During her 25 years in the federal government, Annetta served in several positions requiring writing and teaching skills. Regulatory activities, especially writing and editing regulations, occupied much of her career.

In 1994, Annetta became one of the first federal employees involved in the plain language movement. In 1996 she moved to Vice President Gore's National Performance Review, where she was charged with spreading the plain language initiative across the federal government. She helped found the Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN), a group of federal employees promoting plain language, and served as its chair until her retirement from the government in early 2007. She also developed PLAIN's original website at www.plainlanguage.gov and oversaw its redesign in 2004-2005. In 2003, Annetta and several plain language colleagues founded the nonprofit Center for Plain Language in Washington, DC. Annetta currently serves as the Chair of the Center's board. In 2005 she received the Center's first award as an "Outstanding Plain-Language Leader in Government."

Annetta has helped organize plain language programs in several different agencies. She has created plain language documents on many different topics, and has given training in plain language and writing for the web to hundreds of federal and private sector employees.