Exercise two: What are they trying to say?

Last updated on June 26, 2025

This plain language exercise helps you uncover the meaning behind complex or unclear writing.

Exercise instructions

What is really being said in the following real-world writing samples?

  1. A doctor records on a patient’s chart: "Patient failed to fulfill his wellness potential.”
  2. U.S. Army talks about "vertically deployed anti-personnel devices."
  3. Civilian mechanics at a McClellan Air Force base in California are placed on "non-duty, non-pay status.”
  4. The Massachusetts Department of Public Works speaks of "ground-mounted confirmatory route markers.”
  5. A store in St. Louis advertises "semi-antique" rugs.

(From the Quarterly Review of Doublespeak)

Record your answers

Use the exercise files to record your answers as you work through the course.

You can download each exercise individually or a single file containing all of the exercises in the course:

Review and continue

When you're done, go to exercise two takeaways.