Plain language alternatives
The main problem for anybody working in the EU environment is realising what counts as jargon. This includes staff in the institutions and writers in the private sector who tend to reuse the jargon from the EU source texts.
Working in the EU environment can make you jargon-blind. You might recognise e.g. ‘subsidiarity’ or ‘countervailing duties’ as technical jargon - but EU language is full of many less obvious jargon terms, influenced especially by legal/diplomatic terminology. For example, when did you last negotiate your accession to a gym or sports club, or go on holiday to a third country?
Additionally, in English - the original language of most web texts - there is the extra problem of false friends, mostly from French.
Find plain language alternatives to common EU jargon in our A-Z table of jargon and false friends below.
If there is no plain language alternative, then explain the jargon or technical term the first time you use it on the page.
A to Z – jargon and false friends
As a general principle use plain English when writing for the Commission website. The following list provides alternatives for
(1) unclear names for EU‑related concepts |
(2) unwieldy expressions in English |
(3) false friends |
Often, the ‘EU aspect’ of terms related to the Commission’s activities is implicit. But needs to be made explicit for non‑expert audiences: acquis vs. body of EU law;
We've not included here the numerous Latin expressions that regularly turn up in Commission texts. Avoid them where at all possible.
But one person’s jargon is another person’s ordinary professional language. So use the words your target audience does.
| Words and terms | Meanings and alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
A | ||
accession | - joining - membership - entry | |
accounted for by the fact that | - because | |
a certain number of | - some | |
accordingly | - so | |
ACP countries | - Africa and the Caribbean and Pacific regions | |
acquis | - EU law (the body of laws that countries wishing to join the EU must transpose into their national legislation) - EU rules | |
action(s) | If used with a meaning akin to scheme, measure or project, those latter are preferable. If you want to use action, then use in singular. | |
active labour‑market policies | - job‑creation schemes/measures - measures to help the unemployed back to work | |
actor(s) | from the French acteurs - interested group - body - organisation - party - participant - interest - interest group - player - those involved - operator | |
actual | means real or true Don’t confuse with the French actuel, Dutch actueel, German aktuell, Italian attuale and Portuguese atual, which mean current or topical. | |
actually | In English, this is used to soften a contradiction - it does not mean now | |
adding value to | - enhancing - supplementing | |
additionality | - additional funding rule - or change the perspective: national matching funds supplement rather than replace national funding | |
administrative capacity | - sufficient (administrative) staff and skills to … (implement projects) | |
aquaculture | Bigger than ‘fish farming’, which is the term most people are familiar with. Includes the farming of fish, shellfish and algae. Aquaculture unexplained may be acceptable in specialist texts, though it cannot hurt to be explicit about what it covers. In texts for the general public, definitely add an explanation. Even if fish farming doesn’t accurately describe the whole sector, it represents a large percentage of it, so this loose label might be permissible for communication purposes in some contexts. | |
as of / as from | - after - since | |
assist at | means to help not to attend Don’t confuse with the French assister à and similar expressions in other Romance languages. | |
authentic | - (recognised as the) official or authorised version | |
autonomous trade measures | - duty-free access to EU markets | |
B | ||
biannual / biennial | - twice a year / every two years - (biannual is almost always misused) | |
bi‑weekly, bi‑monthly | - twice a week / twice a month | |
blue-sky thinking | - clear/visionary thinking | |
budget (allocated to etc.), budgetary | - spend or spending - the EU subsidises/supports X to the tune of | |
budget support | - direct financial transfers to a government (part of development aid) | |
Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA) European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC) | - the Commission's top policy advisers | |
C | ||
calls for proposals | Call for proposals is the proper term, but it might need more explanation depending on the target audience:
| |
candidate country | - prospective/aspiring/would-be members - possible/likely/potential future member countries - country that is an official candidate for EU membership - countries that are candidates or potential candidates for EU membership - (EU) membership candidate Technically: one step up from having the "prospect" (perspective) of EU membership, but not all candidates have opened formal negotiations. Some candidates then move on to formal membership (accession) negotiations / the formal pre-membership process of negotiation and reform (adopting established EU law). - At the very least: EU candidate country (the shorthand form (without EU or country) is not informative.) | |
CAP / common agricultural policy | (Depending on context and target audience) - EU farm policy / support / subsidies (Even the full term common agricultural policy is not widely known outside stakeholder circles. Only real experts for EU agricultural policy will know that term and search for it) | |
