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Plain English Review of a Government Survey

We recently #plainenglish edited a govt. survey. “A camel,” it has been said, “is a horse designed by committee.” While we make no judgements, here at...

Plain English Review of a Travel Insurance PDS

While I agree #travel broadens the mind, comprehending those #insurance policies can be like walking through honey on a cold day. I was recently...

Plain English Review for a Logistics Company

Internal policies must be 100% clear to avoid trespassing or disputes. No untangling of lawyer speak or clumsy wording. We...

Plain English Words to Avoid

As Julie Andrews never sang – here are a few of my most unfavourite things. (…when the dog utilises, when...

Plain English Legalese Editing

A #legalease #plainEnglish before and after #edit. Some may argue the need to mention “criteria”. I didn’t see it, neither did the client. As...

Plain English Review of a Suite of Government Application Forms.

Here’s one from a recent #plainenglish review of a suite of #government application #forms. Our much-loved, long-term client was somewhat amused albeit startled such an...

A Good Plain English Edit for A Well-known University

As with a lot of text that comes to APM for a ‘clean’, template copy is usually a Frankensteinian concoction....

Plain English Writing Training Program at the Federal Treasury

APM Principal Andrew Pegler is in Canberra doing a plain English training program for writers of explanatory memorandums at the...

Andrew Pegler Prepared a Copy of How to Write in Plain English (With Example)

It’s the end of annual report season and we’ve been busy wrangling ropey, client-supplied copy into clarion calls worthy of...

APM Principal Andrew Pegler judged NZ’s plain English awards 2022

APM Principal Andrew Pegler has just finished #judging NZ’s #plainenglish awards in the #legalease category. APM does a lot of legal editing. Here’s an extract...

LET’S BE CLEAR – Interview with Andrew Pegler

(Please excuse the clunky Google translation from the original French) Welcome to our continuation of our trip to meet the...

Tips for Bringing Plain English to Your Report Writing

K.I.S.S Spotting plain English in a corporate report can be like finding Waldo! It’s because people often fear that presenting...

Plain English and Narrative: So What’s the Story?

I was in Boise, Idaho yesterday and you know how conservative that state can be and we went out for...

Eight Tips For Plain English

Even if we’re winning at our job, know more than the average Joe, and are a member of an influential...

Bringing Plain English to the Law

So, are you friend or foe? When we first meet someone, we ask ourselves, “Is this person friend or foe?”...

Plain Language Q&A with Andrew Pegler

When it comes to plain language, law and finance are two of the industries most reluctant to change. But changing...

Warning: A fire alarm manual…

We plain English edit pre-written instruction manuals for importers. Here’s a before and after from a fire alarm product. Looking...

Your everyday plain English tips series…

Victorian Government policy on building houses on the coast

We plain English edited the Victorian Government policy on building houses on the coast. Here’s a before and after…

Instruction manuals – a plain English before and after.

Not sure about you but I often struggle to follow instruction manuals. We recently plain English edited several for an...

If it’s not crucial delete it

Truly good jazz is all about the notes that aren’t played. Same goes for good professional writing. Ask yourself ’does...

The brand advantages of plain English contracts

When we meet a stranger, we have one fundamental question — “are they friend or foe?” Everything follows from that...

Tone of Voice Guide for Royal Automobile Association of SA

The brief: The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) commissioned a tone of voice guide to better reflect its transformation...

Plain English Tip #47

A big part of plain English is writing in a conversational tone – kinda like how people talk. Here’s four...

The 6 Essentials Of Annual Report Design

Gone are the days of annual reports produced as a simple statutory obligation and, generally, with the visual appeal of...

Web Copywriting

Are you getting your new website together or looking to do a refresh? Then don’t forget the words. Not just...

Legal Editing And Writing Services

Plain English legal writing services and legal editing services give the reader the best chance of understanding your contract, policy...

Plain English Contract Editing

So many of the contracts and forms used in insurance and banking are poorly written, the victims of decades of...

Business Writing Courses

Our plain English business writing courses are a must for organisations that want their staff to write in plain English. For...

Finance Writing Services

Our guarantee Concise, plain English sentences from an experienced finance writer ‘Bank speak’ avoided Flawless spelling, punctuation and grammar Facts...

Government Writing And Design Services

Since 2000, our specialist writers and designers for government have helped countless state and Commonwealth government departments and agencies with...

Annual Report Writing & Editing

Annual report writing, editing and designing Annual reports are often considered the ‘thoroughbreds’ of corporate document production: they need a...

Business Writing Services

Our guarantee concise, plain English business writing ‘bank speak’ eliminated flawless spelling, punctuation and grammar facts and figures never changed highly...

