Intro to international style
Following international style helps readers with limited English proficiency read what you write. By following international style, you also help translators—human or machine—localize your writing by minimizing the burdens of cultural and customary language usage.
Writing in the international style means that you write simply and that you express yourself using standard international conventions. These are the basic rules:
Write in simple structures.
Don’t use idiomatic or colloquial expressions.
Avoid shortcuts, symbols, and abbreviations that could easily be spelled out.
Express data using the standard international conventions outlined in this chapter. You should vary from these standards only when there’s a truly compelling advantage in using a proprietary or customary style.
For more information about standard international conventions, visit the websites listed in this chapter.