
Transfer Request Deadline
Oct 16, 2025
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Oct 21, 2025 to Nov 10, 2025
Section Title
Plain Language Principles
Type
Self-paced within deadlines
Dates
Jan 13, 2026 to Feb 02, 2026
Contact Hours
9.0
Location
  • Online
Course Fee(s)
Fee $375.00
Drop Request Deadline
Jan 08, 2026
Transfer Request Deadline
Jan 08, 2026
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Jun 20, 2025 to Feb 02, 2026
Section Title
Plain Language Principles
Type
Self-paced within deadlines
Dates
Mar 24, 2026 to Apr 13, 2026
Contact Hours
9.0
Location
  • Online
Course Fee(s)
Fee $375.00
Drop Request Deadline
Mar 19, 2026
Transfer Request Deadline
Mar 19, 2026
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Jul 17, 2025 to Apr 13, 2026
Section Title
Plain Language Principles
Type
Self-paced within deadlines
Dates
May 19, 2026 to Jun 08, 2026
Contact Hours
9.0
Location
  • Online
Course Fee(s)
Fee $375.00
Drop Request Deadline
May 14, 2026
Transfer Request Deadline
May 14, 2026
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Jul 17, 2025 to Jun 08, 2026
Section Title
Plain Language Principles
Type
Self-paced within deadlines
Dates
Sep 15, 2026 to Oct 05, 2026
Contact Hours
9.0
Location
  • Online
Course Fee(s)
Fee $375.00
Drop Request Deadline
Sep 10, 2026
Transfer Request Deadline
Sep 10, 2026
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 05, 2026
Section Title
Plain Language Principles
Type
Self-paced within deadlines
Dates
Oct 20, 2026 to Nov 09, 2026
Contact Hours
9.0
Location
  • Online
Course Fee(s)
Fee $375.00
Drop Request Deadline
Oct 15, 2026
Transfer Request Deadline
Oct 15, 2026
Withdrawal Request Deadline
Jul 17, 2025 to Nov 09, 2026
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