EC 2016 - How to Write Clearly

7/25/2019 EC 2016 - How to Write Clearly

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clearlyHow to write

Translation


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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

o write


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1. Think before you write

-

-

An alternative 7 questions approach.

WHAT?

WHO?

WHEN?

WHERE?

HOW?

WHY?

HOW MUCH?

abbreviat

ions

abstract

jargon

long

passive


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-

Involve them -

Imagine which questions

Interest them.

-

-

2. Focus on the reader

Now you can make your outline.


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Two common problems at the European Commission:

3. Get your document into shape

summary

-

-

logic and reasoning.

- informa-

tive headings

-

icons, graphs, or tables instead of text?

conclusion. -

-

table of contents.

Keep cutting! -


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-

-

-

1 document = 15 pages at the most

1 sentence = 20 words on average

as

some most

pursuant to

so

to

on

4. KISS: KeepItShort andSimple


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... avoiding ambiguity

(what arewe talking about now?)

... not changing words just for style

(i.e. your application or is it?).

... using the positive form, not the negative

not

in

-

agents

have submitted

Committee will meet

to decide 3

it willgrant to

now

strong endings

5. Make sense structure your sentences


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6. Cut out excess nouns verb forms are livelier

-

assess

renew

8


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7. Be concrete, not abstract

choose the concrete word.

Sometimes, instead

of this ... :

you could try this:

eliminate meet a target

-

identify -

to identify

to identify

to identify

meaning


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8. Prefer active verbs to passive

new

will

Look how we can make a sentence clearer bycutting out passives ... :

unclear:

a bit better:

much better:

Name the agent

-

at Commission

Who considers? The writer, the Commission, the

-

-

-

But you dont have to avoid passives at

all costs.


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9. Beware of false friends, jargon and abbreviations

Avoid false friends

False friends -

-

contrler in

-

-

French False friend Why is it wrong? Whats the correct word?

actuel

adquat

assister assist at

attribuer

complter supplementdlai

laborer

ventuel

prvu

important important

matriel material

opportunit

perspectives

respecter

sensible


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Avoid or explain jargon

-

-

Jargon term

country about to join the EU

acquis (communautaire)

country still negotiating to join the EU

approach aimed at reducing social and economic disparities withinthe 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

-
http://europa.eu/abc/eurojargon/index_en.htmhttp://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/index_en.htmhttp://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/index_en.htmhttp://europa.eu/abc/eurojargon/index_en.htm


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Take care with abbreviations

-

-

-

-

ESA

ESA

ESA

ESA

ESA

ESA

ESA

ESA

ESA
http://iate.europa.eu/http://iate.europa.eu/http://iate.europa.eu/


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10. Revise and cheque check

-

-

Web pages: the main pages of a website

in html format.

WEB not REV. DGT-WEB-EDIT.

-

Other documents: -

DGT-EDIT,

REV.
http://www.cc.cec/translation/facilities/products/web/tutorial/index_en.htmhttp://www.cc.cec/translation/facilities/products/web/tutorial/index_en.htmhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/serv/en/dgt/making_request/Pages/web_edit.aspxhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/serv/en/dgt/making_request/Pages/web_edit.aspxhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/serv/en/dgt/making_request/edit/Pages/index.aspxhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/serv/en/dgt/making_request/edit/Pages/index.aspxhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/serv/en/dgt/making_request/edit/Pages/index.aspxhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/serv/en/dgt/making_request/Pages/web_edit.aspxhttp://www.cc.cec/translation/facilities/products/web/tutorial/index_en.htm


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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
http://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/hr_admin/en/drafting/Pages/index.aspxhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/hr_admin/en/drafting/Pages/index.aspxhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/hr_admin/en/drafting/Pages/index.aspxhttp://http//ec.europa.eu/translation/english/guidelines/documents/styleguide_english_dgt_en.pdfhttp://http//ec.europa.eu/translation/english/guidelines/documents/styleguide_english_dgt_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/translationhttp://ec.europa.eu/translationhttp://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-000100.htmhttp://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-000100.htmhttp://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-000100.htmhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/ipg/content/tipshttp://ec.europa.eu/ipg/content/tipshttp://europa.eu/http://ec.europa.eu/ipg/content/tipshttp://ec.europa.eu/ipg/content/tipshttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htmhttp://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-000100.htmhttp://publications.europa.eu/code/en/en-000100.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/translationhttp://http//ec.europa.eu/translation/english/guidelines/documents/styleguide_english_dgt_en.pdfhttp://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/hr_admin/en/drafting/Pages/index.aspxhttp://europa.eu/


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, crire pour tre Lu, 30 Regole per Scrivere Testi Amministrativi Chiari, Brgernahe Verwaltungssprache, Klarsprk lnar sig,Regeringskansliet, Knnetnk tekstisi, tulkataanko puheenvuorosi?

EC 2016 - How to Write Clearly

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