October 13th is International Plain Language Day and to celebrate, the editors at my work threw a plain language party! 

Using plain language in your writing helps explain complex information in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Plain language is especially applicable to anyone working with federal agencies. In 2010, President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act, which says that federal agencies should promote “clear Government communication that the public can understand and use.” The act goes on to define “plain writing” as “clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject.”

In true overdressed editor fashion, we themed this open-house plain throughout from the outfits to the snacks. Dressed in plain white tees (or blouses) and black pants, the editors supplied plain snacks, including plain M&Ms, saltines, and Nilla wafers, to name a few. Attendees received a passport to plain language upon arrival and traveled around the room to 5 different stations dealing with various areas of plain language: jargon, active voice, tone, word choice, and simplicity. After completing each station, travelers received a stamped letter on their passport to eventually spell out PLAIN. Once they had all 5 letters, they enjoyed a thick slice of “Plain Cake” while listening to the Plain White T’s and Weird Al’s “Word Crimes.”

• abnegation (noun) ab-ni-ˈgā-shən: restraint or denial of desire or self-interest

Usage: “Yeah, well,” I say, “I left Abnegation because I wasn't selfless enough, no matter how hard I tried to be.” Veronica Roth, Divergent

Origin: Middle English abnegacioun, from Late Latin abnegātiōn-, abnegātiō, from Latin abnegāre “to refute, decline, deny”
 
First Known Use: 14th century

• amity (noun) a-mə-tē: friendship and goodwill, especially as characterized by mutual acceptance and tolerance of potentially antagonistic standpoints or aims; friendly relations between large groups

Usage: “The Amity are talking, laughing, smiling, pulling food from their pockets, and passing it around.” Veronica Roth, Allegiant

Origin: Middle English amite, from Middle French amité, amitié, from Medieval Latin amicitas, from Latin amicus friend, friendly + -itas -ity; akin to Latin amare to love

First Known Use: 15th century

• candor (noun) ˈkan-dər: unreserved, honest, or sincere expression

Usage: “Candor has provided us with trustworthy and sound leaders in law.” Veronica Roth, Divergent

Origin: French and Latin; French candeur, from Latin candor, from candēre to shine, be white

First Known Use: 14th century

•  dauntless (adjective) dȯntlə̇s: marked by courageous resolution: incapable of being daunted, intimidated, or subdued

Usage: “It reminds me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free.” Veronica Roth, Insurgent

Origin: Middle English daunten (also, to tame), from Old French danter, alteration (probably influenced by Old French dangier power, jurisdiction) of donter, from Latin domitare to tame, from domitus, past participle of domare to tame, conquer (+ less)

First Known Use: 1588

• erudite (adjective) ˈer-e-ˌdīt: concerned with unduly specialized information : pedantic, bookish; characterized by a love of knowledge for its own sake : devoted to the pursuit of learning 

Usage: “Grabbing hold of the facts in the midst of shock is very Erudite of him.” Veronica Roth, Insurgent

Origin: Middle English erudit, from Latin eruditus: learned, skilled, experienced; from past participle of erudire to polish, instruct; from e- + rudis rude, unpolished, unskilled, ignorant

First Known Use: 15th century

• divergent (adjective) dīˈvərjənt: differing from each other or from a standard

Usage: “I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. I am Divergent.” Veronica Roth, Divergent 

Origin: Medieval Latin divergent-, divergens, present participle of divergere

First Known Use: 1696

• insurgent (noun) ˈ ə̇nˈsərjən(t): a person who rises in revolt against an established government; a rebel not recognized as a belligerent

Usage: “‘Insurgent,’ he says. ‘Noun. A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as a belligerent.’” Veronica Roth, Insurgent

Origin: Latin insurgent-, insurgens, present participle of insurgere to rise up, insurge

First Known Use: 1765

• allegiant (adjective) ə-ˈlē-jənt: giving allegiance; fidelity by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government; devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause

Usage: “They released some kind of manifesto this morning. They call themselves Allegiant … because they’re allied with the original purpose of our city.” Veronica Roth, Allegiant

Origin: allegiance + -ant; Middle English aligeaunce, from Anglo-French allegeance, alteration of ligeance, from lige liege

First Known Use: 1613