bureaucrats get duelling s t yle guides
TRANSCRIPT
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7
1/9
Tom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom Burton Government editor
Dec 10, 2020 – 7.30pm
Two competing style guides for corporate, academic, media and government
writers are being launched after a revamped editorial bible for writers and editors
– the government's Style Manual – was criticised for being too digital.
Detractors say the Style Manual, which has long been the gold standard for writers
and editors, was hijacked by digital content designers when its 550-page sixth
edition was overhauled and converted to a website in September.
Save Share
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 2/9
The government Style Manual had long been the gold standard for public and private sector publishing. Peter Rae
In response, the new Australian Style GuideAustralian Style GuideAustralian Style GuideAustralian Style GuideAustralian Style Guide has been developed by editors at the
Plain English Foundation training and editing group, led by its director and co-
founder, Neil James.
The new guide covers contemporary Australian writing practice for print and
digital environments and is targeted at a broad audience of public and private
sector communicators.
The government Style Manual had long been the gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public and
private sector publishingprivate sector publishingprivate sector publishingprivate sector publishingprivate sector publishing but had not been updated for 20 years.
After much lobbying by professional editors for a new edition for government and
non-government writers, it was merged with the Digital Transformation Agency's
digital content guide to create an unashamedly digital-centric online style guideonline style guideonline style guideonline style guideonline style guide for
federal government writers, editors and approvers of official content.
The result is purposely more an instructional manual than the definitive guide to
clear expression. Brevity is applauded, with research suggesting attention spans
have fallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 years to about eight seconds.
While this has been welcomed for web content to support government services,
professional editors say the digital guide does not work for analysis and longer
form writing, either in government and more broadly.
Advertisement
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 3/9
Not what was hoped for
"It definitely is disappointing," said Kerry Davies, the chairman of the Style Manual
Steering Group of the Institute of Professional Editors, which helped advise the
DTA on the revamp and provided an external review before its public release.
"This is not the seventh edition editors were hoping for. It does not have the nuance
and context that editors need for their work across different written forms and
genres."
Ms Davies said the DTA guide reflected its audience's desire for rules rather than
discussion about style, and confirmed the institute was looking at the suitability of
other style manuals that could also be used in its accreditation program.
She pointed to another style manual being developed by Biotext and Macquarie
University, to be called the Australian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of Style.
Dr James said policy writers would see "plain language" as dumbing down their
text and would largely ignore the new digital style guide, resorting to complex
"narrative" style that buried the key messages.
In the push to emphasise usability and what digital content designers refer to as
"content as the interfacecontent as the interfacecontent as the interfacecontent as the interfacecontent as the interface", critics said the new government style guide lacked the
editorial gravitas and rigour of the previous print-only versions of the official Style
Manual.
Rather than focus on "plain English", the digital guide explicitly dumpedexplicitly dumpedexplicitly dumpedexplicitly dumpedexplicitly dumped the term
and defined plain language narrowly as involving shorter sentences and simpler
words.
In contrast, Dr James' new style manual has plain English principles as the centre
piece of its approach.
Workplace writing is too often marred by poor design, unclear structure and complex language that does not always consider its audience.
— Neil James, Plain English Foundation
Save 50% for your first 3 months.
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 4/9
Clear and consistent
Dr James, who sat on the advisory group for the DTA's revamp, said his
organisation's new guide "sets out how to make content clear and consistent for
online use, without losing the editorial rigour of the traditional print environment".
"The ASG is firmly grounded in plain English principles and in the rigorous set of
style rules that Australian editors have built up over the decades," Dr James said.
"Plain English isn’t just about using short words. It's also about how you highlight
key messages, structure information and lay it out on the page.
"While getting the words right is certainly key to the writing process, so too is the
way we structure information and deploy visual elements to make it easy to use.
"Equally important is evaluating how easily your audience will find understand and
use the information they need.
"Workplace writing, and public language more broadly, is too often marred by poor
design, unclear structure and complex language that does not always consider its
audience carefully enough."
The split over approaches to clear expression is not simply about language and
design.
RELATED
Style manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewrite
Online services save governments an estimated $16 per transaction compared with
face-to-face engagements.
Dr James cited a Swedish example where the Higher Education Authority saved
nearly 20 per cent of its call-centre costs by rewriting application forms in simple,
easy-to-read formats.
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 5/9
US Navy researchUS Navy researchUS Navy researchUS Navy researchUS Navy research found that well-written memos took up to a quarter less time to
read and approve, saving the navy about $US73 million ($99 million) in officer time
(not including the time for rewrites) and $US350 million for the whole service.
Dr James estimates a third of public servants' time involved writing. Applying
similar ratios, that is a productivity saving close to $8 billion a year for the annual
$100 billion wage bill for all federal and state public servants.
License article
Tom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has worked in government, specialising in the communications sector. He has won three Walkley awards. Connect with Tom on TwitterTwitterTwitterTwitterTwitter. Email Tom at [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]
Save Share
READ MORE
LATEST STORIES
Markets Live
ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156
9 mins ago
'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial
11 mins ago
AFR Magazine
What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?
Before the Bell
ASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hot
SPONSOREDSave 50% for your first 3 months.
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in
Tom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom Burton Government editor
Dec 10, 2020 – 7.30pm
Two competing style guides for corporate, academic, media and government
writers are being launched after a revamped editorial bible for writers and editors
– the government's Style Manual – was criticised for being too digital.
