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British doctors have been urged to use simple language when communicating with their patients, says the BBC. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges says too often correspondence contains complex medical jargon rather than plain and simple English. Using the phrase "twice daily" to explain the dosing of a medicine is better than the Latin abbreviation "bd", for example. The Please Write to Me initiative is aimed mainly at doctors working in outpatient clinics, although it is best practice for all clinicians who need to write clinical letters. Doctors are being asked to write directly to patients, rather than sending them a copy of a letter penned to their GP. The Academy suggests any medical words should be translated in plain English.