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European Commission How to write clearly
How to write clearly 1 Translation e How to writ ! " # ! $ % &'&()* + ," ! " . / ! / / Hint 1: Think before you write............................................................................................................................... page 3 Hint 2: Focus on the reader — be direct and interesting ....................................................................... page 4 Hint 3: Get your document into shape............................................................................................................ page 5 Hint 4: KISS: Keep It Short and Simple.................................................................................................................page 6 Hint 5: Make sense — structure your sentences ........................................................................................... page 7 Hint 6: Cut out excess nouns – verb forms are livelier ............................................................................ page 8 Hint 7: Be concrete, not abstract .......................................................................................................................page 9 Hint 8: Prefer active verbs to passive — and name the agent.................................................... page 10 Hint 9: Beware of false friends, jargon and abbreviations ...................................................... page 11 Hint 10: Revise and check ...................................................................................................................................... page 14 .......................................................................................................................................... page 15 2 1. Think before you write ! 1! . 2 " . / 3 / / 4 ! 3 5 6 7 2 2 / 9 / 4! + - : ! / / ;! / < !. ! ! ' : " = :. < > 8 An alternative ‘7 questions’ approach. " . WHAT? 4 WHO? ? WHEN? 9 WHERE? ? HOW? : WHY? ' @ HOW MUCH? 2 18 2 / / / / ! 2 2 2 2 iations abbrev long jargon passiv e ct abstra 3 2. Focus on the reader A 1 B . @ ;! B ! :2 " @ . Involve them +CB = - Imagine which questions ! ! 4 = < :. C !2B C 2B C 2B C : 2B Interest them. D ; " B E F Now you can make your outline. 4 3. Get your document into shape 1 / E summary . > , ? > + - / < / 3 8 + - / ? ! logic and reasoning. CB > ! 3 informative headings = 1 C4 B C4 B / ! ! =. icons, graphs, or tables instead of text? 9 >2 / Keep cutting! A J ! F ! . " K& 4 7L&7 " K& 4 7L&7 1 . K& 4 7L&7 18 B > 5 6 &L ! / 18 : conclusion. 1 ! 4! / 5 table of contents. Two common problems at the European Commission: & $ : G F 8 "! ! 7 I : A . 5 4. KISS: Keep It Short and Simple 5 5. " I 7L &L &L " ! 3 5 ! M ! as 5 . / % " B some / % : ! C !B C B C B C B C 1 AB / % . C" ? ; 5 D " B 5 1 . 1 document = 15 pages at the most 1 sentence = 20 words on average + ! ,3 " ! A ! +CB CB CB- B 6 @ most pursuant to ! so to on 5 . ... avoiding ambiguity E . I " " (i.e. your application — or is it?). I " " I " I I (what are we talking about now?) ... using the positive form, not the negative I " I ! I E @ not in ... not changing words just for ‘style’ I ! ! 1 . 5. E @ Make sense — structure your sentences I + - : 6 % agents + 6 *- E 3 ! @ 1 B have submitted @ & 1 Committee will meet 7 to decide 3 3 it will grant to P 9B 1 " " ! now ! 5! ! " strong endings B E 7 6. Cut out excess nouns — verb forms are livelier G " B C=B . Q . : : assess renew A ! ! R 4 C=B " 8 ! . 8 5 ! ! . " D 7. Be concrete, not abstract = " ! B ! 3 choose the concrete word. I Sometimes, instead of this ... : you could try this: eliminate @ meet a target @ ! S = +!- = +!B- ! = "E?. E =! C5B > ! " " = < : identify . to identify to identify to identify ' ' meaning S 1 : 8 : 9 8. Prefer active verbs to passive 1 +C B- +C B- . % ? 9D &) " ? new 9D will &) Look how we can make a sentence clearer by cutting out passives ... : unclear: 1 ? 4 5 > a bit better: " ? 4 5 > much better: " ? 4 5 10 Name the agent E EB " @ @ at Commission " @ @ . E 3 Who considers? The writer, the Commission, the $ 3 E = But you don’t have to avoid passives at all costs. " : B B +C1 B- 9. Beware of false friends, jargon and abbreviations Avoid false friends False friends + - ! E ! 8 : A < < C B C 'B C 'B E C !'B ! ‘contrôler’ in < 3 ! 3 ! ! E + : @ ;: C;: B- French False friend Why is it wrong? What’s the correct word? actuel CB CB adéquat CB C#B assister à assist at CB CB attribuer C B C ' B compléter CB C>B supplement délai C B C =B+T <- élaborer +- C B C B 8 éventuel CB CB prévu CB CB important important CB C>BM U U matériel material CB CB CB opportunité CB CB perspectives CB CB ! respecter C B C B CB +- + - sensible CB CB 11 Avoid or explain jargon V 6 + - ! @ 5 ! @= Jargon term 1 9G @ : > ! " =: 3 . country about to join the EU acquis (communautaire) country still negotiating to join the EU approach aimed at reducing social and economic disparities within the EU ! Parliament and Council work together enlargement mainstreaming taking into account in all EU policies ! that necessary to carry out its assigned tasks ! government closest to citizens : @ . C? ; D @B +.''''@':W- < > 3 : D +.''''':W- 12 Take care with abbreviations " ! . +$9< X 1DD< X 1? T YYY- E . / : M / > ! M ' / ! " C4 1 1B E 5 D +.'' '''=)LLLPLL- > 1 B . / 5 CB / C! B C416B ! $ : < :. ESA 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5. .'' ESA ESA ESA ESA ESA ESA ESA ESA 13 10. Revise and cheque check / 3 ! B ! ! / $= B 1 !2 9 2 " / 1! B / ; / < = % 2 > ? G ! ! 5 : Q I 9=D " +9D"- ! " . Web pages: the main pages of a website in html format. " ? . WEB +not 9D - REV. < DGT-WEB-EDIT. < . .'''''' '':W .''''''!W'?'W: Other documents: / 5 3 E > DGT-EDIT, 4 . .'''''' !W''?':: / I ! ! # ? ! REV. 14 G 3 8 9D"B 8 + 8 -. .'''W' '8'?':: 9 = 5 D " 9D. .'''''' 'WWW E # # E 5 D ? G# . .'' '''=LLL&LL D 8 # V ? D. .''=:'': < E ? D. .'''' ' # " 9D . .''' to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 these calls may be billed. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). !"#$ %&'+ ,-;ISBN 978-92-79-23855-0 doi: 10.2782/54318 =+ ,-;> ?"@ Printed in Belgium PRINTED ON CHLORINE-FREE BLEACHED PAPER 15 6=K7=&7=&P*=%= G?" " . "#$ % 4 , G: 3 Z Écrire pour Être Lu, 4[ \ ] A 30 Regole per Scrivere Testi Amministrativi Chiari, 3^ ? E Bürgernahe Verwaltungssprache, A D Klarspråk lönar sig, Regeringskansliet, V 5 Käännetäänkö tekstisi, tulkataanko puheenvuorosi? Z ! !!! < &" " A 3 "#'*$ +#' ? .''''*'K('PL)LLLL_ E Y < 9D " " 7K # 3 I > . '