Use of English for drafting ETSI deliverables - Revision history

Carboninibes: Carboninibes moved page Use of English to Use of English for drafting ETSI deliverables

2025-07-25T11:58:41Z

Carboninibes moved page Use of English to Use of English for drafting ETSI deliverables

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:58, 25 July 2025
(No difference)

Raffy: /* Scope and Application */

2024-09-19T07:03:13Z

Scope and Application

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:03, 19 September 2024
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	In addition to its technical content, ETSI deliverables are characterized by a consistent writing style and a distinct visual identity. Since its establishment, ETSI's documents have been instantly recognizable to its readership.		In addition to its technical content, ETSI deliverables are characterized by a consistent writing style and a distinct visual identity. Since its establishment, ETSI's documents have been instantly recognizable to its readership.
	This guide serves as a reference for ETSI authors, aiming to streamline the writing process and maintain consistency across deliverables. The transition from the previous version the 'Use of English' guide to the present wiki format aims to simplify the content, retaining only essential information.		This guide serves as a reference for ETSI authors, aiming to streamline the writing process and maintain consistency across deliverables. The transition from the previous version of the 'Use of English' guide to the present wiki format aims to simplify the content, retaining only essential information.

	=British vs. American spelling=		=British vs. American spelling=

Raffy: /* Scope and Application */

2024-09-19T07:02:46Z

Scope and Application

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:02, 19 September 2024
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	In addition to its technical content, ETSI deliverables are characterized by a consistent writing style and a distinct visual identity. Since its establishment, ETSI's documents have been instantly recognizable to its readership.		In addition to its technical content, ETSI deliverables are characterized by a consistent writing style and a distinct visual identity. Since its establishment, ETSI's documents have been instantly recognizable to its readership.
	This guide serves as a reference for ETSI authors, aiming to streamline the writing process and maintain consistency across deliverables. The transition of ~~this document into a~~ wiki format aims to simplify ~~its~~ content, retaining only essential information.		This guide serves as a reference for ETSI authors, aiming to streamline the writing process and maintain consistency across deliverables. The transition from the previous version the 'Use of English' guide to the present wiki format aims to simplify the content, retaining only essential information.

	=British vs. American spelling=		=British vs. American spelling=

Raffy: /* Adjectives: Comparatives & Superlatives */

2024-09-18T09:53:31Z

Adjectives: Comparatives & Superlatives

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	The following table illustrates instances where the comparative form of an adjective is formed by adding the word "more" before the base adjective, and the superlative form is created by using "most".		The following table illustrates instances where the comparative form of an adjective is formed by adding the word "more" before the base adjective, and the superlative form is created by using "most".

	It provides typical examples and also showcases adjectives with irregular comparatives and superlatives.		It provides typical examples and also showcases adjectives with irregular comparatives and superlatives.

Raffy: /* Adjectives: Comparatives & Superlatives */

2024-09-18T09:52:27Z

Adjectives: Comparatives & Superlatives

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:52, 18 September 2024
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	[[File:Figure20.jpg\|center]]		[[File:Figure20.jpg\|center]]


	The following table illustrates instances where the comparative form of an adjective is formed by adding the word "more" before the base adjective, and the superlative form is created by using "most".		The following table illustrates instances where the comparative form of an adjective is formed by adding the word "more" before the base adjective, and the superlative form is created by using "most".

Raffy: /* For further reading */

2024-09-18T09:49:23Z

For further reading

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	For further reading, please take a look at the following:		For further reading, please take a look at the following:

	[https://www.oed.com/?tl=true The Oxford English Dictionary]		* [https://www.oed.com/?tl=true The Oxford English Dictionary]

	[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english The Collins English Dictionary]		* [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english The Collins English Dictionary]

	[https://www.iso.org/ISO-house-style.html ISO House Style]		* [https://www.iso.org/ISO-house-style.html ISO House Style]

	[https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/c45f5b70-2d0e-4da7-b181-b5fe3a16c4bb_en European Commission: English Style Guide]		* [https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/c45f5b70-2d0e-4da7-b181-b5fe3a16c4bb_en European Commission: English Style Guide]

Raffy: /* Verbal forms for the expressions of provisions */

2024-09-18T09:48:45Z

Verbal forms for the expressions of provisions

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	It is important to know the use of modal verbs can be tricky even for native British English speakers.		It is important to know the use of modal verbs can be tricky even for native British English speakers.
	Therefore to express Requirements, Recommendations, Permission, Possibility and Capability in ETSI deliverables, please refer to [https://portal.etsi.org/Resources/ETSI-Directives clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules].		Therefore to express Requirements, Recommendations, Permission, Possibility and Capability in ETSI deliverables, please refer to [https://portal.etsi.org/Resources/ETSI-Directives clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules].

			[[File:Figure19.jpg\|center]]

			=Adjectives: Comparatives & Superlatives=

			The general rule is that the comparative is constructed by adding -'''er''' to the root, and the superlative by adding -'''est'''.

