Human relationships depend on communication. Bad writing is a barrier to communication. When a large organisation such as the Government tries to communicate with the man and woman in the street the scope for misunderstanding is enormous. Too often clarity and simplicity are overwhelmed by pompous words, long sentences and endless paragraphs. It is no exaggeration to describe plain-English as a fundamental tool of good Government.
Some people think that flowery language and complicated writing is a sign of intellectual strength.
They are wrong. The Civil Service and public administration generally have made great strides in the use of plain English in recent years. Jargon and 'officialese', while far from extinct, are dying out. I would like to see them banished forever. Plain-English must be the aim of all who work in Government.