32 | OPP GET INVOLVED
I would, rather presumptuously, add a seventh question that is of particular interest to us and our readers:
So what?
This question is of great interest to OPP and its readers. It takes the story beyond mere news by adding context and interpretation. The story “The Turkish Lira yesterday fell 50% in value against the US Dollar” would be quite startling but would, perhaps, be more useful if you pointed out that 5% of buyers of property in Turkey came from the US and so they would see huge opportunities for bargains and that the currency had not fallen in value against the Euro so there was no likely impact on European sales. I hasten to say that this story is entirely made up but I hope it illustrates the point.
Example (a completely false story): Last Monday (4th June 2012) WHEN the Regional Directorate of the Land Title Offi ce in Bodrum, Turkey WHO & WHERE published new regulations (offi cially known as Regulation 197/12) requiring anyone who wants to register a change of ownership of real estate located in their area to attend at the Tapu Offi ce (Title Deed Offi ce) in person and to explain to the Tapu offi cer, in Turkish, why he wishes to buy the property. WHAT & HOW. According to the Director of the Tapu Offi ce, Mr Tolga Yildiz, WHO these regulation are required to safeguard the security of the Turkish state because many foreigners have been buying home in Turkey without declaring the purpose of their purchase. WHY, He rejected the suggestion, made by OPP, that these regulations were an unnecessary over reaction and unfair to foreigners who did not speak Turkish. “Why would any foreigner not want to
BUSINESS
speak our beautiful language?”. Local estate agents, the Bodrum Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Foreign Residents all insist that these regulations will destroy the tourist industry in Bodrum. SO WHAT. Mrs Aysha Cagli. a spokesperson for the Bodrum Chamber of Commerce, said “….
This story contains all of the key ingredients but it would probably be changed slightly by our journalists to make it more exciting. It might then look something like this: ‘Turkish property regulations have been tightened in the Bodrum area after the Regional Land Title Offi ce Directorate said new buyers in the area must apply in person and in Turkish. The new regulations, published on June 4, require anyone wanting to register a change of ownership in real estate in the Bodrum region attend the Tapu Offi ce (Title Deed offi ce) in person to explain, in Turkish, why he/ she wishes to buy. Tolga Yildiz,director of the Tapu
Offi ce, said the move is required to safeguard Turkey from foreigners buying in the country without declaring the purpose of purchase. Yildiz added that he did not think it was unfair to those who didn’t speak Turkish. “Why would any foreigner not want to speak our beautiful language?” he said. However, the move has received a strong backlash from local estate agents, the Bodrum Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Foreigner Residents, who say the ruling will destroy tourism in Bodrum. Aysha Cagli, spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce, said: “...
2. Keep the story short and simple Most people only have limited time and they can become confused if you
introduce too many different things into the story. Ask yourself what the essential elements of the story are and then resist the temptation to add unnecessary extra information.
3. Don’t assume people know what you are talking about Words that are familiar to you will mean nothing to many of your readers. In the sample story earlier in this
“You will have the benefi t of
www.opp.org.uk | JUNE 2012 concept in plain English.
establishing yourself as an expert in your fi eld”
article, you may know what the tapu offi ce is. However, some of our readers may not. You should always explain it. The same is true for any non-English words or phrases. Translate them. Our house style is to show the foreign words in italic text, alongside the translation into English. E.g. He made an appointment with the notario (notary) to sign the escritura (deed of sale).
4. Use short words and short sentences
Many people think that it is impressive to use long, complicated words. It is far better, where possible, to use a short equivalent. There usually is one. It is also always a good idea to keep your sentences short. They are easier to understand. This is particularly helpful to people whose fi rst language is not English.
5. Don’t use technical jargon Many people also think that it is impressive to use technical jargon. It is not. It is much better (but sometimes more diffi cult) to explain the technical
6. Don’t worry about punctuation There are many different punctuation marks in the English language. Sometimes, they are used slightly differently in different versions of the language. Colons (:), semicolons (;) and the like can usually be avoided if you use short sentences. The sentence earlier in this article: “However, the story can be more interesting if you ask some more probing “Why?” questions; why did they choose Nice?; why did they choose now?”
works just as well (or maybe even better) drafted as follows: “However, the story can be more interesting if you ask some more probing “Why?” questions. Why did they choose Nice? Why did they choose now?”
7. Don’t worry about capitalisation Different versions of the English language have different rules about when and where to use capital letters, particularly in headlines but also after certain punctuation marks. Don’t worry about it. The meaning usually remains clear. If necessary, we can tidy it up. For headlines, I suggest you use the very simple (but technically incorrect) rule that if the work has three letters or less you should not start it with a capital letter – unless it always has a capital letter (for example, the name Ian or the country Goa) or it looks ugly without a capital letter.
For the rest of your text, if in any doubt, do not use a capital letter. Most of us use them far too often.
8. Try not to use the same phrases as everyone else uses: “clichés’ Your piece will be more interesting of you think of another way to phrase the story.
9. Use your own life and experience to give the piece local colour Turn the fact that you are not English (and do not speak English as a fi rst language) into an advantage!
10. Do it now If you don’t start writing the article
now, you will never get round to it. However, don’t send us the article until you have had the opportunity to re-read it. You will always see a better way of writing it when you read it for a second or third time.
If you follow these simple guidelines you will, after a bit of practice, be able to produce interesting and understandable stories for inclusion in OPP magazine or on thr OPP Connect website.
Clear opening | Writing for OPP can open doors for both you and your business, establishing you as an expert in your fi eld
By doing so you will not only make your skills and knowledge available to the readers of OPP but you will also have the benefi t of establishing yourself as an expert in your fi eld.
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