European Commission How to write clearly

How to write
clearly
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Translation
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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
.......................................................................................................................................... page 15
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1.
Think before you write
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An alternative
‘7 questions’ approach.
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WHAT? 4
WHO? ?
WHEN? 9
WHERE? ?
HOW? :
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HOW MUCH? 2
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Focus on the reader
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Now you can make your outline.
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Get your document into shape
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summary
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logic and reasoning.
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informative headings =
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icons, graphs, or tables instead of text?
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conclusion. 1
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table of contents.
Two common problems at the European Commission:
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KISS: Keep It Short and Simple
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1 document = 15 pages at the most
1 sentence = 20 words on average
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... avoiding ambiguity
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(what are
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Make sense — structure your sentences
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strong endings
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choose the concrete word.
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meet a target
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Prefer active verbs to passive
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Look how we can make a sentence clearer by
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much better:
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Name the agent
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at Commission
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Who considers? The writer, the Commission, the
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Beware of false friends, jargon and abbreviations
Avoid false friends
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False friend
Why is it wrong?
What’s the correct word?
actuel
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adéquat
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assister à
assist at
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attribuer
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compléter
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supplement
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éventuel
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prévu
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important
important
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matériel
material
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opportunité
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perspectives
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respecter
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sensible
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Avoid or explain jargon
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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
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Parliament and Council work together
enlargement
mainstreaming
taking into account in all EU policies
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that necessary to carry out its assigned tasks
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government closest to citizens
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10. Revise and cheque check
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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).
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doi: 10.2782/54318
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Printed in Belgium
PRINTED ON CHLORINE-FREE BLEACHED PAPER
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