Proofreading And Editing Services

Appearances are deceptive….. What is apparently a simple and effective message is usually the product of long and careful crafting....

Your 9 Essentials For A Great Annual Report

Annual reports are often considered the ‘thoroughbreds’ of corporate document production: they need a steady hand on the reins to...

Five Tips For Writing Shorter Sentences

We’ve all had to navigate them … the protracted strings of words (otherwise known as sentences) that seem to stretch...

Robotics, Mass Unemployment

The concept of robots arrived along with the 20th century, as a logical progression in an increasingly industrialised and mechanised...

About Andrew Pegler

Andrew Pegler – APM’s Principal Editor/Writer and Project Manager Award winning plain English editor and writer, Andrew Pegler believes that...

Plain English Editing And Copywriting

Appearances are deceptive. What is apparently a simple and effective message is usually the product of long and careful crafting....

Former Lands Department Chemical Inquiry

The brief: The Victorian Government established an inquiry into the use of chemicals by government employees – specifically 245T and...

The Education State

The brief: The Education State initiative by Victoria’s Andrews government aims to build an education system that produces excellence and...

Asian Pacific Group

The brief: Asian Pacific Group is a 150-year-old integrated property development company firmly bound to the fabric of the Australian...

How Do You Deal With Change?

Change is the essence of capitalism. Back in 1942, Joseph Schumpeter popularised the idea that creative destruction of economies, and/or...

Grammar/Plain English Watch

Just saw this hairdresser’s ad that has nailed the answer to the sluggish economy by covering all possibilities: “Now offering...

Your Federal Budget Plain English Jargon Buster!

It’s budget night. You’re nestled into the couch armed with a coldy, a crisp chardonnay or something stronger depending on...

When Stone Masonry Meets Plain English!

Now where’s my plain English marble saw at? As a plain-English editor and writer I sometimes feel like a stonemason....

Consequences Of Erudite

When it comes to writing clarity, simplicity are ideal. In their classic manual of style, Strunk and White encourage writers...

Plain English And Contracts – Yes The Two Can Coalesce!

Professor Joseph Kimble of Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in his book Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please: The...

Churchill, Einstein And The Origins Of Plain English

An English plane…. Winston Churchill may be well known for the battles he waged in the name of the Allied...

The 8 Rules Of Plain English

“Elegance of language may not be in the power of all of us; but simplicity and straightforwardness are. Write much...

National Australia Bank (NAB) Annual Report

The brief: Using a mix of information provided, conducting staff and customer interviews and sourcing internally completed pro formas, APM wrote...

Department Of State Development, Innovation Annual Report n

The brief: Using a mixture of press releases, speeches and one-on-one interviews APM outlined the Department’s work and achievements in securing...

Moores Legal

The brief: Leading Melbourne law firm, Moores Legal, commissioned APM to write plain English web copy outlining its services and explaining...

Extracts From Recent Banking And Finance Blogs

Every business needs content. Not the bland, me-too nonsense that so often clutters up our in-boxes and feeds, but genuinely...

Federal Budget Jargon Buster Part 1

It’s budget night. You’re nestled into the couch armed with a coldy, a crisp chardonnay or something stronger depending on...

Part 1: What Is A Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

There’s been a lot of talk in the news lately about free trade agreements (FTAs). The PM recently returned from...

The Nuts-And-Bolts Of Our FTAs With South Korea And Japan

Last week we looked at the definition of a free trade agreement (FTA), and the PM’s recent FTA negotiations with...

EPA Victoria Annual Report 2013-2014

The brief: This is the third year APM has been involved in the writing and editing of EPA Victoria’s annual...

Industry Sustainability Working Committee Advisory Report

  The brief: The Department of State Development, Business and Innovation commissioned an Industry Sustainability Working Committee to liaise with industry, research...

Department of Human Services – Services Connect

The brief: Victoria’s Department of Human Services was reforming its human services system to deliver more effective and connected services. Called...

Corporate Blogging

Blogs for NAB  The brief: NAB engaged APM to create a content strategy covering aspects of property investing. These form part of...

Ghostwriting LinkedIn Posts

We write engaging, shareable LinkedIn posts for thought leaders from all walks — and talks — of business. From partners...

Email Direct Marketing Campaigns

APM has been writing and creating EDMs since 2005. Our many campaigns help our clients capture new leads, make more sales...

Harrolds Made To Measure

APM teamed with 3 Deep design to create Harrolds Made to Measure.

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...

Inflation Basics: What, Why, Where, How, Etc.

Inflation is the increase in the general price of goods and services. As it rises, every dollar in your wallet/purse/man...

