Change French register while keeping the facts: a rewrite workshop
Practise French register rewrites that preserve the actor, time, uncertainty and strength of a claim. Compare recommendations, actions and results.
In short
Change the wording while keeping who acts, what happens, when it happens and how certain the claim is. Préconiser une vérification means recommending a check; effectuer une vérification means carrying it out. A faithful rewrite keeps that difference, along with any limits and attributed opinions.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Start with one complete account
Le comité préconise une nouvelle analyse. Il ne l’a pas encore effectuée.
The committee recommends a new analysis. It has not carried it out yet.
Recommendation: yes. Completed analysis: no.
| Rewrite | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Le comité recommande une nouvelle analyse. Il ne l’a pas encore réalisée. | Keeps both the recommendation and the unfinished stage. |
| Le comité a réalisé une nouvelle analyse. | Turns a recommendation into a completed action. |
How do you change register without changing the facts?
Le message omet la date.The message omits the date.
Focus: Missing content; the reason is open.
La date ne figure pas dans le message.
The date does not appear in the message.
La rédactrice a oublié la date.
The writer forgot the date.
Cette méthode semble utile.This method seems useful.
Focus: An impression, still presented as an impression.
Cette méthode paraît utile.
This method appears useful.
Cette méthode s’est avérée utile.
This method proved useful.
L’autrice fustige une décision qu’elle juge injuste.The author lambasts a decision she considers unfair.
Focus: Strong criticism, with the judgement attributed to the author.
L’autrice critique vivement une décision qu’elle trouve injuste.
The author strongly criticises a decision she finds unfair.
In the first pair, oublier adds a memory lapse. The message itself only shows an omission. In the second, s’est avérée presents a finding, while semble presents an impression. In the third, keep vivement and qu’elle trouve injuste: they carry the strength and ownership of the judgement.
Try a rewrite before opening the model
La responsable préconise une révision du programme avant vendredi. Selon elle, certains passages demeurent peu clairs.
The manager recommends revising the programme before Friday. In her view, some passages remain unclear.
Write a clearer version using recommander and rester. Keep the deadline, the limitation to some passages and the attribution.