Detractors say the Style Manual, which has long been the gold standard for writers
and editors, was hijacked by digital content designers when its 550-page sixth
edition was overhauled and converted to a website in September.
Save Share
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 2/9
The government Style Manual had long been the gold standard for public and private sector publishing. Peter Rae
In response, the new Australian Style GuideAustralian Style GuideAustralian Style GuideAustralian Style GuideAustralian Style Guide has been developed by editors at the
Plain English Foundation training and editing group, led by its director and co-
founder, Neil James.
The new guide covers contemporary Australian writing practice for print and
digital environments and is targeted at a broad audience of public and private
sector communicators.
The government Style Manual had long been the gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public andthe gold standard for public and
private sector publishingprivate sector publishingprivate sector publishingprivate sector publishingprivate sector publishing but had not been updated for 20 years.
After much lobbying by professional editors for a new edition for government and
non-government writers, it was merged with the Digital Transformation Agency's
digital content guide to create an unashamedly digital-centric online style guideonline style guideonline style guideonline style guideonline style guide for
federal government writers, editors and approvers of official content.
The result is purposely more an instructional manual than the definitive guide to
clear expression. Brevity is applauded, with research suggesting attention spans
have fallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 yearsfallen by about a quarter in 15 years to about eight seconds.
While this has been welcomed for web content to support government services,
professional editors say the digital guide does not work for analysis and longer
form writing, either in government and more broadly.
Advertisement
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 3/9
Not what was hoped for
"It definitely is disappointing," said Kerry Davies, the chairman of the Style Manual
Steering Group of the Institute of Professional Editors, which helped advise the
DTA on the revamp and provided an external review before its public release.
"This is not the seventh edition editors were hoping for. It does not have the nuance
and context that editors need for their work across different written forms and
genres."
Ms Davies said the DTA guide reflected its audience's desire for rules rather than
discussion about style, and confirmed the institute was looking at the suitability of
other style manuals that could also be used in its accreditation program.
She pointed to another style manual being developed by Biotext and Macquarie
University, to be called the Australian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of StyleAustralian Manual of Style.
Dr James said policy writers would see "plain language" as dumbing down their
text and would largely ignore the new digital style guide, resorting to complex
"narrative" style that buried the key messages.
In the push to emphasise usability and what digital content designers refer to as
"content as the interfacecontent as the interfacecontent as the interfacecontent as the interfacecontent as the interface", critics said the new government style guide lacked the
editorial gravitas and rigour of the previous print-only versions of the official Style
Manual.
Rather than focus on "plain English", the digital guide explicitly dumpedexplicitly dumpedexplicitly dumpedexplicitly dumpedexplicitly dumped the term
and defined plain language narrowly as involving shorter sentences and simpler
words.
In contrast, Dr James' new style manual has plain English principles as the centre
piece of its approach.
Workplace writing is too often marred by poor design, unclear structure and complex language that does not always consider its audience.
— Neil James, Plain English Foundation
Save 50% for your first 3 months.
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 4/9
Clear and consistent
Dr James, who sat on the advisory group for the DTA's revamp, said his
organisation's new guide "sets out how to make content clear and consistent for
online use, without losing the editorial rigour of the traditional print environment".
"The ASG is firmly grounded in plain English principles and in the rigorous set of
style rules that Australian editors have built up over the decades," Dr James said.
"Plain English isn’t just about using short words. It's also about how you highlight
key messages, structure information and lay it out on the page.
"While getting the words right is certainly key to the writing process, so too is the
way we structure information and deploy visual elements to make it easy to use.
"Equally important is evaluating how easily your audience will find understand and
use the information they need.
"Workplace writing, and public language more broadly, is too often marred by poor
design, unclear structure and complex language that does not always consider its
audience carefully enough."
The split over approaches to clear expression is not simply about language and
design.
RELATED
Style manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewriteStyle manual gets a digital rewrite
Online services save governments an estimated $16 per transaction compared with
face-to-face engagements.
Dr James cited a Swedish example where the Higher Education Authority saved
nearly 20 per cent of its call-centre costs by rewriting application forms in simple,
easy-to-read formats.
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bureaucrats-get-duelling-style-guides-20201208-p56lk7 5/9
US Navy researchUS Navy researchUS Navy researchUS Navy researchUS Navy research found that well-written memos took up to a quarter less time to
read and approve, saving the navy about $US73 million ($99 million) in officer time
(not including the time for rewrites) and $US350 million for the whole service.
Dr James estimates a third of public servants' time involved writing. Applying
similar ratios, that is a productivity saving close to $8 billion a year for the annual
$100 billion wage bill for all federal and state public servants.
License article
Tom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom BurtonTom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has worked in government, specialising in the communications sector. He has won three Walkley awards. Connect with Tom on TwitterTwitterTwitterTwitterTwitter. Email Tom at [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]
Save Share
READ MORE
LATEST STORIES
Markets Live
ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156ASX to fall: $A breaks above US75¢; Iron ore hits $US156
9 mins ago
'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial'Difficult decision': CSL, UQ dump vaccine trial
11 mins ago
AFR Magazine
What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?What’s ahead for watches in 2021?
Before the Bell
ASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hotASX to open lower as markets hit a lull but iron ore still hot
SPONSOREDSave 50% for your first 3 months.
SAVE 50% NOW Already a subscriber? Log in