THE TOP

TIPS

to cut costs

BEFORE you publish

explain and MOVE ON

#1

LIMIT

…

ONE idea per sentence

#2 use FEWER words

…

“Turn the switch to ON”“To turn the machine on, push the

switch down to move it into the ON position”

LIMIT sentence size to max. 25 words

VS

#3

avoid

AMBIGUITY

CHOOSE words carefully to avoid ambiguity

…

e.g. instead of using close use NEAR

#4 a picture is

WORTH a

1,000 WORDS

USEgraphics to explain

complex ideas

…

helps STRUCTURE your thoughts, sentences and choice of words

#5

call it an ORANGEin all situations

BEconsistent with the

terms used

…

one word = one idea

#6

YOU talkin’

to ME?

WRITEto communicate and

be understood

…

who is YOUR audience?

#7

just K-I-S-S it

CREATEan acronym or

substitute a single word for a cluster of

nouns

…

analyzer

Portable Oxygen SpO2 Monitor

the portal rigid spoke analyzer

POSM

#8

say it like you

MEAN IT

STAYin the active tense &

avoid passive sentences

…

The temperature must not be set over 100C (centigrade)

Do not set the temperatureabove 100C (centigrade)

#9

adverbs, don’tactually

adDverbs

CHECKto see if the sentence

can stand alonewithout an adverb

…

ALWAYS AVOID: simply, badly or hardlye.g. simply turn the lever exactly 37 degrees to easily reach the compartment

#10not TEN

KNOWwhen to spell out

numbers or use the numeral

…

Spell out numbers from zero to nine. For numbers 10 and above use the numeral

These TIPS follow the basicprinciples of

SIMPLIFIED TECHNICAL ENGLISH (STE)

fewer words

reduced word count

less to translate

up to 30% savings

THE RESULT?

Want to learn MORE?

Watch our webcast on

Simplified Technical English: writing for translations

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