Plain Language

The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to write "clear Government communication that the public can understand and use." President Obama also emphasized the importance of establishing "a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration" in his January 21, 2009, Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government.

NSF is committed to writing new documents in plain language, using the Federal Plain Language Guidelines.

We need your help to comply with this Act! Let us know if you have trouble understanding our documents or the pages on our website.

We have assigned staff to oversee our plain language efforts:

• Stanley Dambroski, sdambros@nsf.gov (Plain Language Contact)
• Christina Whitcomb, cbartlet@nsf.gov (Plain Language Contact)

We’re training our employees and are strengthening our oversight process. We must use plain language in any document that:

• is necessary for obtaining any federal government benefit or service or filing taxes;
• provides information about any federal government benefit or service; or
• explains to the public how to comply with a requirement that the federal government administers or enforces.

We have to report our progress and compliance with the Act. We will post that report here.