Be clear by selecting exactly what information to give and how to give it. This is especially important when lists contain complex terminology that your text needs to frame as clearly as possible. In the example below there are unnecessary words in parts 1 and 1.1, as well as clumsy and confusing elements like the long phrases in parts 1.1 and 1.2 and the abbreviation “2D” placed right after the number in Part 2. Also, parts 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 all omit the names of the types of equation being exemplified, making these difficult to identify for readers unfamiliar with the subject.
All these problems could be solved by clearer writing at a general rather than a technical level and by not repeating information included in the head.
Finally, cohesion, concision and clarity can also be gained by joining phrases. When you translate compound titles that contain a very long first phrase, for example, consider reducing the structure to a single phrase. For instance, titles such as
might be effectively rendered as
This can also be appropriate for titles with two phrases of a similar length.
 |  |
All these problems could be solved by clearer writing at a general rather than a technical level and by not repeating information included in the head.
 | Heat transfer to nozzle and combustor walls 1 General considerations 1.1 Negative effects on performance and the design of hot-sides for heat fluxes in the 107–108 W/m² range 1.2 Convection versus radiation 2 Two-dimensional boundary layer equations to calculate convective heat transfer 2.1 Continuity equations 2.2 X-momentum equations 2.3 Y-momentum equations |
Finally, cohesion, concision and clarity can also be gained by joining phrases. When you translate compound titles that contain a very long first phrase, for example, consider reducing the structure to a single phrase. For instance, titles such as
Psicologia del treball i de les organitzacions: marc teòric
Els drets i deures de la persona treballadora: aspectes generals
Sistemes de planificació i gestió dels recursos humans: una perspectiva psicològica
might be effectively rendered as
A theoretical framework for industrial and organizational psychology
General aspects of employees' rights and responsibilities
A psychological approach to human resource planning and management systems
This can also be appropriate for titles with two phrases of a similar length.
La jurisdicció social: principis bàsics del procés social
Basic principles of labour court procedure
Recommended citation:
«Be clear» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=3517> [consulta: 31 gener 2025].