Editing the Notice Without Changing Its Effect
You are asked to finalise a public notice informing residents that water supply will be interrupted. The draft reads: "Във връзка с извършване на ремонтни дейности, водоподаването ще бъде преустановено на 12.05 от 09:00 до 17:00 часа, като се обръщаме с молба към гражданите да се запасят с вода и да не използват асансьорите при необходимост." The notice must be clear, grammatically correct, and usable by residents with limited literacy. A colleague suggests adding legal citations and a long explanation of the repair works. The deadline is today, and the notice will be posted on the municipal website and on building entrances.
1. Edit the notice and explain each change you make, focusing on clarity, grammar, and style.
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Revised text:
Уважаеми граждани, На 12 май, от 9:00 до 17:00 часа, водоподаването ще бъде спряно заради ремонтни дейности. Моля, запасете се с вода предварително. Ако сградата остане без вода, не използвайте асансьора. За информация: [телефон].
Why each change:
- Sentence length. The original is one long sentence with three ideas. Splitting it into short sentences makes it readable at a glance on a building door.
- Word order and clarity. "Във връзка с извършване на ремонтни дейности" is bureaucratic. "Заради ремонтни дейности" states the cause directly.
- Time format. "12.05" is ambiguous in an international context; "12 май" is unambiguous. Times are written consistently as 9:00 and 17:00.
- Ambiguous clause. "да не използват асансьорите при необходимост" is confusing - it can be read as "use the lifts if necessary". The revision ties the instruction to the condition (no water).
- Tone. "Уважаеми граждани" and "Моля" keep the notice polite without being verbose.
- Contact. A phone number gives residents a way to check, which reduces complaints.
What to reject: the colleague's legal citations and long explanation. They add length without helping residents act. Legal references belong in the administrative file, not on a door notice.
2. The head of department wants to add a paragraph explaining the legal basis and the penalties for non-compliance. Advise on whether and how to include this.
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The purpose of the notice is to inform residents so they can prepare. Legal citations and penalty warnings serve a different purpose and should not crowd the operational message.
When a legal basis may be needed:
- If the interruption is ordered under a specific legal power and residents may need to challenge it, a brief reference can be appropriate.
- If the notice is also an official act with legal effect, it must meet the formal requirements for such acts.
When penalties should not be included:
- Residents are not obliged to "comply" with a water cut; they simply need to prepare. Warning of penalties for something they cannot control is confusing and intimidating.
- Penalty warnings belong in orders addressed to specific persons, not in a general information notice.
Recommended approach:
- Keep the main notice short and operational.
- Add a single line at the end: "Пълната информация е публикувана на сайта на общината." This points to the legal detail without cluttering the door notice.
- On the website version, include the legal basis, the responsible department, and the contact details.
- If the interruption is a formal administrative act, ensure the website version contains all required elements.
This separates information for residents from the legal record, and it keeps the notice usable by people with limited literacy.