Washington: Writing in Plain English

Washington (not D.C. but the state) has taken on the English language. Specifically, state government has spent the last two years trying to teach government employees to use plain English.

Why?

Because the theory is people will obey laws and regulations if they can understand them. Novel concept isn't it.

Here's one example from the USAToday article:

Department of Labor and Industries
Before: We have been notified that you did not receive the State of Washington warrant listed on the attached Affidavit of Lost or Destroyed Warrant Request for Replacement, form F242.

After: Have you cashed your L&I check yet? The state Treasurer's Office has informed us that a check we sent you has not been cashed.

Now if more lawyers and government employees would adopt a seimilar plain English approach to writing. They tried to teach us that way at George Mason School of Law, but one of my instructors told us that people expect their wills to be unintelligable.