All fraternal policies have the following in common:

1. Align operations to the purposes and goals of ΜΒΨ
2. Set expectations for behavior across the fraternity
3. Communicate roles and responsibilities

It is not unusual for Brothers to experience conflict and in-fighting if we lack mutual understanding of our policies. Unclear policy leads to failure producing consistent outcomes, inviting blame and mistrust.

You, as the policy owner, have the task to reach your intended audience with policies that are clear and easy to read. Your policies need to provide the right level of information to the people affected by them. When people understand a policy, they are more likely to follow it and incorporate it into their daily life.

Plain language makes better policy, because people have limited time and attention. Plain language (also called Plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it. By writing plain-language policies, you lower the barrier of entry for people trying to understand and put it to use.

“The more educated the person, the more specialist their knowledge, the greater their preference for plain English. The old argument (or ‘excuse for lazy writing’) that ‘these readers will understand this language’ may be true, but it doesn’t mean they want to read it. Do you?”
— Mark Morris

Using plain language is the opposite of dumbing things down. It's smart. Smart people prefer it. Don't assume Brothers can understand technical jargon and complex sentence structures. Of course we can, but we don't want complex jargon in all situations. Plain language makes things easier for all of us.

• Hemingway App highlights lengthy, complex sentences and common errors
• King County Guide to Concise Writing gives alternatives to overstated, bureaucratic, pompous language

  • Shorter, simpler words
  • Wordy phrase replacements
  • Redundant phrase replacements
• PlainLanguage.gov Guidelines and before-and-after examples

Select words with care. Words like should and may imply a choice. For example,

“Brothers should not smoke during a rush.”

This means they shouldn't smoke, but will be allowed if they do. The statement also does not address restrictions applicable to to non-Brothers. Examples of alternative phrasing would be:

“Brothers, prospective members, and friends are prohibited from smoking during a rush.”

(better, but only addresses a rush setting)

“Smoking is not allowed during official gatherings.”

(best)

For example, consider this statement:

“All Brothers, under the purview of the National Treasurer, are obligated to ensure that fraternal funds are used only in the advancement of our fraternal purposes.”

This statement implies that only those “under the purview of the National Treasurer” are required to follow this policy. An alternative to the above statement is:

“Fraternal funds are used only to advance our fraternal purposes.”

Consider this example:

“All active members must …”

The word all is redundant. Simply stating “active members” implies all unless an exception is also written.