work/works

10:34 Apr 11, 2011 

I really get the feeling from the snippets of information that you have given, that "works" is completely wrong in this context. "Works" is used in the context of construction works (which this apparently isn't) or the arts (e.g. the works of a composer, painter or sculptor). For literature, it tends only to be used for works by somebody exalted, e.g. Shakespeare - otherwise it risks sounding pretentious. It is not, as far as I am aware, used for documents produced by business consultancy services. In your context, it is most unlikely that "works" is appropriate. Work, job, service delivery, package ...?

08:25 Apr 11, 2011 

I actually checked it and chose advisory (this is the official translation) but I'll definitely double check it now you're suggesting it :-)

08:21 Apr 11, 2011 

would probably help make it clearer; and while we're at it, I'd say watch out for the need (or not) for a definite article: "the work of the advisors", maybe? And in any case, probably better as "the advisors' work" or "the advisory work" — and are you sure this is really 'advice' and not 'consultancy', which would seem more likely to me? That would then let you use 'consultancy' instead of 'advisory work', which would be a whole lot better! (Do note that 'advise' and 'consult' are often translated by similar words in languages other than EN, which can lead to ambiguity — for example, 'conseils' in my own language pair, FR; so much so, that FR has widely adopted the anglicism 'consultant' to get round the problem!)

08:07 Apr 11, 2011 

that maybe if I remove the -s from works - it'll sound less odd? so e.g. coordination of the work of advisors... damn interference from PL

08:05 Apr 11, 2011 

it is a translation from Polish into English and I don't have too much freedom, that's why "works" sound odd to you, in PL however I have several terms I have to render and not too much choice... I can't give you too many details as I'm bound by a confidentiality clause, thus the snippets of info; I appreciate your effort to help me without having more context

07:57 Apr 11, 2011 

I'm sorry, but you are the one who has the whole document in front of you, it's really difficult for us out here, working completely in the dark, to really get any kind of handle on this.

I for one can't even begin to dredge up alternatives for you without having a much clearer global picture of what this is all about; all I know is that 'works' sits slightly awkwardly to my ears when referring to 'advisory services'.

Another thing, what are you actually doing here? Is this a translation from Polish into English, for example? I.e. to what extent (if any) do you actually need to stick slavishly to some source text, or do you have a degree of freedom to express things differenelty?

07:42 Apr 11, 2011 

refers to advisory services

07:40 Apr 11, 2011 

We really need to know what kind of work is involved in this Contract, and what kind of deliverables are invovled?

07:22 Apr 11, 2011 

The Ordering Party shall approve alteration of this Contract if one of the following arises:
8. the rules and dates of acceptance of works (>actual works<) or Works (>Deliverables - as somebody else sugested, or writings...<) are changed;

07:09 Apr 11, 2011 

I think it will be very difficult to help you with this one unless you give us the actual sentence in which the two terms co-exist, and enough of the surrounding context for us to understand just why these two usages are occurring together like this?