When a long sentence contains a collection of items that are similar in nature and importance, consider replacing it with an introductory clause followed by a bulleted list. In the March, 2021 edition of the Bulletin, we discussed the importance…
Legal Writing Tip: Get Active in Your Editing; Eliminate Passive Voice
One of my chief editing tips is to read your document repeatedly, each time scanning for only one thing – excessive commas, unnecessary capitalization, throat-clearing, etc. The first scan should probably be devoted to eliminating passive voice. Passive voice: The ball was thrown by Cathy. Active voice:…
Legal Writing Tip: Learning to Convey Your Expertise
You’re a lawyer, not an academic. In briefs, opinion letters and client communications, you must convey your expertise simply, even when describing something complex. Consider yourself a technical writer, a knowledge expert just like a software manual writer, whose job…
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: 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…