Plain language writing has been described as like looking through a shop window.

When you are looking through a shop window, you are looking at the goods on display. You are not looking at or being bothered by the glass in the window – it is transparent, you see straight through it.

In the same way, when you are reading something that has been written clearly in plain language, you should be interacting and engaging with the ideas. You should not be bothered by or struggle with the language the writer has used– it should be transparent, defining the writers ideas so that you can easily understand their thoughts.

Write simply and clearly so readers engage with your ideas, don’t hide them behind fancy or convoluted writing.