Plain English Prompting: AI Skills Covered In Our Plain English Writing Workshop

AI can turn a two-line prompt into a two-page document in seconds. But longer isn’t clearer. Extra length can bury your key message or make a simple point sound complicated.

That’s why plain English writing matters more now, not less. If you know what clear writing looks like, you can spot when AI has drifted into vague or wordy copy and prompt it back on track.

As of 2026, AI’s unedited output still isn’t reliably clear or right for your reader. As the author, you’re responsible for making sure every idea is one you intend to convey, the right points get emphasis, and the document is worth your reader’s time and attention.

Mastering the art of clarity in AI prompting starts with a strong foundation in plain English. Here’s how our plain English writing workshops can help you build transferable AI writing skills.

Our 8 Plain English Writing Tips, Applied to AI

Plain English writing demands an active voice and direct sentences. The best AI prompts use the same structure. This is just one example of how plain English writing and AI prompting demand the same skills.

This is also why our 8 plain English writing tips translate easily into AI writing training. Here’s how we reference the 8 tips in our AI writing workshops:

1. Consider your audience. → Know who’s reading and what they need. Tell AI too: “write for a time-poor executive who needs a decision by Friday” beats “write a summary”.
2. Keep it simple. → Use short words, short sentences, and a clear structure. Watch for AI copy that sounds impressive but says little.
3. If you have to look up a word’s meaning, don’t use it. → AI favours polished words people rarely say. Swap them for everyday ones.
4. Use the active voice. → “The team approved the budget” shows who did what. Passive AI sentences can hide responsibility.
5. Don’t use jargon if there’s a plain English equivalent. → Say “use”, not “utilise”. List terms to avoid in your prompt.
6. Get your punctuation right. → It guides your reader. AI tends to overuse dashes, semicolons, and commas. Best to check it reads naturally.
7. Have one idea per sentence. → Ask AI to split long sentences, then check that nothing was lost.
8. If it’s not crucial, delete it. → AI adds introductions, recaps, and filler. Be ready to cut and ask for shorter outputs.

Why “Write in Plain English” Isn’t Enough

Yes, you can ask AI to “write in plain English”. It will try, but it can still produce vague, generic or padded copy. The difference is the person giving instructions. If you know the principles, you can pinpoint what’s wrong, ask for specific fixes like “cut this by half” or “lead with the recommendation”, and judge the result.

If your prompt already says what’s needed, consider sharing that instead. When AI edits, tell it not to add length, then check meaning, tone, and clarity.

The same applies to AI agents: an agent is only as good as its instructions.

How Our AI Writing Workshops Teach This

Smarter AI Prompting for Workplace Writing combines practical plain English skills with effective use of AI in three steps:

1. Learn our 8 plain English tips.
2. Practice them through writing and editing exercises, building the judgement to recognise clear, useful writing.
3. Apply them to AI, with prompting techniques, bespoke prompts for your workplace tasks, and guidance on building agents.

Our approach is simple. We teach plain English principles first, then show you:

• The difference between strong AI-assisted copy and AI slop
• How to prompt AI properly
• How to review AI output and fix what’s vague, wordy, or unclear
• How to build your organisation’s house style into AI agents.

What You’ll Be Able To Do

In our AI writing workshop, you’ll learn how to:

• Recognise what AI does well and where it confuses readers
• Use plain English principles to improve your prompts
• Develop stronger arguments and create clear, accurate summaries
• Structure writing for your purpose and audience
• Make AI-generated writing sound natural
• Spot when AI has made writing longer, vaguer, or less precise
• Check meaning, tone, and clarity using your own judgement.

Book Your Virtual or On-site Plain English Writing Workshop with APM

Andrew Pegler Media has run plain English training since 2000. We now offer AI writing training across Australia. We also offer broader AI training and custom AI solutions.

Our recent AI/plain English workshop clients include the and ASX listed logistics company Climate Change Authority, Super Members Council, Department of Transport and Cancer Council. Your workshops will be built for your team’s specific needs.

AI saves time, but clear writing still depends on knowing what to say and what to leave out. To bring this workshop to your team via a virtual or on-site format, call 1300 208 849.