circa | - about | |
citizens | Bit of a false friend from French citoyen and overused in English texts. Calls to mind administrative procedures to become a citizen of another country. - the general public - individuals - people - nationals - Europeans - the person in the street - society | |
Citizens’ Initiative | - new European petitioning system And/or explain what it is, e.g.: | |
civil society | Consider being more specific if possible. - interest groups - non‑governmental organisations - non-profit organisations - civil society organisations - non-government institutions - social organisations or groups Civil society organisations – non-governmental groups such as trade unions, employers’ associations and other social groups | |
coherent | Means: - consistent - coordinated - logical - orderly Not: in agreement with or accordant with | |
cohesion | - economic and social development - [geographically] balanced (economic) development - regional cohesion - regional economic development - social cohesion = fairness - economic and social cohesion = fair economic and social opportunities for all Cohesion policy and regional policy are not the same thing (cohesion policy is wider because it also covers e.g. the European social fund) | |
cohesion fund(ing) | - regional development/funding/policy/cohesion (The idea of regional socio-economic disparities is not expressed by cohesion on its own.) | |
College | - (body or group of) Commissioners. The Commissioners acting as a group. | |
come forward with | - put forward | |
comitology (procedure) |
The official term is now committee procedure, though comitology is still used frequently. | |
Commission | if necessary, add some explanation, e.g.:
| |
Committee of the Regions | needs explanation, e.g.:
| |
common | "Common" is over-used in Commission texts, due to the influence of French. In many cases, it is not the most apt term for what it is describing - other alternatives are clearer: - EU-wide - EU - standard - universal - shared - a (one) single (+ noun) - joint(ly) | |
commonalities | - shared or common aspects/themes/goals | |
common organisation of the market / CMO / common market organisations | - EU support (regime or package) for farms (for the e.g. wine market) - market management regime/mechanisms/measures/scheme - commodity regime - market organisation. Never CMO | |
Communication (document) | needs explanation about what it really contains, e.g.:
| |
Community | - EU (unless the legal difference between the Communities and the Union absolutely has to be made clear) | |
compatible with the single market | - does not confer an unfair advantage - does not distort competition (preventing protectionism and stimulating economic activity) | |
competence (competencies) | - remit - portfolio - brief - area of responsibility - jurisdiction - powers - authority - is an exclusive competence of = is decided by - skills (for a person) Competence in its meaning of the legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter is used in the singular only. | |
competition | Restricting competition or unfair competition is abstract and also the wrong perspective (a positive policy aspiration, not the actual practice). Much more concrete to say something like: | |
competitiveness | - competitive advantage - competitive edge - competitive position - if EU firms are to remain competitive | |
concerning | - on - about | |
concordance (multilingual) | - agreement (or consistency) between language versions | |
consequently | - so | |
contextual help | - mouseover help - or tooltip (but this is rarer) | |
control | means: 1. to exercise power over/to be in charge or command of something 2. to limit / to restrict something Don’t confuse with the French contrôler, German kontrollieren and similar words in other languages. It doesn’t mean to audit, check, monitor or verify. | |
convergence criteria | - requirements for joining (the euro) - euro membership requirements | |
Council (of ministers) | Depending on context and target audience. Non-experts don’t know what the Council of ministers is. - EU leaders - EU governments - EU member countries, etc. - EU (farm) ministers meeting in Brussels - agriculture Council = meeting of EU farm ministers | |
cross‑border | - within the EU - in another/different (EU) country | |
customs union | needs explanation:
| |
D | ||
Decision (Regulation, Directive) | These are specific types of legislation, which experts will know and understand. For the general public, laws or rules is probably enough. But ask yourself whether extra information would be useful to the reader:
| |
decoupled (payments, i.e. farm subsidies) | - flat-rate Decoupled just means not dependent on production volume. | |
de facto | - in reality - in effect - actual | |
delay | In English, if something is delayed, it means it is late, postponed or held up, i.e. the time limit has passed. Don’t confuse with the French délai, which refers to a period of time or a time limit or deadline. | |
delegated acts | needs explanation:
| |
Delegation, Representation | - (local) EU mission - (local) EU office - EU’s representative office - EU office in X country Delegation in English implies a group of representatives sent for a strictly limited time span. Representation is too generic. | |
deliverables | - results - benefits - outcomes | |
de minimis aid | needs explanation for non-experts:
| |
(most) deprived | - poorest | |
derogation | - exemption - exception - opt-out | |
DG Competition/other DGs | when mentioning DGs, consider explaining what they do or better explaining their role | |
