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robert@roberthempsall.co.uk

Plain language writing

It's true that words can paint pictures and stir emotions, but sometimes they just have a job to do: to be understood as easily as possible.

Plain language talks to people in terms they understand so it's seen as trustworthy (a value every brand aspires to). It also means it gets things done the right way, first time, which saves lots of time and money telling people the same thing again.

Plain language projects // Blog posts // Top

Projects

NHS Summary Care Records

Having, as requested, ‘taken time to read this leaflet’ (all 12 pages of it) about NHS Summary Care Records, I realised most of it was unnecessary

Have a look at how I got on making it into manageable amount of information.

See the full NHS Summary Care Records page

Projects

bmi baby baggage allowance text

A little while ago I picked up on a tweet from Mark Boulton about the confusing information about baggage allowance that he experienced on the bmibaby website. Having taken a look at the site in question it was easy to see why.

Having already had a go at Virgin Atlantic’s baggage information I thought I’d have a go at this too. Here’s how I got on

See the full bmi baby baggage allowance text page

Projects

NHS appointment letter

redesigned and rewritten NHS appointment letter with clear language and logical structure

Project to rewrite and redesign an appointment letter sent out by the local NHS trust.

See the full NHS appointment letter page

Blog posts about plain language // Projects // Top

Blog

Unticketed?

Hours before the Olympics opening ceremony (which is two and a half days after the first event and 12 hours after the official start – keeping up?) a minor row has broken out about an ‘unticketed’ event, a preliminary round in the archery competition as it happens. I say it’s a minor row because by the end of the Olympics I’m sure it will have been forgotten about.

So, what is an ‘unticketed’ event?

If you don’t know, you’re in good company.

See the full Unticketed? page

Blog

A long post in three lines

I’ve long wanted to write a long blog post about how interference from legal departments causes information to become less understandable. In an angry moment, I realised I could sum up my feelings about it in three lines, so here they are.

See the full A long post in three lines page

Blog

UK Census website 15 minute challenge

No, I haven’t challenged myself to fill in the entire Census form online in 15 minutes. When I have to do that I’m treating myself to a Chinese take-away to lessen the pain of the chunk of my life I’ve lost to bureaucracy.

Instead I took 15 minutes to make some sense of, and simplify, this page from the Census website

what to do if you are away census question web page

See the full UK Census website 15 minute challenge page