Aristotle's "Rhetoric" and the Definition of Style

In Section II of Rhetoric, known to have been written by Aristotle, style is discussed. “Style to be good must be clear, as is proved by the fact that speech which fails to convey a plain meaning will fail to do just what speech has to do. It must also be appropriate, avoiding both meanness and undue elevation; poetical language is certainly free from meanness, but is it is not appropriate to prose” (Aristotle 238). This statement reminds me of what I have learned about plain language style through the course of my Master of Arts with an emphasis in Technical Communication degree program. Plain language is used in government writing to ensure messages to the public, clients, and constituents are understandable by being clear and concise to all.

The goal of plain language style is to provide citizens with “clear communication from the government” (plainlanguage.gov). When reading a document or looking on a website users should be able to “find what they need, understand what they find; and use what they find to meet their needs” (plainlanguage.gov). One of the myths of plain language is that words have to be dumb downed so that everyone, no matter where they are, can read the information presented. This is just not true because the goal is to use language your users recognize, is comfortable with, and understand.  Your audience's current level of knowledge must always be taken into account. For example, do not “write for an 8^th grade class if your audience is composed of PhD candidates, small business owners, working parents or immigrants” (plainlanguage.gov). Rhetoric states that “a good writer can produce a style that is distinguished without being obtrusive, and is at the same time clear, thus satisfying our definition of good oratorical prose... clearness is secured by using the words (nouns and verbs alike) that are current and ordinary” (Aristotle 238).

Citations

Aristotle. "Rhetoric."The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to  the Present (2001): 179-240.

Plain Language.Gov: "Improving Communication from the Federal Government to the Public."www.plainlanguage.gov