How to write
clearly
1
Translation
e
How to writ
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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
2
.......................................................................................................................................... page 15
1.
Think before you write
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2
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/ 3 / / 4 ! 3 5 6 7 2
2
/ 9 / 4! + : !
/ / ; ! / < ! . ! ! ' : " = :. <
> 8 An alternative ‘7 questions’ approach.
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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
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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. C B > ! 3 informative headings = 1
C4 B C4 B
/
! !
= . icons, graphs, or tables instead of text?
9 > 2
/
Keep cutting! A J ! F ! .
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" 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 .
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&L " ! 3 5 ! M
! 5 .
/ % " B pursuant to
/ % : ! C ! B C B C
B C B C 1 AB
! so
to
/ % . 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
@ as
some
most
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
9 B 1 " " ! now
! 5 ! ! " strong endings
B E
7
6.
Cut out excess nouns — verb forms are livelier
G Q
" B .
.
assess
:
:
A ! ! R 4 C= B " 8 ! .
8
C= B renew
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
"E?. E = ! C5 B > ! " " = < : identify .
to identify
to identify to identify ' ' meaning
!
= +!- =
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9
8.
Prefer active verbs to passive
1 +C B- +C B- .
% ? 9D &) Name the agent
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Look how we can make a sentence clearer by
cutting out passives ... :
unclear:
1 ? 4 5 > a bit better:
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> much better:
" ? 4 5 10
" @ @ 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
' B C ' B E C !' B ! ‘contrôler’ in
< 3 ! 3 ! ! E + : @ ;: C;: B-
Avoid false friends
False friends + - ! E
! 8
: A < <
C B C
French
False friend
Why is it wrong?
What’s the correct word?
actuel
CB
adéquat
CB
assister à
assist at
C B
attribuer
C B C ' B
compléter
C B
supplement
délai
C B C =B+T < -
élaborer
+-
C B
B
8 éventuel
C B
C B
prévu
C B
C B
important
important
C B C > BM U
U matériel
material
C B C B
C B
opportunité
C B
C B
perspectives
C B
C B
!
respecter
C B C B C B +-
-
sensible
C B
CB
C# B
CB
C> B
C C B
+
11
Avoid or explain jargon
V 6 + ! @ 5 ! @ = 1 9G @ : > ! " =: 3 .
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 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
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12
Take care with abbreviations
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ESA
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ESA
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13
10. Revise and cheque check
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Web pages: the main pages of a website
in html format.
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WEB +not 9D - REV. <
DGT-WEB-EDIT.
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Other documents:
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DGT-EDIT,
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' # " 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
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Printed in Belgium
PRINTED ON CHLORINE-FREE BLEACHED PAPER
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"#$ % 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
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