Plain English Checker
Find jargon, passive voice, and legalistic phrases, then rewrite into plain English.
Plain English Checker
Paste English text and get structured output you can apply immediately.
Plain English analysis complete
Score: 52.4 · Level: Plain-language rewrite
Detected Issues
- jargon
- legalistic wording
- passive voice
- vague verbs
Suggested changes
- Phrase to avoid: hereby advised
- Better alternative: we recommend
- Rewrite sentence with direct actor-action structure
Key stats
- Readability baseline: 52.4
- Detected issues: 4
- Sentence count: 1
Rewritten output
Start this process only after you get approval.
Plain English vs Readability
| Plain English | Readability |
|---|---|
| Focus: Direct wording and action clarity | Focus: Reading difficulty and structure |
| Best for: Policy, legal, and support communication | Best for: Editorial and SEO clarity checks |
| Detects: Jargon, legalistic, and vague phrases | Detects: Long sentences and complexity signals |
| Output: Phrase replacements and direct rewrites | Output: Score context, issues, and guidance |
Common plain-English problems
jargon
Bad: commence implementation
Better: start implementation
legalistic wording
Bad: hereby advised
Better: we recommend
vague verbs
Bad: facilitate completion
Better: complete
passive voice
Bad: the request was processed
Better: the team processed the request
nominalizations
Bad: provide clarification
Better: clarify
bureaucratic phrases
Bad: in accordance with
Better: under
Best for
Legal writing
Reduce legalistic phrasing while preserving enforceable terms, deadlines, and obligations that legal teams must keep explicit for compliant external communication.
Policies
Clarify policy instructions so non-specialists understand decisions quickly, apply rules correctly, and avoid interpretation errors across recurring operational workflows.
Help docs
Replace vague support wording so users complete steps faster, make fewer mistakes, and submit fewer clarification tickets during high-friction troubleshooting tasks.
Customer emails
Turn formal replies into direct action-focused messages that reduce back-and-forth loops, speed customer decisions, and improve response clarity in sensitive communication.
SaaS UX copy
Improve onboarding and interface microcopy by removing abstract language that slows first-session comprehension and blocks activation in product-critical decision moments.
Example Input
Stakeholders are hereby advised that commencement of the aforementioned procedure is contingent upon prior authorization.
Example Output
Start this process only after you get approval.
Interpretation: legalistic wording was replaced with direct language while keeping the condition.
How to use
- Paste your text.
- Run the tool.
- Review issues and apply improved output.
What this tool detects
- Jargon and formal language
- Vague or abstract phrasing
- Passive constructions
- Plain-English rewrite opportunities
Who should use this tool
- Compliance and policy writers
- Customer support teams
- Product and UX writers
- Business communication teams
Benefits
- Improve clarity and trust
- Reduce ambiguity in instructions
- Make legal/policy text easier to follow
- Improve actionability of your copy
- Standardize plain language across teams
Plain English vs Other Tools
- Use Plain English Checker for jargon, legalese, and vague phrasing cleanup.
- Use Text Simplifier for broad simplification outside plain-language compliance.
- Use Readability Checker for formula-backed diagnostics and issue maps.
- Use Reading Level Converter for target-grade audience adaptation.
FAQ
Plain English means writing that is clear, direct, and easy to act on without removing required meaning.
Readability measures reading difficulty, while plain English focuses on direct wording and unambiguous phrasing.
It detects jargon, legalistic wording, vague verbs, passive constructions, and bureaucratic phrases that slow understanding.
Yes. It works well for first-pass simplification before formal legal review of binding language.
Yes. It helps make support, email, and onboarding communication easier to understand quickly.
Use Readability Checker for diagnostics or Sentence Rewriter for line-level final polishing.