We all have words and phrases we use repeatedly. Sometimes, they’re good – specifically and as a result are two of my regulars. But others are crutch phrases or lazy words that dilute the power of writing. While you might…
Legal Writing Tip: For Grammar Purposes, Companies Are Not People
We’ve all said things like: “I know Apple is coming out with a new iPhone because I saw it on their website.” Referring to a company like Apple as a “they,” rather than an “it,” is probably okay in speech,…
Legal Writing Tip: Get Moving on The Plain English Movement
The Plain English movement is now several decades old. But as a professional editor, I’m still astonished at the wordy and legalese-laden documents out there. Whether you’re bumping up against page limits or just want your document to be more…
Legal Writing Tip: It’s All in the Numbers
Writing numbers can be tricky, especially because there are conflicting rules about how to do it. The Associated Press, for example, has different guidelines than other popular style manuals. And everybody’s rules seem to have complicated exceptions. In general, as…
Legal Writing Tip: All Too Common Usage Mistakes, Part II
As promised in a previous column, here are more commonly misused words. Jive vs. Jibe Jive means to tease or to dance the jive. Jibe means to agree or be in accord. Disinterested vs. Uninterested Disinterested means impartial, having no…
Legal Writing Tip: The Three Types of Compound Words
Compound words are two or more words that function as a single unit of meaning. Their rules can be complicated and hard to remember. For example, is it book store or bookstore? There are three types of compound words. Closed…
Legal Writing Tip: Begin with Your Conclusion
In law school, the IRAC formula was drilled into our brains. As a result, most legal briefs are structured using the Issue, Rule, Analysis and Conclusion format. Let me suggest an alternative. Banish timidity and make your demands at the…
Legal Writing Tip: Usage Guideline for Quotations
Quotation marks set off quoted or spoken language. Here are some usage guidelines: Periods and commas go inside quotation marks, including single quotation marks. She said, “Bill said, ‘I don’t think we should see each other anymore.’” Colons, semicolons and…
Legal Writing Tip: All Too Common Usage Mistakes
Watching Magic Johnson’s famous press conference, I was stunned that no one vetted his remarks before he announced he’d “attained” the HIV virus. To attain refers to something you achieve – he’d meant contracted or acquired. Around that same time,…
Legal Writing Tip: Writing for Mobile
Tablets and smart phones have launched a culture of portable reading. Clients today review opinion letters on iPhones, for example. And now that courts manage documents electronically, judicial clerks – and even judges – may read your brief on a…