A BUSKLAW Newsletter Plain English Aside: Don't Write Sentences Like This!

I just read a public letter from the senior management of a Michigan-based advocacy group to our esteemed Michigan governor that includes this gem of a sentence:

"Despite claims and assurances of those representing the Health Care Plans, experiences in other states, with recent, very small minor exceptions, not involve persons with developmental services, except for State Plan, medical services."

Really? This is bureaucratese (if not lousy writing) at its finest! Do you figure our governor will have any idea of what this sentence means? 40 lashes with a wet noodle for the group that sent this out. You should know better. (And I may contact you to offer my services as an editor - at no charge - to prevent this from ever happening again!!)

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