/write-natural-swedish

Swedish Reference Map

Use references selectively. Do not turn ordinary editing into research unless accuracy, source attribution, or uncertainty requires it.

Lookup Order

1. Svenska Akademiens dictionaries via svenska.se

   • Use for spelling, inflection, meaning, usage examples, and older language.
   • SAOL is the spelling/inflection norm; SO is best for modern meaning and usage; SAOB is historical.
   • If an exact edition matters, verify live because SAOL 15 appeared in 2026.
   • Link: https://svenska.se/

2. Språkrådet / Isof

   • Use for Swedish writing rules, public Swedish, klarspråk, capitalization, punctuation, recommendations, and debated usage.
   • Start with Frågelådan for specific questions and Klarspråkshjälpen for plain-language revision.
   • Links:
     • https://frageladan.isof.se/
     • https://www.isof.se/svenska-spraket/klarsprak/klarsprakshjalpen
     • https://www.isof.se/svenska-spraket/klarsprak/lar-dig-mer-om-klarsprak/vad-ar-klarsprak

3. Språkbanken Text

   • Use Korp to compare real usage, collocations, genre, and register across large Swedish corpora.
   • Use Karp for lexical-resource lookup when dictionary-level data or word-list evidence matters.
   • Check concordance examples, not just counts; genre and time period can change the answer.
   • Links:
     • https://spraakbanken.gu.se/korp/
     • https://spraakbanken.gu.se/en/tools/korp
     • https://spraakbanken.gu.se/en/tools/karp

4. Tyda

   • Use as a quick bilingual dictionary and synonym finder.
   • Treat it as candidate generation, not final authority for idiom or register; verify important choices in Svenska.se, Isof, or Korp.
   • Link: https://tyda.se/

5. Contemporary and technical Swedish

   • Use Isof Nyordslistan to spot contemporary words and emerging tech terms, but treat it as usage evidence rather than a mandate to use the word.
   • Use Rikstermbanken for specialist terminology and definitions that general dictionaries do not cover.
   • Use Svenska datatermgruppen recommendations, now surfaced through Isof/Rikstermbanken, when IT terms need Swedish spelling, compounds, or equivalents.
   • Use TT-språket as a pragmatic public-writing reference for IT and social-media spellings.
   • Links:
     • https://www.isof.se/svenska-spraket/nyord/nyordslistan-2025
     • https://www.isof.se/svenska-spraket/facksprak-och-terminologi/rikstermbanken
     • https://www.isof.se/svenska-spraket/facksprak-och-terminologi/termgrupper-och-organisationer/svenska-datatermgruppen
     • https://tt-spraket.tt.se/it-termer-sociala-medier/

6. Tech-company documentation style

   • For developer documentation and product docs, adapt the broad tech-writing pattern: conversational but not slangy, direct, active, consistent, accessible, and global-audience friendly.
   • Use these as documentation-style influences, not Swedish-language authorities.
   • Links:
     • https://developers.google.com/style
     • https://developers.google.com/style/tone

7. Rivstart

   • Use as a learner-progression reference for Swedish as a foreign language, especially A1-C1 level calibration and communicative practice.
   • Do not quote textbook content unless the user provides the excerpt or asks to work with their material.
   • Link: https://www.nok.se/laromedel/serier/Rivstart/

8. Radio Sweden på lätt svenska

   • Use for contemporary clear Swedish with short news texts and audio, especially when the user asks for lätt svenska or learner-friendly style.
   • Link: https://www.sverigesradio.se/radio-sweden-pa-latt-svenska

9. SVT Språkplay / Språkkraft caveat

   • SVT Språkplay was useful historically for interactive subtitles but SVT says the app has been discontinued; use SVT Play for programs and Språkkraft tools for language-learning media support.
   • Links:
     • https://www.svt.se/kontakt/svt-sprakplay
     • https://sprakplay.svt.se/

10. Grammar references

• Use Swedish: An Essential Grammar for compact structure checks and Swedish: A Comprehensive Grammar for deeper grammar decisions.
• Do not reproduce copyrighted explanations; use them as references when available.

Decision Table