NAB’s Help, Guidance And Advice Websites

The brief: Leading Melbourne law firm, Moores Legal, commissioned APM to write plain English web copy outlining its services and explaining...

Tone Of Voice Guide Writers And Style Guides Writers

We are highly experienced tone-of-voice guide writers and style guide writers. We also train staff to use them. Your tone-of-voice guide...

Tone Of Voice And Style Guide For Telstra Digital

Brief: APM was commissioned to develop Telstra Digital’s Tone of Voice and Style Guide to complement existing tone of voice...

M+K

The Brief: M+K is a commercial law firm with offices around Australia. It commissioned web site copy to position it...

RACV Annual Report

The brief: The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) provides roadside assistance, vehicle, home and contents insurance, personal and car...

Rio Tinto Corporate And Community

The brief: Rio Tinto is one of the world’s largest mining and exploration companies and APM has worked with it...

UBank Weekly Economics And Finance Blog

The brief: For over three years Andrew Pegler has written a humorous, insightful plain English and educational blog for Ubank, covering...

Tone Of Voice Guide For Royal Automobile Association Of SA

The brief: The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) commissioned a tone of voice guide to better reflect its transformation...

When Moore’s Law Doesn’t Always Mean More

Let’s try something a little out of left field. It may sound a tad incongruous but bear with me. It...

The Sixth Wave Of Innovation

Posted by Andrew Pegler on May 04, 2011 There’s a brave new world coming and it wants your leftover pizza....

They Were The Daze My Friends…

Andrew Pegler – 21 January 2011 Sorry folks, the pre-GFC halcyon days of low interest rates are gonski. Wayne and...

The Year That Was

Andrew Pegler – 7 January 2011 Within a decade we’ll be sentimental for the days when the U.S. was economic...

National Broadband Network

The brief: The Australian Government plan for a National Broadband Network (NBN) represents the largest ever infrastructure project undertaken in...

Sustainability Victoria – Annual Report

The Brief: As an agency of the Victorian Government, Sustainability Victoria aims to integrate sustainability into all aspects of Victorian...

What The Hell Are The Banks’ Funding Costs?

Andrew Pegler – 26 November 2010 Are the banks just gouging scoundrels or is there something to this “funding costs”...

Interest Rate Basics

With so much talk about interest rates I thought it apt to take a look at some of the basics...

My Two Cents Worth

Andrew Pegler – 27 August 2010 Interest rates will stay steadyish until the end of the year when the economy...

This Is In Your Interest

Andrew Pegler – 26 March 2010 THE GFC has changed how banks raise money. While this isn’t great for borrowers...

The Ads And Disads Of Immigration

Posted by Andrew Pegler on February 26, 2010 Hello UBankers (don’t read that aloud too fast as it may sound...

The Wonder Down Under

With a solid banking system, good economic management, political stability, healthy public finances, an open economy situated smack in the...

To fix Or Not To Fix?

Posted August 2009 To fix or not to fix? That is the question. Do you punt on interest rates going...

What Has Inflation Got To Do With The Price Of Fish?

Well quite a lot actually but more on that later. As some of you may already have read, Australia just...

What Is A Technical Recession?

Recession? Moi? You wouldn’t usually think of Poland and South Korea when you think of classic Aussie bed fellow but...

Bugle

Once Melbourne’s leading satirical newspaper now its favourite radio and TV bulletin. www.buglecorp.com

Churchill, Einstein And The Origins Of Plain English

This first appeared on the opinion pages of The Melbourne Age Winston Churchill may be well known for the battles...

Welcome To Australian Democracy For Dummies

On behalf of Captain I gotta Zip and The Sheriff of Nothingham hill I’d like to welcome all Australian’s to...

Facebook Opinion Piece

This first appeared on the opinion pages of The Melbourne Age EVERY now and then the living are lucky enough...

Monash Business Review

Andrew Pegler was editor of Monash Business Review for three years, which published original research, including fully refereed academic articles,...

The Challenges For SME’s In The Present Climate

This article first appeared in the Monash University Business Review The well trodden road for SMEs is littered by the...

Tall Poppy Syndrome

This article first appeared on http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/ Apparently Kevin Rudd is worth $60 million. Apparently Malcolm Turnball is worth $120 million....

Our Clients Include

Non Government National Australia Bank Westpac ANZ Seek Telstra Melbourne Business School Monash University Business Review IAG The Global Carbon Capture...

Proofreading

Whether you’ve just completed a multi-million dollar tender, prepared your annual report, finalised a new government policy or revamped a...

Plain English Business Writing

Our plain English training is a must for organisations who want their staff to write in plain English. For us, something...

A Guide To Systems Thinking

The brief: The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) needed a document that explained the principles of systems thinking and...