20 April 2006

A new online guide has been launched to help the average consumer when out shopping for the latest technical gadgets.

The hi-tech dictionary has been created by the electronics retailer Comet, who are working alongside the Plain English Campaign to help translate and get rid of a lot of the jargon and so-called "geek speak" used among hi-tech retailers.

Words such as Bluetooth, Java, zip drive and RAM will be fully explained the perplexed consumer.

The Plain English Campaign as been fighting for the use of clear everyday language within a number of industries and public bodies, regularly handing out awards for the use of gobbledygook on organisations websites, press releases or other publications.

It also awards its Crystal Mark for those groups and companies that strive to provide clear and reader-friendly English that could be understood by an average person rather than an expert in the field.

As e-government endeavours gather pace more and more council websites have been awarded the group's mark of approval for writing in plain English. There are four different levels of attainment, and according to the campaign's website 15 councils have been given the highest gold award.

© Adfero Ltd

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