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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Wer schreibt der bleibt

English translation:

Recording is rewarding

Added to glossary by Sarah Bessioud
Jan 10, 2012 07:10
12 yrs ago
16 viewers *
German term

Wer schreibt der bleibt

German to English Bus/Financial Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Personal finance
This is the "motto" for a book on personal financial management containing lots of templates for personal expenses and debts etc. I understand what they're getting at i.e. you need to write things down to get a better overview of your finances and manage them better - but I'm having trouble coming up with a suitable equivalent in English.
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 Recording is rewarding
3 +2 write and shine
4 take record, take control
3 I write therefore I control
3 the devil is in the detail(s)
3 He who records reaps the rewards
Change log

Jan 10, 2012 08:43: Steffen Walter changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Jan 10, 2012 08:43: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Other" to "Bus/Financial"

Jan 11, 2012 07:23: Sarah Bessioud Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (3): franglish, Coqueiro, Steffen Walter

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Discussion

oa_xxx (X) Jan 10, 2012:
@ jccantrell You are right - have seen "publish or perish" used elsewhere for this phrase but unfortunately doesnt fit here!
@ Horst Huber 2 versions from Faust :)

You will not need to say that to me twice!
I can foresee how much I'll gain from this advice;
Because what one has down in black and white
It is a comfort to take home at night.
or
That caution is unnecessary!
I know it profits one to write,
For what one has in black and white,
He to his home can safely carry.
Tansy Tazewell (asker) Jan 10, 2012:
Thanks to all for the great input. It is indeed a tough one!
@Phil: It is a subtitle, but it also crops up throughout the book in various graphics in sections entitled "Einnahmen", "Schulden" or "Reserven".
Horst Huber (X) Jan 10, 2012:
Früher lief er ganz bescheiden ... und es hieß: "Was Du schwarz auf weiß besitzst, kannst du getrost nach Hause tragen." Vielleicht fällt jemand das Englische dazu ein?
Rebecca Garber Jan 10, 2012:
A Sabine So instead of "follow the paper trail", something like "establish a paper trail" or "leave a paper trail behind you"
philgoddard Jan 10, 2012:
I'm not sure what you mean by the "motto". Do you mean something like a subtitle for the book? Or is this part of a sentence in the book? if so, what does the surrounding text say?
jccantrell Jan 10, 2012:
I realize it does not fit your context, but boy this really sounds like the translation for "publish or perish" for tenure track faculty at universities. You either publish findings early or you do not get tenure.
As I said, does not really fit here.
oa_xxx (X) Jan 10, 2012:
Thats a hard one! All Ive come up with so far is
write it down and stay in the game; if you write it down you wont be written off...keep it in writing and...
all pretty lame but thought I'd mention them in case they help you or someone else to come up with something less awkward!
Or completely change it with some other idiom like:
Cant see the wood for the trees? keep your records in order/keep everything in writing and youre half way there...half the battle is won etc etc
Stay on track/Stay on top (of it all) by writing it down.
Sabine Schmalzl Jan 10, 2012:
Wir benutzen diesen Ausdruck häufig im Büroalltag. Es bedeutet dann, dass demjenigen, der Dinge schriftlich nachweisen kann, nichts "angehängt" werden kann, denn er kann ja belegen, dass er Informationen weitergegeben hat etx.. Somit kann er deshalb keine Probleme bekommen, abgemahnt oder sogar gekündigt werden. Ich finde beide Vorschläge passen in den angefragten Kontext. Ich verwende je nach Kontext auch manchmal "better safe than sorry".
Claudia Popp Jan 10, 2012:
I don't know the right term in english, but the sense is that the person who controls, who rules the affairs (or the game...because this term is used especially for games) will be the one who remains in business or wins the game.
Helen Shiner Jan 10, 2012:
@Tansy You will probably get more and better help if you post questions like this as PRO. And how about 'Writing for your life'? Won't post it as it is a bit weak perhaps; it was just what came to mind immediately when I read the question. Guess it depends how it is framed - subtitles, supporting images, etc.

Proposed translations

+1
9 hrs
Selected

Recording is rewarding

As we're talking about writing financial information down here, then "recording" may be more appropriate than "writing". And the fact that we keep records ensures that we reap the benefits, hence the "rewarding".
Peer comment(s):
agree franglish : recording, that's it!
15 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Short and sweet - I think this really hits the nail on the head - thanks very much!"
1 hr

I write therefore I control

Never heard this expression, so this is based on Claudia's explanation.
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

write and shine

Just an idea.
Note from asker:
Thanks Nicole - I really liked this and found it difficult to choose, but I opted for Jeux de Mots' suggestion in the end.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jim Tucker (X) : neat solution, particularly for a self-help-type book
3 hrs
Thanks, Jim! :-)
agree Usch Pilz : mit Jim
4 hrs
Thanks, Usch! :-)
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

take record, take control

Other possibilities:
"keep record, keep control"
"take record, keep control"

The comma can also be replaced with "and" or "to" to imply the cause-and-effect more strongly.
Note from asker:
Thanks for the good suggestion Brianna!
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

the devil is in the detail(s)

since wer schreibt der bleibt is an idiom and since there does not seem to be an equivalent referring to record keeping as such like in German language - I would like to suggest an English idiom that refers to the mentioned context of the asker. The devil is in the detail = you might be in serious problems later on if you overlock small things in plans and schemes. At least it was an idiom used from American co-workers in an American company where I used to work for some years.
Reference:

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/devil+is+in+the+detail.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_is_in_the_details

Something went wrong...
12 hrs

He who records reaps the rewards

This one is close in form and spirit to the original.

"Those who record reap the rewards" is more inclusive, but doesn't rhyme as well.
Note from asker:
Yes, that's exactly what they're getting at, but I felt that Jeux de Mots' suggestion was a little bit more succinct.
Something went wrong...
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