Official Style

Level 6

Laws, contracts and official letters repeat set phrases: attiecīgā iestāde (the relevant institution), minētais likums (the said law), ievērojot noteikumus (in compliance with the rules).

How It Works

1. Pointing words.

  • attiecīgais, attiecīgā (the relevant, the respective): attiecīgā iestāde, attiecīgajā gadā
  • minētais, iepriekš minētais (the said, the above-mentioned), turpmāk minētais (mentioned below): minētajā izdevumā (in the said publication)
  • šāds, šādi (such, as follows): 3. pantu groza šādi (Article 3 is amended as follows)

These are definite adjectives and participles, so they agree like any definite participle.

2. -ot phrases. The -ot participle carries its verb's object in the accusative: ievērojot noteikumus (observing the rules), pamatojoties uz likumu (on the basis of the law), ņemot vērā (taking into account).

3. Set prepositional phrases: saskaņā ar (in accordance with), attiecībā uz (with regard to).

4. Rules in the present tense. Official texts state rules in the third-person present. The doer is an institution rather than a person, and it often comes last: Iesniegumu izskata attiecīgā iestāde (The application is reviewed by the relevant institution). Often no doer is named at all: 3. pantu groza šādi, Noteikumi stājas spēkā nākamajā dienā pēc to izsludināšanas (The regulations enter into force on the day after their promulgation). Nouns in -šana are common too; see formal nominal style -šana.

Examples (5)

  1. Iesniegumu izskata attiecīgā iestāde.

    The application is reviewed by the relevant institution.

    Word by Word: Application reviews relevant institution.

    The object comes first and the doer last, a common official word order.

  2. Minētais likums stājas spēkā 1. janvārī.

    The said law enters into force on 1 January.

    Word by Word: Mentioned law steps into-force on-1st January.

  3. Pasākums notiek, ievērojot drošības noteikumus.

    The event is held in compliance with safety rules.

    Word by Word: Event takes-place, observing of-safety rules.

  4. Noteikumu 3. punktu groza šādi.

    Point 3 of the regulations is amended as follows.

    Word by Word: Of-regulations 3rd point amends as-follows.

  5. Noteikumi stājas spēkā nākamajā dienā pēc to izsludināšanas.

    The regulations enter into force on the day after their promulgation.

    Word by Word: Regulations step into-force on-next day after their promulgation.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the object of an -ot phrase in the nominative.

    Pasākums notiek, ievērojot drošības noteikumi.
    Pasākums notiek, ievērojot drošības noteikumus.

    Ievērojot keeps the object of ievērot, so noteikumi goes into the accusative: noteikumus.

  • Using the masculine form with a feminine noun.

    Iesniegumu izskata attiecīgais iestāde.
    Iesniegumu izskata attiecīgā iestāde.

    Iestāde is feminine, so the adjective is attiecīgā.

  • Using the nominative after saskaņā ar.

    saskaņā ar minētais likums
    saskaņā ar minēto likumu

    Ar takes the accusative in the singular, so the whole phrase changes: minēto likumu.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Official StyleLevel 6

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Official style has fixed formulas.