International English Guidelines
As companies merge and go global there is little question of whether they need to use English as a Lingua Franca. There is almost always a question of which English to use: British or American. And today, more and more businesses are asking themselves if they should be using “International English”.
No Official Guidelines
First, let me say that no one has universal guidelines for “International English”. This is no official definition. As an international marketer, International English is the English understood best across a broad international audience. It starts with your audience, your readers and your clients. It is the English that gets what you have to say across in the fastest manner with the least amount of cultural friction or barriers. This resource is to help you find the International English guidelines best suited for your business.
CindyKing.biz On International English
Read the series of articles here to help you:
Books
- The Global English Style Guide – Writing Clear, Translatable Documentation for a Global Market – by John R. Kohl. This is the book I refer to most. It is not an all encompassing book on International English. It is written specifically to help write documentation prior to translation. However, this it is up-to-date and has its place in today’s world. The other book I have feels old and out of date in comparison: The Elements Of International English Style by Edmond H. Weiss.
Other Resources
- American or British English for web content – A quick guide on how to choose
- Simplified English – Guidelines from Userlab Inc.
