More form-filling.

This time it’s an online application to claim contributions-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

I check my eligibility and it appears I am eligible based on the contributions I have made in the last two years.

Old habits die hard and I can’t help rewriting most of the questions into plain English in my head.

Good writing involves clarity.

Most of the application involves “Yes” or “No” answers and that’s fine.

Until I come across this question:

Have you been told by the Department for Work and Pensions that you are not entitled to Universal Credit and/or you wish to make a claim to new style Jobseekers Allowance?

The options are “Yes”,“No” or “Don’t Know”.

It’s exam season so, just as I was taught at school, I read the question several times before attempting to answer. I spend a minute or two thinking about the answer and trying to work out whether we are in the land of double or even triple negatives here.

I think the correct answer in my circumstances is “No” but the question is in two parts and there are three choices.

By answering “No”, I’m turning the first part of the question into a negative response to a negatively phrased question: “No, I have not been told that I’m not entitled to Universal Credit.”

And I’m giving a negative response to the second part of the question: “No, I do not wish to make a claim …”

But I wonder if there could be circumstances where the answers are “Yes … No” or “No … Yes”. Besides, it would be much easier if this question was separated into two questions.

Maybe it’s best to answer “Don’t Know” and let some official sort it out but I’m trying to be helpful here.

I’ve lost count of the number of nits I’ve picked in a lifetime of pedantry.

So, DWP, I think “new-style” should be hyphenated and, according to all your other literature, “Jobseeker’s” Allowance has an apostrophe before the ‘s’.

I hope it doesn’t affect my claim.