This English Style Guide provides recommendations on the use of English in Finnish government texts. It has been drawn up for translators and revisers of such texts and for public officials drafting documents in English.

The guide is based on the European Commission’s English Style Guide, published by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation, but the focus is on recommendations and guidelines applicable in the Finnish context.

It is important to ensure consistency among documents. The guide introduces, with practical examples, the main rules and conventions that should be followed when using English in administrative documents within the government sector in Finland.

To improve readability and clarity, use clear and plain language whenever possible.

The guide was drawn up for writers whose mother tongue is not English and for writers with native or near native English who require guidance on the practices to be followed.