			[[File:Figure20.jpg\|center]]

			The following table illustrates instances where the comparative form of an adjective is formed by adding the word "more" before the base adjective, and the superlative form is created by using "most".
			It provides typical examples and also showcases adjectives with irregular comparatives and superlatives.

			[[File:Figure21.jpg\|center]]

			="Style" or "person" to be used in ETSI Deliverables=

			The two most common styles of narrative in British English are "conversational" and "informational".

			[[File:Figure22.jpg\|center]]

			=The indefinite article=

			The form "a" is used except before a vowel sound, when it changes to "an".
			Indeed, contrary to most grammar rules, it is the sound of what follows which decides the case, not the spelling.

			[[File:Figure23.jpg\|center]]

			=Italics=

			The ETSI Drafting Rules state: "Use italic for citations, linguistic expressions or when a word/text/expression is extracted from a specific context."

			Italic font serves to emphasize citations, linguistic expressions, or text and phrases, including foreign words and scientific names. It's important to note that either italics or quotation marks can be used to cite quotations from references and papers.

			However, it's been observed that there's a tendency to overuse italics in ETSI deliverables.
			Bold should be used only to emphasize text.

			[[File:Figure24.jpg\|center]]

			=For further reading=

			For further reading, please take a look at the following:

			[https://www.oed.com/?tl=true The Oxford English Dictionary]

			[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english The Collins English Dictionary]

			[https://www.iso.org/ISO-house-style.html ISO House Style]

			[https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/c45f5b70-2d0e-4da7-b181-b5fe3a16c4bb_en European Commission: English Style Guide]

Raffy at 09:41, 18 September 2024

2024-09-18T09:41:12Z

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	[[File:Figure15.jpg\|center]]		[[File:Figure15.jpg\|center]]

			=Numbers=

			ETSI uses the same convention adopted by all major SDOs in Europe where the decimal point is represented by a comma, and that the separator between groups of three digits is a space (except four-digit numbers representing years have no separator as well as for pixels).

			[[File:Figure16.jpg\|center]]

			=Infinitive of verbs=

			There is often confusion whether to say, for example, "we propose to draft a standard" or "we propose drafting a standard".
			The choice is often, as in this case, a matter of personal preference and both are correct. However, there are instances where using the infinitive form is incorrect.

			See example in table below.

			[[File:Figure17.jpg\|center]]

			=Negatives=

			The basic rule is only one negation allowed in a British English sentence, and any required degree (of negativity) must be added by the use of adverbs.

			[[File:Figure18.jpg\|center]]

			=Verbal forms for the expressions of provisions=

			It is important to know the use of modal verbs can be tricky even for native British English speakers.
			Therefore to express Requirements, Recommendations, Permission, Possibility and Capability in ETSI deliverables, please refer to [https://portal.etsi.org/Resources/ETSI-Directives clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules].

Raffy: /* Foreign words and phrases */

2024-09-18T09:20:18Z

Foreign words and phrases

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	=Foreign words and phrases=		=Foreign words and phrases=

	Many words of foreign origin are in common usage, and it can be tempting to use them in ETSI deliverables. However, these words are to be used with caution and if a British English equivalent exists it is preferable to opt for the most common or widely known option.		Many words of foreign origin are in common usage, and it can be tempting to use them in ETSI deliverables.
			However, these words are to be used with caution and if a British English equivalent exists it is preferable to opt for the most common or widely known option.

	Only the most commonly used foreign words are allowed and all others risk being flagged by editHelp!. It is also unnecessary to italicize foreign words.		Only the most commonly used foreign words are allowed and all others risk being flagged by editHelp!. It is also unnecessary to italicize foreign words.

	[[File:Figure15.jpg\|center]]		[[File:Figure15.jpg\|center]]

Raffy: /* Upper case and lower case */

2024-09-18T09:17:04Z

Upper case and lower case

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:17, 18 September 2024
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	Proper nouns are always capitalized. Otherwise, nouns are given in lower case, i.e. words such as committee, organization, secretariat, report, government only have a capital when part of a full title, e.g. the ETSI Secretariat.		Proper nouns are always capitalized. Otherwise, nouns are given in lower case, i.e. words such as committee, organization, secretariat, report, government only have a capital when part of a full title, e.g. the ETSI Secretariat.

			[[File:Figure11.jpg\|center]]

			It is to be noted that words such as clause, annex, table, figure are to be used either capitalized or not. What is important in these cases is the consistency throughout the whole document.

			=Symbols=

			[[File:Figure12.jpg\|center]]

			=Scientific units=

			The use of scientific units can be tricky though ETSI is aligned with current international practices. See below the table for further information.

			[[File:Figure13.jpg\|center]]

			Further examples in the table below.

			[[File:Figure14.jpg\|center]]

			=Foreign words and phrases=

			Many words of foreign origin are in common usage, and it can be tempting to use them in ETSI deliverables. However, these words are to be used with caution and if a British English equivalent exists it is preferable to opt for the most common or widely known option.
			Only the most commonly used foreign words are allowed and all others risk being flagged by editHelp!. It is also unnecessary to italicize foreign words.

			[[File:Figure15.jpg\|center]]