“French for Canada” is a useful starting point, but it does not describe every reader or every context. A community organization in Ontario, a company communicating with employees in Quebec, and a national association may need different vocabulary and levels of formality. The best brief identifies the audience instead of relying on a language label alone.

Name the readers and the situation

Explain where the content will appear and who is expected to use it. A public information page may need plain language and clear instructions; a specialist report may need the terminology used by a particular profession. Say whether the French version stands alone or accompanies English. Shared headings, form fields, and references may need to align across both versions.

“International French” is not a guarantee that a text suits every market. If you want one version for Canada and France, identify your priority audience and agree how regional differences will be resolved. A neutral choice is sometimes possible; sometimes separate wording is clearer.

Build a small terminology reference

Start with the words that are central to your organization: job titles, program names, products, department names, and recurring technical terms. For each, record the approved French equivalent, context, and decision-maker. Do not assume a general dictionary entry is the right choice for a specific program or product.

TERMIUM Plus, the Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank, is a useful research starting point. A database result still needs to be checked against the subject and your organization’s usage. Keep the final approved choices in your own glossary so later documents remain consistent.

Give examples of the desired voice

“Professional” can mean formal, concise, reassuring, or conversational. Supply a short example you like and explain why it works. For a community handout, you might want familiar words and explicit steps. For an annual report, you may prefer a more formal register. Avoid asking for a literal translation when the real goal is consistency: natural French may require a different sentence structure.

Leave room for the French version

French text will not necessarily occupy the same space as its English source. Share the layout early and flag fixed limits on buttons, charts, or headings. Ask the translator to review the final design when fitting text could change meaning. A shorter phrase may work, but squeezing a full instruction into a small button can make the interface less clear.

A useful approval checklist

Have one reviewer consolidate feedback and distinguish factual corrections from stylistic preferences. When a term changes, update the glossary rather than correcting only one document.

  • Is the intended Canadian audience clear?
  • Are official names and recurring terms approved?
  • Do instructions and links work in the French version?
  • Has the final layout been checked after text placement?
  • Is there a plan to update both languages when the source changes?

This article concerns language planning. If a project has specific publication or acceptance requirements, include those requirements in the brief so the proposed work can be scoped accordingly.