MnDOT voice principles
Be welcoming to everyone we serve
Write using language that makes everyone feel welcomed and heard. Be inclusive in your use of language and question cultural assumptions present in wording. Present information in a way that explains and informs without sounding like an engineer scolding someone. And present things in plain language—for us, this isn’t just a good communication principle; it’s a statutory requirement.
Like this
Our regulated waste management program evaluates contractors and facilities whose work creates or involves waste materials. The program reduces risk to the environment by making sure that these wastes are handled properly.
Not this
MnDOT’s regulated waste management program includes evaluating the contractors and facilities that handle, accept or create department waste materials for disposal, reuse or recycling. The objective of the evaluator is to reduce environmental liability, which he does by ensuring that the department’s wastes are handled properly.
When talking about complicated programs or concepts, it’s easy to fall into long, complicated sentences full of jargon and stilted language. Always aim to write in a way that allows for easy understanding—shorter sentences and plainer language are great for this. And watch out for assumptions—like the one here that evaluators are male—that would make a reader feel unwelcome or excluded.
Write and act to help the people of Minnesota
When considering what to put on the website and how to word it, be guided by the question “Does this help the people of Minnesota?”
Like this
Why we use roundabouts
In short, roundabouts are being used because they work well. A roundabout used at the right location will let you get through the intersection more safely and in less time.
Not this
Click here to see the winners of the MnDOT district cookie bake-off!
People come to the MnDOT website because they’re looking for information or need help completing a task. Especially with the public website, nothing should be posted unless it will help them with this. There’s a little more leeway with iHUB, but the bias should always be towards helpful, useful information.
Earn the public's trust
We know what we’re doing and we should sound like it; and we need to back that up by making sure that the information we present is timely and accurate. And our confidence needs to be matched with humility, transparency and willingness to admit when we’re wrong or have made a mistake. When it comes to openness and transparency, we balance our responsibility to keep the public informed with the knowledge that some information and situations require an appropriate level of departmental discretion.
Like this
J-turns are a driving movement proven to reduce serious and fatal crashes caused by “T-bone” crashes at intersections. When using J-turns, drivers focus on one direction of traffic at a time.
Not this
In 2018, the intersection of Country Road 6 and Hwy 23 will be improved with a J-turn.
Flat statements without justification can cross over from confidence to arrogance, and make us sound like we’re just dictating to the public without reason, which erodes trust and can even create resentment. Also, events with dates in the past presented as up-and-coming occurrences make our website look outdated and give audiences reason to question our accuracy.