Besides the people who work directly on BPA documents, and the communications staff that put out our publications, others have noted changes in BPA’s writing efforts and style.

Customers have complimented BPA for our simplified contracts. Employees find it easier to use many of the forms BPA has simplified in recent years. And some folks have noted a more serious effort for clear and plain language, and a more personable style in publications.

The communications group writes for the public and the news media, so it has followed the Associated Press Stylebook and basic journalism practices over the years. In recent years, the group has made more efforts to also write more personably in BPA publications.

By early 1998, we received some E-mails from employees who commented on the easier reading. One writer said he noticed “the widespread use of informal language,” and wondered if it was a trend. The answer is yes, BPA is intentionally working to become more personable in our communication.

Three factors have influenced this intentional effort. One has been BPA’s effort to put human faces back into work and the benefits we provide for the region. Another is BPA’s need to have employees identify with the agency and to “own” their role and jobs. And the third is the need to connect employees better to BPA’s own communications in the face of the information explosion. The proliferation of information that has come about along with technology can easily lead to information overload.

Many people have noted changes in BPA’s writing efforts and style the past two years. Customers have complimented BPA for our much smaller and easier to read contracts. Employees find it easier to use many of the forms since BPA has simplified them. And some folks have noted the use of plain language with a more personable style in publications.

The communications group writes for the public and the news media. So it has followed the Associated Press Stylebook and basic journalism practices over the years. In recent years though, we have also tried to write more personably in BPA publications.

Some folks have sent E-mails to comment on the changes the past two years. Most said they like the easier style, but a couple said they didn’t. One employee said he noticed “the growing use of informal language,” and wondered if it was a trend. The answer is yes. BPA is intentionally using plain language in its writing in many areas.

Several things have influenced this effort. One is BPA’s need to better communicate with our customers and the public so they can understand what BPA is about. Another is our drive to cut costs and improve efficiency in the workplace. BPA also wants to put human faces back into its work and the benefits we provide for the region. And management wants employees to better identify with the agency and to “own” their roles and jobs. Finally, BPA wants to connect employees better through our own communications , in the face of the information explosion.

Just as BPA was a leader in transmission technology in the past, today we may be leading in the effort to reinvent government. And our work to communicate better is an important part of that effort.

Now the government is making an agency-wide effort to improve public service by using plain writing. Read more about the PLAN, support for plain language, and tips and sources that can help you writer better. You’ll find this and more in the centerfold of this edition, beginning on page 4.

Many people have noted changes in BPA’s writing the past two years. Customers have complimented BPA for contracts that are smaller and easier to read. Employees find forms easier to use since BPA has simplified them. Some folks have commented about the more personable style in publications.

The communications group writes for the public and the news media. So it has followed Associated Press style and basic journalism practices over the years. More recently though, we have also tried to write more personably in BPA publications.

We have received some E-mail on these changes the past two years. Most folks said they like the easier style, but a couple said they didn’t. One person said he noticed “the growing use of informal language,” and asked if it was a trend. The answer is yes. BPA is purposely using plain language in most of its writing. So are many of the leading businesses.

Several things led to this effort. One is BPA’s need to communicate better with our customers and the public so they can understand what BPA is about. Another is our drive to cut costs and improve efficiency in the workplace. BPA also wants to put human faces back into its work and the benefits we provide for the region. And management wants employees to identify better with the agency and to “own” their roles and jobs. Finally, BPA wants to connect employees better through our own communications, in the face of the information explosion.

BPA was a leader in transmission technology in the past. Today we are in the forefront of the effort to reinvent government. And our work to communicate better is an important part of that effort.

Now the government is making an all-out effort to improve public service through plain writing. Read about the new PLAN, efforts for plain language, and tips and sources that can help you write better. You’ll find articles on these and more in the centerfold of this Circuit, beginning on page 4.