It had to happen. In today’s news we learn of a new phenomenon: ‘ploddledygook’, a term coined by the Plain English Campaign specifically to describe gibberish produced by police forces. The Avon & Somerset force seems to have taken its cue from corporate gobbledygook when producing a guide on how to write entries for its annual Problem Solving Awards. Their advice is so unintelligible that police officers can’t understand the instructions!
The force’s internal website includes such gems as: “Follow the problem-solving mythology as a supportive framework to work the problem through: Understand where the drivers and demand originated; Clearly define and understand what the actual problem was; Articulate your aim as SMART and understood the impact you intended; Ensure research and analysis was coherent and the findings informed your direction (responses); Your responses involved the wider use of resources, partners, third sector, communities etc. How were the outcomes of initiative shared? ie if you addressed an issue arising from PACT, how have you responded to the ‘you said’ by promoting ‘we did’?”
Ironically, the guidelines urged entrants to ensure their submission was “easy to read”.
Where will it all end? If your business needs professional help to write copy that’s clear, concise and easy to understand, give Melanie Silver a call!
