Chrissie Maher
Encyclopedia
Chrissie Maher OBE (born 1938) co-founded Plain English Campaign
, an organisation that promotes the clear use of English
, particularly by businesses and official bodies. Her campaign began in 1971 when she founded the UK's first community newspaper, the Tuebrook Bugle, which gave her the chance to write articles demanding that organisations start using plain English
. In 1974 Chrissie went on to start The Liverpool News, the UK's first newspaper for adults with reading difficulties. She was also a member of the UK's National Consumer Council, before officially founding the Plain English Campaign at a demonstration in London in 1979.
As an example of the linguistic issues Maher found objectionable: in 1994, she pointed out that Britain's National Health Service
published a definition of the term bed that used 229 words.
In recognition of her efforts, Maher was awarded the OBE in 1993. In 1995 she was awarded an honorary MA
degree by Manchester University, and, in 1997, an honorary doctorate by the Open University
. In 2000 Chrissie Maher, disability rights campaigner Lord Alfred Morris of Manchester, and World Wide Web creator Tim Berners-Lee
were named "Information Pioneers of the Century" by the UK's National Information Forum. In 2010, Chrissie Maher received an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University
for her services to communication.
Also in 2010 Chrissie Maher was selected Public Affairs Achiever of the Year and Outstanding Achiever of the Year for the ‘Women in Public Life’ awards.
In 1997, an industrial tribunal found that the Plain English Campaign had constructively dismissed
two employees, Martin Nobbs and Jill Cushway, who resigned from the Campaign after unfounded rumors were spread that they had an affair. In their action, Nobbs and Cushway alleged that Maher had started the rumors. Maher denied starting the rumor, calling the tribunal's decision "a miscarriage of justice".
Tom McArthur
, editor of the Oxford Companion to the English Language said, "In all the history of the language, there has never been such a powerful grassroots movement to influence it as the Plain English Campaign."
Plain English Campaign
The Plain English Campaign is a commercial editing and training firm based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1979 by Chrissie Maher, the company positions itself as a leader in plain-language advocacy, working to persuade organisations in the UK and abroad to communicate with the public in plain...
, an organisation that promotes the clear use of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, particularly by businesses and official bodies. Her campaign began in 1971 when she founded the UK's first community newspaper, the Tuebrook Bugle, which gave her the chance to write articles demanding that organisations start using plain English
Plain language
Plain language is clear, succinct writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly and completely as possible.Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon...
. In 1974 Chrissie went on to start The Liverpool News, the UK's first newspaper for adults with reading difficulties. She was also a member of the UK's National Consumer Council, before officially founding the Plain English Campaign at a demonstration in London in 1979.
As an example of the linguistic issues Maher found objectionable: in 1994, she pointed out that Britain's National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
published a definition of the term bed that used 229 words.
In recognition of her efforts, Maher was awarded the OBE in 1993. In 1995 she was awarded an honorary MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree by Manchester University, and, in 1997, an honorary doctorate by the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
. In 2000 Chrissie Maher, disability rights campaigner Lord Alfred Morris of Manchester, and World Wide Web creator Tim Berners-Lee
Tim Berners-Lee
Sir Timothy John "Tim" Berners-Lee, , also known as "TimBL", is a British computer scientist, MIT professor and the inventor of the World Wide Web...
were named "Information Pioneers of the Century" by the UK's National Information Forum. In 2010, Chrissie Maher received an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
for her services to communication.
Also in 2010 Chrissie Maher was selected Public Affairs Achiever of the Year and Outstanding Achiever of the Year for the ‘Women in Public Life’ awards.
In 1997, an industrial tribunal found that the Plain English Campaign had constructively dismissed
Constructive dismissal
In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge, occurs when employees resign because their employer's behaviour has become so intolerable or heinous or made life so difficult that the employee has no choice but to resign. Because the resignation was not truly...
two employees, Martin Nobbs and Jill Cushway, who resigned from the Campaign after unfounded rumors were spread that they had an affair. In their action, Nobbs and Cushway alleged that Maher had started the rumors. Maher denied starting the rumor, calling the tribunal's decision "a miscarriage of justice".
Tom McArthur
Tom McArthur
Tom McArthur is a former Australian rules football field umpire in the Queensland Australian Football League. He umpired 502 senior games, a national record, from 1959 to 1985.-Honours:...
, editor of the Oxford Companion to the English Language said, "In all the history of the language, there has never been such a powerful grassroots movement to influence it as the Plain English Campaign."