Resources for producing government documents written in plain, clear, easy-to-understand language. PLAIN is a community of federal employees dedicated to the idea that citizens deserve clear communication from government and that using plain language saves federal agencies time and money and provides better service to the American public.

General principles of writing provided for those who work for government, either as communications professionals or content specialists.

Designed to achieve uniform word and type treatment and economy of word use in the writing and printing of U.S. government publications.

Quick reference for dividing words into syllables, as well as a spelling and pronunciation guide.

Tips on writing to a state legislator or U.S. congressperson. Adapted from an article published by the American Library Association.

Reprint of an article by Representative Morris K. Udall, giving tips on how to write a letter to your congressman.

Tips on the most effective way to write a political letter to a British agency or official to express an opinion or urge a particular course of action.

Links to numerous Web sites that provide advice on how to write proposals seeking grants or contracts from government agencies and private sources.

Tips from Fedmarket on how to outline a proposal, how to put together a proposal writing library to draw information from, how to develop a template, how to write the proposal, and what to avoid.

The format for a Request for Proposal (RFP) from a federal government agency is mandated by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). They are typically broken down into sections that are identified by letter. This article explains what is contained in each section.

Advice on how to run an effective public relations operation.

Step by step instructions on how to use a press release, what information to include in it, and how to format it. Includes a template and numerous sample press releases.

This handbook and anthology provides a plethora of practical pointers to help federal government officials develop skills in public speaking and interacting with the media. It covers such communications basics as preparation, delivery, and follow-up, and includes reprints of articles by and about experts in public relations and image building.

This guide for members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers giving presentations to groups of other
employees or individuals outside the organization explains how to implement presentation techniques that will result in clear, concise communication via newspapers, mail, telephones, television, radio, and other media.

This bulletin from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides simple, step by step instructions for preparing any sort of presentation be it a speech, a panel discussion, a debate, a skit, a display, a demonstration, or a dramatic or musical performance. Any of these media can be used to stimulate discussion about an issue, educate people on a topic, or generate action in a community.

This bibliography from the Congressional Research Service lists numerous books and articles that give advice on how to give a speech and how to prepare a speech for oneself or someone else. In addition to practical how-to manuals, there are examples, analyses, and critiques of well-known speeches; anthologies of quotations and humorous anecdotes to liven up a speech; and a list of "info packs" containing material prepared by the Congressional Research Service to help members of Congress give speeches during specific holidays and other events such as graduations. Sadly, the info packs are only available to members of Congress.

An anthology of the most popular quotations that have been requested by members of Congress for inclusion in their speeches. This endlessly browsable anthology of quotations is organized by topic and includes an author index and a keyword and subject index,

This manual by communications expert John A. Kline takes speakers in the Air Force and other federal agencies step-by-step through the stages of effectively developing and presenting briefings, lectures, and speeches. Includes tips on overcoming nervousness and incorporating logical thinking, visual aids, humor, body language, and other techniques to keep the audience captivated from the introduction to the conclusion of any presentation. Kline has also authored a companion volume entitled Listening Effectively.

“Rhetoric,” wrote Aristotle, “is the power of determining in a particular case what are the available means of persuasion.” This Congressional Research Service report reviews some effective means for incorporating the rhetoric of persuasive communication in speeches written by congressional staff for members of the United States Congress.