Abfassen

Abfassen is a German verb meaning to draft, compose, or write a text or document. The core sense is to produce a written text in a deliberate, often formal, manner, typically for official or administrative purposes. It is commonly used with documents such as reports, letters, contracts, statements, or other formal writings. Examples include etw. wie einen Bericht abfassen (to draft a report) or eine Stellungnahme abfassen (to compose a statement).

Grammatically, abfassen is separable: in the present tense you might say Ich fasse den Bericht heute ab. The past participle is abgefasst, used with the auxiliary haben: Der Bericht ist abgefasst worden. Etymologically, it combines fassen (to grasp or seize) with the prefix ab-, conveying the sense of finishing or producing something in written form.

Usage and nuance: abfassen is more formal and bureaucratic than schreiben and overlaps with verfassen. Verfassen is often used for longer or more literary texts, while abfassen emphasizes producing an official or finished document. Common collocations include ein Protokoll abfassen (to draft a protocol), eine Pressemitteilung abfassen (to draft a press release), or eine Rede abfassen (to draft a speech), though rede schreiben (to write a speech) is also common.

In sum, abfassen denotes the act of producing a finished written document, typically in formal or professional contexts, and is a standard term in legal, administrative, and journalistic work. Related terms include verfassen, ausarbeiten, and schreiben, each carrying slight differences in formality and emphasis.