Simply put: 40% find state letters hard to read
A survey for National Adult Literacy Week has found widespread public confusion over the kind of language used by government bodies and public services.
Almost half of young people surveyed and two in five of the general population said they found it difficult or very difficult to interpret letters, leaflets and other communication materials from official bodies.
One-third said they had misunderstood what was being said and were only spared any serious consequences because they were able to ask someone else for help in clarifying the meanings.
But one in 14 people said they had been left anxious and distressed when they did not understand what was being said and took up a wrong meaning.
Chief culprits for causing misunderstanding are words and phrases such as “pro rata”, “in lieu of” and a more recent addition to the jargon dictionary, “stakeholder”.
People in the 18-24 category age group had the greatest difficulty with this kind of language while the over-45s had the least problem.
Inez Bailey, the director of the National Adult Literacy Agency, said it was in the public sector’s own interest to present information in clear and plain English because it saved time, money and frustration not to have to deal with repeated requests for information or continually clarify misunderstandings.
She said it was also a matter of public service.
The literacy agency yesterday announced details of an agreement with the Excellence Ireland Quality Association, which governs the Q Mark standard for companies and organisations.
The association is to encourage all 2,500 of its members to follow the agency’s guidelines on use of plain English in all their publicity and information materials.
The literacy group also has a free online guide complete with lists of words and phrases that should be avoided when providing information to customers or the public at large.
The guide is available at www.simplyput.ie.
