This blog shares some of our thoughts about plain language, and the latest discussions about plain English and clear design in New Zealand, and around the world.

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30 January 2012

Assessing the clarity of financial promotions

Promoting a financial product? Giving a prominent place to relevant information has ‘a key role in ensuring that a communication is clear, fair and not misleading’, states the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA). Their guidance discusses how to assess the prominence of information and gives examples of good and bad practice. We at Write support this concept — reflecting it in the jargon-buster booklet we are creating to help people who write for the financial sector.

And, interestingly, the last paragraph of the guidance says the FSA can take action against firms who disregard the rules on prominence.

The Financial Services Authority is an independent body that regulates the financial services industry in the UK.
Financial Services Authority. Financial Promotions – Guidance. Prominence. September 2011. [PDF 652KB]
You’ll find links to our medical and legal jargon-buster booklets on our home page.

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