I am rewriting an employee handbook. I have a goal of making the handbook more understandable. In some cases this means I have to put more ideas than what the previous handbook has, because the previous handbook was ambiguous (or sometimes it didn't even explain something that we have treated as a rule anyway).
However, putting new ideas means putting more words. Putting more words can slowly deteriorate understanding (people can only pay attention for so long).
In an effort to be more concise, I considered changing the sentence "Please sign your name legibly and in pen" to "Please legibly pen your signature."
In retrospect, I realize that this probably won't make things much more understandable, but I still wonder: If I say someone should pen their signature, does that unambiguously mean that they should use a pen?
Best Answer
I would leave the original alone, it's perfectly clear as it stands
I would avoid using the word pen as a verb in contracts and official documents. More often than not, to “pen something” means to create, to write, or be the author of. To tell someone to ‘pen’ a signature would suggest that they compose it.
Below is a list of the most common collocations with the verb pen used transitively
The following is a list of simple unambiguous instructions
The first two instructions are typically used in paper-based exams (also called pen and paper exams) and for filling out forms.
Examples 3 and 4 are commonly used in forms or contracts.
Common sense dictates that it is preferable for the signee to use a pen with indelible ink.
Writing one's name in pencil should be best avoided because it is easy to smudge or erase but it is legally binding nevertheless.