to compose/write up an agreement

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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on May 17, 2013 at 7:41am

to have a good understanding (sometimes, it's not easy to understand subtleties) :

if an agreement is "un accord" (when 2 peoples are ok for an exchange and write a document for that) =>  I would rather use "rédiger" (to write the paper) and "signer" (if I speak in general, not specific about the writing of the paper)

"dresser" is for a PV  (a PV is the statement for a meeting or minutes) when the document must have an official form.

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Permalink Reply by alan gould on May 17, 2013 at 3:55pm

thanks, Chantal.  I was studying "bilan" and came across "dresser un bilan" with regard to business balance sheets/end-of-year statements.  I imagine I'll hear it on the news, but I don't need it in my vocabulary.  In addition to "bilan" meaning the toll of victims from accidents which I'll hear in the news, I will probably encounter "bilan de santé" (medical check-up) as well as "faire le bilan de la situation" (assess the situation).

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Permalink Reply by Chantal Savignat on May 17, 2013 at 10:21pm

oh yes, "dresser" could be for "un bilan" and have many meanings in addition to bilan. In fact, it's only one meaning :  "about a situation, to give the most precise idea of the situation to inform or in order to prevent" but it can be used in a lot of varied situations :

- a man can think about his past life and "dresser un bilan" about what he did and what he didn't do and what he has to do in the future.

- a business man or a company director or a shop owner have to "dresser un bilan" every year or 6 months : they write a document to evaluate the situation of their business and to adapt their decisions for the future.

- and yes, to count the victims from accidents in order to find solutions.

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