Directive (Regulation, Decision) | These are specific types of legislation, which experts will know and understand. For the general public, laws or rules is probably enough. But ask yourself whether extra information would be useful to the reader:
| |
Directorate-General (DG) | Use only when referring to a specific one, and even then, only when the audience needs to know or is likely to know the title. | |
dispose of | means to get rid of something Don’t confuse with the French disposer de and similar expressions in other Romance languages. Disposer de means to have something or to be equipped with. | |
due to the fact that | - because | |
E | ||
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) | very abstract, essentially just the euro never use just EMU | |
elaborate | Don’t confuse with the French élaborer, which means to draft, draw up, prepare, produce, formulate, write up or develop. | |
electronically, by electronic means | - by e-mail - online - computerised | |
eliminate | - cut out | |
employment opportunities | - jobs | |
enlargement | Process whereby countries join the EU. In texts for non‑specialists, use something more natural‑sounding such as: - expansion - joining | |
ensure the universal availability of… | - ensure that everyone has access to … | |
element | Don’t confuse with the French element, which means part, constituent or component (of a structure/problem). In English, it is an essential or characteristic part of something abstract, or more specifically a chemical element or one of the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. | |
envisage | - provide for - to be possible - consider - plan - propose - envision - identify | |
EURES | - European job portal - online jobs service - jobs website - European jobs database (EURES) not: jobs mobility portal | |
| euro area | eurozone (no capital) | |
Europe (as a synonym for EU) | In general texts, Europe can usually be used, so that you don’t have to repeat EU all the time. But when talking about statistics or the scope of EU law, you have to be accurate. So use EU if what is meant is the countries that are members of the European Union. | |
European Citizens’ Initiative | - European petitioning system And/or explain what it is, e.g.: | |
EuropeAid (cooperation office) | - the EU’s development aid office | |
European Commission | for non-experts add some explanation, e.g.:
| |
European construction | - European integration - European unity - the EU - united Europe | |
European Council | (depending on context and target audience) - (at the) EU summit - (decision taken by) EU leaders / EU governments | |
European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC) predecessor: Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA) | - the Commission's top policy advisers | |
European semester | needs explanation:
| |
European social model | needs explanation:
| |
Europe 2020 | for non-experts add explanation:
| |
EU-10 | only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation
| |
EU-15 | only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation
| |
EU-25 | only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation
| |
EU-28 | only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation
| |
eventual / eventually | means certainly or later on Don’t confuse with the French éventuellement and the German eventuell, which mean possibly. | |
ex ante | - upstream - prior - advance | |
excessive deficit procedure | needs explanation:
| |
exchange of experience | - knowledge sharing or pooling - sharing experience - sharing or pooling or spreading information/ skills/know‑how/lessons learnt - information exchange or sharing - knowledge transfer | |
ex post | - downstream - subsequent | |
ex post facto | - after the event - retrospectively | |
external action | - foreign policy | |
external relations | - relations with partner countries / the outside world | |
F | ||
fisheries | - fishing - fishing industry - fishing ground - fisheries resources, not fish stocks - sustainable fishing, not sustainable fisheries Fisheries is abstract and confusing due to its double meaning (meaning both the business / industry of catching fish and a place where fish are caught). | |
flexicurity | needs explanation:
| |
foresee(n) | means to predict or forecast the future, usually involving a crystal ball Don’t confuse with the French prévoir/ prévu and similar expressions in other Romance languages. The French terms are often used to refer to the provisions laid down in legislation. In this sort of context, the best straight equivalent is provide for. alternatives: - probably - slated to - planned - forecast - meant to or for - stipulated - scheduled - envisaged in - set out in | |
for the purpose of | - to | |
for the reason that | - because | |
free circulation (on the EU market) | - are or can be freely sold throughout the EU | |
freedom of establishment | Explain for non-experts: - (businesses) setting up outside their home country - freedom to set up (and do) business in any country - operate abroad | |
free movement of workers (e.g. promoting this in the EU) | - helping workers to find jobs in another EU country | |
frontier worker | - working in one country, living in another - cross-border commuter - cross-border worker | |
fundamental freedoms (etc.) | - democratic values and practices | |
G | ||
global | - comprehensive - joint - overall - integrated | |
good governance | needs explanation:
| |
governance | - management - organisation | |
grandfather (verb) | needs explanation:
| |
green paper | needs explanation:
| |
H | ||
heads of state and government | - EU leaders | |
hierarchical superior | - boss - (line) manager - immediate superior - head of unit - director - etc. | |
High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy | (depending on context) - foreign policy chief | |
human capital (investment in …) | (depending on context and target audience) - people and their skills - education and training | |
human capital development | - training for staff | |
I | ||
if this is not the case | - if not | |
if this is the case | - if so | |
in case (that) | - if | |
inclusive | - fair | |
informatic(s) | - IT - computer or computing (as adjective) - computerised - electronic | |
information | Unlike French, information in English is used in the singular only – a piece of information, some information | |
in order to | - to | |
in relation to | - about | |
instrument | - scheme - programme - fund (depending on context) | |
inter alia | - including - partly - for example - among other things - in particular | |
intergovernmental conference | - negotiations - talks - constitutional convention - 2007 IGC = formal treaty talks or reform treaty talks | |
in the event of/that | - if | |
in the period 2006-2009 | - in 2006-09 | |
in toto | - completely - as a whole - entirely | |
investing in human capital | say what is really meant: - (workforce) training - improving (workers’) skills - training and education - hiring new staff | |
in view of the fact that | - as - because | |
IUU fishing | - illegal fishing (acronym stands for Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated) | |
L | ||
level (e.g. at EU/national/regional level) | Don’t overuse. Useful alternatives are: - across the EU - nationally - regionally - in every (EU) country | |
Lisbon strategy/agenda | risk of confusion with Lisbon treaty, add or replace with an explanatory phrase, e.g.:
| |
M | ||
mainstreaming | Refers to the process of taking into account goals such as gender‑equality & climate‑protection when developing programmes, laws, etc. that at first glance might seem unrelated. - enshrining/anchoring in law and practice - establishing across the board - in all policies - X in other EU policies | |
Member States | In all contexts except the most legal, we recommend: - EU countries - EU members - national governments, national authorities (particularly when talking about something they must do, such as transpose a directive.) | |
methodologies | often methods is all that is meant | |
millennium development goals | - UN development goals - poverty-reduction goals | |
mission | Ask yourself if you can’t use a more specific term: - field visit - inspection visit - working visit - fact-finding mission - on-site inspection | |
mobility | In English, this not‑so‑common term makes one think of, say, the physical ability to walk. More natural‑sounding alternatives include: - (sustainable, green) transport - travel - personal mobility - relocation - migration (for work) - moving around Europe (to live, work, study, retire) - borderless XY - study/training abroad - mobility week = describe using terms such as sustainable travel, annual event | |
mobile jobseekers | - people looking for work outside their home region/country | |
modalities | - arrangements - procedures - terms of implementation - details/rules for implementation | |
monetary stability | - stable prices (i.e. low inflation and reduced external currency shocks) | |
multiannual financial framework (MFF) | needs explanation:
| |
multilingualism | Ask yourself if it’s not clearer to say what is really meant, e.g.: - (foreign) languages - multilingual communication - foreign language use - language policy - learning languages - language learning - language skills. | |
N | ||
negative evolution (of the economy) | - (economic) downturn - decline - slump | |
(European) Neighbourhood policy | needs explanation:
| |
O | ||
OLAF | Add an explanation: - EU anti-fraud office | |
on condition that | - if | |
on the subject of | - about | |
open coordination (method of) | - voluntary policy coordination by EU governments | |
ordinary legislative procedure | needs explanation:
| |
owing to the fact that | - because | |
P | ||
payment service providers | depending on context, say what is really meant, e.g.: - banks - credit card companies | |
Permanent Representative | - (top) EU diplomat | |
points of fact and law | - the facts of a case and how the relevant laws apply to them | |
post hoc | - after this | |
precarious | - unstable (employment) | |
prejudice (without prejudice to, does not prejudge) | - notwithstanding does not affect - detract from the terms of - has no bearing on | |
premium (CAP) | - allowance - subsidy Don’t confuse with French prime. | |
Presidency (of the council) | for non-EU-experts explain or use alternative: - the 6-month rotating/unofficial leadership of the EU - six‑month stint in charge of EU affairs - country in charge of, at the helm (of), etc. | |
proactive | - active - energetic | |
programming | - finalising specific funding allocations - allocating funding | |
project | The French projet does not always translate as project in English. For example, projet de budget means draft budget and projet de loi means bill or draft law. | |
proportionality | add explanation for non-EU-experts:
| |
protocol | - annex | |
provided that | - if | |
provisions | - laws - rules - points of (EU law) | |
public procurement | from contractor’s perspective: - public (or government) contracts - tenders | |
