How to use AI for English writing: For development professionals

To use genAI as a development professional, first, understand that genAI has risks. Use it for what it's good at and review all outputs more carefully than you would your own writing. If you are a development professional or a government official who deals with international organizations and donors, you or your colleagues may already use generative AI (genAI) to help you write.

https://theclarityeditor.com/2026/02/27/how-to-use-genai-in-writing-for-development/

The Clarity Editor annual report 2025

2025 was a quiet year for me. I wish you all a healthy, peaceful, and fulfilling 2026!

https://theclarityeditor.com/2026/01/13/the-clarity-editor-annual-report-2025/

Ideas how to use a text expander as editors

Want to try a text expander but need ideas to start? Check out these examples for editors. Many editors say how text expanders save time and make work so much easier, but I never knew where to start. A few years in and now, I can't work without my text expander! If you're stuck for ideas, I hope these examples will inspire you.

https://theclarityeditor.com/2025/11/07/ideas-how-to-use-a-text-expander-as-editors/

Resources for independent/freelance editors and proofreaders

A completely non-authoritative and non-exhaustive list of my favorite resources for freelance/independent editors and proofreaders. If you're interested in learning more about the editing and proofreading profession, here are some great resources. This list is completely subjective, from a non-fiction editor's perspective, and non-authoritative. Web resources on be(com)ing an editor or proofreader…

https://theclarityeditor.com/2025/03/07/resources-for-independent-freelance-editors-and-proofreaders/

Can ChatGPT help copyedit a translation?

Can AI chatbots take over scholarly translation? I used ChatGPT to help me copyedit text that it had translated. Conclusion: it's probably more efficient to hire a professional human translator from the start. I had the interesting opportunity to work with a European economics magazine as it experimented with translating articles into English with ChatGPT. I was one of the human copyeditors who were tasked to edit the ChatGPT…

https://theclarityeditor.com/2025/01/28/can-chatgpt-help-copyedit-a-translation/

Using PL for better machine translation in the age of AI

More people today can understand content in other languages thanks to machine and AI translation. These translations can be more understandable if you use plain language principles. Today’s machine and AI translators cannot match the nuanced and skilled work of professional human translators. But machine translations are useful for getting the gist of information. I certainly love Google Translate for confirming…

https://theclarityeditor.com/2025/02/25/using-pl-for-better-machine-translation-in-the-age-of-ai/

The Clarity Editor annual report 2024

2024 was a good, solid year focusing on simplicity. Here are the highlights of my year. Wishing you all a healthy, peaceful, and fulfilling 2025!

https://theclarityeditor.com/2024/12/31/the-clarity-editor-annual-report-2024/

How to use jargon effectively, responsibly, and inclusively

Most of us have heard that jargon is terrible. Is it really so terrible? And is there any way we use jargon well? For those of you who just want to know what to do, here are my tips on how to use jargon effectively, responsibly, and inclusively. How to use jargon effectively, responsibly, and inclusively Know who your audience is…

https://theclarityeditor.com/2024/10/03/how-to-use-jargon-effectively-responsibly-and-inclusively/

In your inbox: When should we mention skin tone, race or ethnicity in alt text?

If you've signed up, this is what you got in your inbox this month:

- Whether and how to mention skin tone in alt text
- Links that will help you write good alt text
- 英語圏では学者も alt text（代替テキスト）が必要

Plus an unfortunate mistranslation of a road sign that scares me every time.
Read on: https://sh1.sendinblue.com/afm3exw70lpfe.html?t=1711612635

Sign up: https://theclarityeditor.com/clear-simple-scholarly-english-for-multi-language-authors/sign-up-for-writing-tips/
#PlainLanguage #ClearWritingTips

Let's talk about skin tone in alt text to normalize diversity. Accessibility leader Léonie Watson’s points out that when there’s no other information, we assume “normal” to be like ourselves.

How can we mention skin tone? I’m the first to confess I don’t have a clear answer to this. But we might start from good practices in writing about skin tone, race, and ethnicity.

More and links to resources in my blog post:
https://theclarityeditor.com/2024/03/27/should-we-mention-race-in-alt-text/
#Inclusion #AltText #WritingTips