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Plain English checker

A plain English checker, or plain language checker as it's called in the US and Australia, finds the words and sentences that make writing harder to read than it needs to be. Paste yours to see them, with what to say instead. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

Example text. Replace it with your own. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.
Words to look at
14
Sentences over 20 words
2
Reading age
18 years
US grade level
17.7

Your writing, marked

Tinted: a word to look at, from GOV.UK's style guide or Copytone's list of corporate filler. Shaded: a sentence over 20 words.

In order to deliver a seamless onboarding journey, our dedicated team will leverage innovative solutions to empower your organisation going forward. We are committed to working collaboratively with key stakeholders to facilitate the transformation of your processes, so that you can focus on what matters most to your business and your customers every single day.

What to say instead

  • in order toGOV.UKGOV.UK: in order to, usually not needed - do not use it
  • deliverGOV.UKGOV.UK: deliver, use ‘make’, ‘create’, ‘provide’ or a more specific term (pizzas, post and services are delivered - not abstract concepts like improvements)
  • seamlessCopytoneSay “simple”, not “seamless”.
  • leverageGOV.UKGOV.UK: leverage (unless in the financial sense), use ‘influence’ or ‘use’
  • innovativeCopytone“innovative” says little on its own. Show what is new instead.
  • solutionsCopytone“solutions” says little on its own. Say what it actually is.
  • empowerGOV.UKGOV.UK: empower, use ‘allow’ or ‘give permission’
  • going forwardGOV.UKGOV.UK: going/moving forward, use ‘from now on’ or ‘in the future’ (it’s unlikely we are giving travel directions)
  • committedGOV.UKGOV.UK: commit/pledge, use ‘plan to x’, or ‘we’re going to x’ where ‘x’ is a specific verb
  • collaborativelyGOV.UKGOV.UK: collaborate, use ‘work with’
  • keyGOV.UKGOV.UK: key (unless it unlocks something), usually not needed but can use ‘important’ or ‘significant’
  • facilitateGOV.UKGOV.UK: facilitate, say something specific about how you’re helping - for example, use ‘run’ if talking about a workshop
  • transformationGOV.UKGOV.UK: transform, describe what you’re doing to change the thing
  • focusGOV.UKGOV.UK: focus, use ‘work on’ or ‘concentrate on’

Long sentences

  1. This sentence has 21 words. In order to deliver a seamless onboarding journey, our dedicated team will leverage innovative solutions to empower your organisation going…
  2. This sentence has 34 words. We are committed to working collaboratively with key stakeholders to facilitate the transformation of your processes, so that you can focus…

This checks one piece. Copytone checks everything your team writes against your customers' own words. Start a 7-day trial

What is plain English?

Plain English is writing your reader understands the first time they read it: everyday words, short sentences, and the point first. The US and Australia call it plain language. Governments ask for it because people act on what they understand. GOV.UK puts it plainly: “Plain English is mandatory for all of GOV.UK.” (GOV.UK style guide, A to Z)

How this checker works

It looks for three things, and says whose advice each one is.

  • The words GOV.UK's style guide asks its writers to avoid, such as “leverage”, “facilitate” and “going forward”, with GOV.UK's own advice for each, word for word.
  • Corporate filler from Copytone's own list, such as “seamless”, “solutions” and “innovative”: words that say little on their own. Each comes with a plainer word, or what to say instead.
  • Sentences over 20 words, which are hard to follow in one go.

It also gives a reading age and a US grade level, worked out the same way as the readability checker, which compares them with the NHS, Australia's Style Manual and WCAG.

What it can't tell you

Whether a word fits where you used it. GOV.UK gives its own exceptions: post and pizzas are “delivered”, and a key can unlock something. So each find is something to look at, not a mistake. It can't tell whether a sentence is true, or whether it sounds like the people you're writing for.

Plain is a start. Your customers' words are the rest.

Plain English makes writing easy to read. Writing the way your customers talk makes it land. The brand voice checker finds the phrases your customers use in the reviews you paste, and shows where your homepage says it differently. Copytone does it for everything your team writes, and suggests versions in their words. See how Copytone works.

More free tools

  • Brand voice checkerFind the phrases your customers share, then see if your homepage uses them.
  • AI cliché checkerSee which words and phrases make your website sound like ChatGPT, with a plainer way to say each.
  • Readability checkerSee your writing's reading level as a reading age or a US grade, against the NHS, Australia's Style Manual or WCAG.
  • Tone of voice guidelines templateA guide to how your business sounds, with a section for the words your customers use.

All free tools

GOV.UK's words to avoid are from the GOV.UK style guide, read 27 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

By Owen Fisher, Copytone. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.