Intended for administrators and policymakers as well as teachers, this digest examines the current state of the plain English movement, which is an effort to persuade government agencies, businesses, and professional organizations to write in clear, understandable English. After enumerating the benefits that the use of plain English can generate for both organizations and the general public, this digest outlines the plain English movement by (1) describing how the consumer movements in the 1960s influenced federal and state legislation to ensure readability of government and business documents; (2) examining how the plain English movement has affected education, and (3) discussing publications pertinent to the movement. Sixteen references are included. (NKA)