punctual / punctually | means on time; not sporadic, occasional or localised. Don’t confuse with the French ponctuel and the German punktuell. | |
pursuant to | - under | |
pursuing non-economic activities | - not in paid work | |
R | ||
rapid alert | - early warning | |
reflection group | - high‑level working party - panel on future challenges / the future direction of | |
regarding | - on - about | |
Regulation (Directive, Decision) | These are specific types of legislation, which experts will know and understand. For the general public, laws or rules is probably enough. But ask yourself whether extra information would be useful to the reader:
| |
reinforce (strengthen) | Avoid overuse – from French renforcer - improve - enhance - consolidate - boost - energise - increase - tighten - revitalise - expand - step up - put greater emphasis on - focus more on | |
relating to | - on | |
relationship | - relations | |
remunerated employment | - paid work | |
report | Don’t confuse with the French reporter, which means to postpone to a later date, or to carry over money in accounts. | |
Representation, Delegation | - (local) EU mission - (local) EU office - EU’s representative office - EU office in X country Delegation in English implies a group of representatives sent for a strictly limited time span. Representation is too generic. | |
Research framework programme (e.g. 7th research framework programme / FP7) | - EU’s (past) research (funding) programme - EU’s main funding programme for scientific research, Horizon 2020 | |
resources | (depending on context) - time and money | |
respect | means to value or honour someone or something Don’t confuse with the French respecter, which means to meet (a deadline), observe (principles and rules), comply (with rules) or uphold. | |
roaming | (depending on target audience) - (making and receiving) mobile calls (while) abroad | |
S | ||
scarcity | - shortage | |
Schengen area | for non-experts add explanation: - no‑border zone - border‑free area - passport‑free travel | |
sensible | means reasonable Don’t confuse with the French sensible and the German sensibel, which mean sensitive. | |
‘Six pack’ | needs explanation, e.g.:
| |
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) | In most cases, you can use small businesses instead. Note that even the Commission is using the term in legislation (see Small Business Act). Use SMEs only if your readers will likely know it so well that they search for it. Even then, work alternative terms into your text: - small businesses / firms - small and mid-size businesses / companies small and medium-sized businesses / companies | |
social | - (social) welfare - social security | |
social dialogue | For non-experts: - labour relations - staff-management negotiations/relations - employers and unions - a constructive relationship/dialogue between employers and workers | |
social enterprise | needs explanation:
| |
social partners | for non-experts: - employers and (trade) unions - employers and workers - employers and workers’ groups - employers’ groups and workers movements | |
solidarity | - social justice/fairness - support - cooperation Solidarity has a narrower usage in English than French. | |
Southern Mediterranean | - North Africa (this is what’s meant) | |
specificities | - specific features - characteristics (of x) | |
stabilisation & association agreement | add explanation or use alternative: - pre-membership talks or stage | |
stakeholders | specify what groups are actually being consulted, e.g.: - groups affected by (our) policy (on …) - groups concerned/involved… - consumers/workers - business, authorities – and their representative groups (trade federations, consumer organisations, unions) - producers, retailers, etc. | |
state aid | For non-experts: - government support (to companies) - state support - support from public authorities - public assistance to companies - government-backed programmes | |
stocktaking | - review | |
subsidiarity (principle) | for non-experts add explanation, e.g.:
| |
sunset clause | clause put into agreements etc. to ensure they don’t run past a certain date | |
synergy | - complementary - mutual - in association with - pooling resources - more cost-effective - ability to work effectively in collaboration with - work better together - to coordinate with - economies of scale | |
T | ||
taxes on labour | - income tax - payroll tax (employers’ social security contributions) | |
tertiary education | - post-secondary education - higher and further education | |
the majority of | - most | |
thematic | - issue-based - issue-specific | |
thereby, therefore, thus | - in this way - so | |
there is, there are | - Often unnecessary. - Instead of there are three issues facing the prime minister, write - three issues face the prime minister or - The prime minister faces three issues. | |
third countries | - non-EU countries - countries outside the EU | |
threshold | - maximum amount - limit - ceiling (amount) | |
Treaty of Rome | - EU’s founding treaty | |
TV without frontiers | - EU broadcasting rules - rules on audiovisual content | |
U | ||
Union | Not used in English as a synonym for EU. | |
V | ||
vade mecum | - handbook - manual - (operating) instructions | |
validate | - confirm | |
W | ||
where/when | - if | |
white paper | needs explanation, e.g.:
| |
within the framework of | - under | |
with reference to | - about | |
with regard to | - about | |
with respect to | - on | |
wholesale energy markets | for non-experts add explanation:
| |
Y | ||
youth | alternatives: - young people - the young | |
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