Two biographers of John Howard state that Howard simplified the text of the prison acts of 1774 when he had them printed for posting in prisons throughout England. Southwood (1958) states that Howard had these acts “copied out in language easily understood.” Howard (1958) states that Howard had copies “printed in simple language.” Both of these biographies provide no reference to support this claim, and I have found no evidence for it. Simplifying the text would be consistent with the House of Commons’ expressed intent to communicate the acts to prisoners.