USCIS Plain Language

USCIS is dedicated to improving how we communicate with the public. We support the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and have an internal plain language program. We created several writing tips videos to help our employees improve the clarity of USCIS communications. Other federal agencies may use these videos to help train employees as well.

Acronyms

Don’t leave your readers drowning in alphabet soup.

Active Voice

Don’t hide who or what is doing the action in a sentence.

Bullets

Break information into easy to read lists.

Headings

Help your reader navigate your message.

Pronouns

Use pronouns to speak directly to your reader.

Proofreading

Take the time to catch mistakes before publishing your document.

Put Your Main Message First

Lead with what’s important to your reader.

Tables

Make complex information easier to follow.

Zombie Nouns