The Complete Plain Words, titled simply Plain Words in its 2014 revision, is a style guide written by Sir Ernest Gowers, published in 1954. It has never been out of print. It comprises expanded and revised versions of two pamphlets that he wrote at the request of HM Treasury, Plain Words (1948) and ABC of Plain Words (1951). The aim of the book is to help officials in their use of English as a tool of their trade. To keep the work relevant for readers in subsequent decades it has been revised by Sir Bruce Fraser in 1973, by Sidney Greenbaum and Janet Whitcut in 1986, and by the original author's great-granddaughter Rebecca Gowers in 2014. All the editions until that of 2014 were published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO). The most recent is issued by an imprint of Penguin Books. Background The association of wordiness with bureaucracy has a long history. In the 14th century Geoffrey Chaucer, a prominent civil servant as well as a
The Complete Plain Words, titulado simplemente Plain Words en su revisión de 2014, es una guía de estilo escrita por Sir Ernest Gowers, publicada en 1954. Nunca ha salido de impresión. Incluye versiones ampliadas y revisadas de dos panfletos que escribió a petición de HM Treasury, Plain Words (1948) y ABC of Plain Words (1951). El objetivo del libro es ayudar a los funcionarios en su uso del inglés como una herramienta de su comercio. Para mantener el trabajo relevante para los lectores en las décadas posteriores, ha sido revisado por Sir Bruce Fraser en 1973, por Sidney Greenbaum y Janet Whitcut en 1986, y por la abuela del autor original Rebecca Gowers en 2014. Todas las ediciones hasta ese momento de 2014 fueron publicadas por Her Majesty's Station Office (HMSO). La más reciente es publicada por una impresión de Books Penguin.