Articles by Bruce V. Corsino, Psy.D., about important topics and best practices in plain language.

• How many spaces do you put after a period and before you begin the next sentence?
• A "before and after" sample of how plain language affects daily life.
• Is it ‘its,’ ‘it's’ or ‘its’?
• If you can't identify a passive voice construction, you might be dangerous.
• The effect plain language has on safety and inspection reports: a "before" and "after" example.
• What's the only word that means mandatory? Here's what law and policy say about "shall, will, may and must."
• What's the difference between "in accordance with," "per," and "pursuant to?" Which is the best to use?
• Exceptions to the passive voice rule: The rule says "don't use passive voice!" But —are there exceptions??
• Plain Language and the perception of intelligence: When people read plain language, do they think a smart, or a dumb person wrote it? Here's what the research says.
• Acronyms: the most frequent reader complaint!
• Words of Authority: "May vs. Should" —the neglected siblings of "Must vs. Shall"