The concept of robots arrived along with the 20th century, as a logical progression in an increasingly industrialised and mechanised world. Pundits at the time, driven by imagination and a new landscape of endless possibilities, wove tales of how these mechanical marvels would help free us from drudgery and menial work. Since the mid-20th century…
Andrew Pegler – APM’s Principal Editor/Writer and Project Manager Award winning plain English editor and writer, Andrew Pegler believes that sometimes words are just not enough … especially clumsy, badly written ones. 2019 was Andrew’s third straight year talking on plain English and the law at Victorian Law Week. Discover more on Andrew’s talk entitled…
Appearances are deceptive. What is apparently a simple and effective message is usually the product of long and careful crafting. This process is impossible without a sound grasp of language from the ground up. So whether it’s copy writing from scratch, a light edit or major surgery involving a complete rethink of an existing document,…
The brief: The Victorian Government established an inquiry into the use of chemicals by government employees – specifically 245T and 24D – between 1965 and 1995, in Western Victoria. Working very closely with the inquiry’s Chair Greg Tweedly, APM was commissioned to plain English edit and proof read this 100k word report while also ensuring…
The brief: The Education State initiative by Victoria’s Andrews government aims to build an education system that produces excellence and reduces the impact of disadvantage. Working over several months, both in house and remotely, with The Department of Education and Training, APM wrote around 40 fact sheets and range of press releases, brochures, web sites,…
The brief: Asian Pacific Group is a 150-year-old integrated property development company firmly bound to the fabric of the Australian property story. This leading Australian property developer needed a complete copy refresh to better reflect recent changes to its operations. Drawing from a mix of director interviews, bullet points and assorted collateral the new copy…
Change is the essence of capitalism. Back in 1942, Joseph Schumpeter popularised the idea that creative destruction of economies, and/or sectors of economies, was critical to prosperity and growth. He argued that progress in a capitalist system relied on the destruction of an existing economic order to make room for the next. Capitalism was, essentially,…
Just saw this hairdresser’s ad that has nailed the answer to the sluggish economy by covering all possibilities: “Now offering Ladie’s Haircuts” Come in apostrophe Man!
It’s budget night. You’re nestled into the couch armed with a coldy, a crisp chardonnay or something stronger depending on your passion/frustration for things political. Josh Frydenberg steps up to the dispatch box and unleashes an avalanche of lingo that leaves you scratching your head. My advice? Blast that budget blathering with my plain English,…
Now where’s my plain English marble saw at? As a plain-English editor and writer I sometimes feel like a stonemason. Please, let me explain. Let’s enter a parallel universe (or at least one where matter can be emailed). In this world, I am regularly sent large stone sculptures that have been created by capable, smart…
