Preface and Acknowledgements

We selected the tree as our metaphor for Clear Writing and Design for a number of excellent reasons:

• The tree represents the clear writing and design concept as an organic whole: the “roots” of the tree are those perceived needs which have given rise to the Clear Language movement; the strong and hardy “trunk” represents the many years and individuals devoted to supporting the movement; the “branches” are the many incarnations of the movement; the “leaves” represent the various components of clear writing text, and the colourful “fruit and flowers” of the tree bring to mind the design concepts that decorate and define our clear writing tree.
• Each document written in clear language is an example of the clear writing tree: it begins with the planning (roots); moves on to the organization phase (trunk), and then branches out into the clear language (leaves) and clear design (fruit and flowers), culminating in a beautiful and clear document (tree).
• Beautiful, stately and nurturing trees are emblematic of the densely forested Eastern Townships where this handbook originates.

Many thanks go to the following individuals and groups:

• Kathy Richan, LIA Coordinator, for the conception and elaboration of this project, as well as all the help and support she has offered
• The participants of the focus groups who helped greatly in focusing our efforts
• Jan Draper for the photographs
• Canadian Heritage for the funds to make this project possible
• Blanchard Litho for generously supporting Literacy in Action’s many projects, including this booklet.