UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS

COLLEGE OF LAW

Legal English I
SIMPLICITY
Plain language is, or should be, every bit as accurate and precise as
traditional legal writing. It is clearer considerably clearer. It is usually shorter
and faster. It is strongly preferred by readers. It would greatly improve the
image of lawyers.
(Professor Joseph Kimble, Answering the Critics of Plain Language)
You are no less a lawyer for being understandable. (Christopher Lutz)

A. SIMPLICITY

Simplicity in writing means to write plainly and simply. To observe the rules on
economy of expression, each sentence must say what the writer means and
means what the writer wants to say. Convoluted words and word-constructions
must be avoided.

This is best done by preferring shorter sentences, and

choosing shorter words. Repetition must also be avoided as much as possible.

Clutter is a disease in writing.

The secret of good writing is to strip every

sentence to its cleanest component. Every word that serves no function, every
long word that could be a short word, or every adverb which carries the same
meaning that is already in the verb weakens the sentence.

B. USE SHORT SENTENCES

The herein plaintiff is willing and ready to give a
bond pursuant to the Rules of Court executed in favor of
the defendant in the instant case in an amount double the
valuation

of

the

subject

personal

property

above

described, and for the return of the same property if the

return thereof be adjudged, and for the payment to the
same defendant of such amount as he may recover from
the plaintiff in the herein action.
1|Page

A good sentence typically contains only one main thought in less than 25 words.
By typically means that a sentence may have more than one thought. It is
however preferable to express only one or at most two thoughts in a statement.
Long sentences make ones writing unwieldy and difficult to understand. They
tax the readers concentration and memory. He will have a hard time figuring out
what the writer wants to say as he wades through thickets of main and
subordinate clauses.
The plaintiff is willing to give a bond double the
value of the property. He likewise undertakes to return
the property to the defendant or pay him such amount if
adjudged to do so.

While short sentences are recommended, one may occasionally use longer ones
for variety. However, it is advised that writers stick to short sentences. At times,
the writer may indulge himself with a long one, but he will make sure there are no
folds in it, no vagueness, and no parenthetical interruptions of its view as a
whole.

C. OMIT NEEDLESS WORDS

Simplicity and economy are good qualities to have in legal writing. One must
therefore omit unnecessary words.

RULES:

1.

Avoid wordy expressions. Simpler construction is preferred than using

too many words to express an idea.

WORDY

2|Page

CONCISE

Answered in the affirmative

Said yes

At all times

Always

In a manner similar to

Like

Inasmuch as

Since

In the absence of

Without

In the amount of

For

In case of/ in the event of/ in the

If

event that
In the meantime

Meanwhile

In the near future

Soon

In view of the fact that

Since, because

Large number of

Many

Major portion of

Most

Taking into consideration the fact

Since

that

2.

There can be no doubt that

Doubtless

With the exception of

Except

With reference to/ with regard to

About

Avoid elaborating on the obvious. Do not expand or restate the obvious.

It bores the reader with information he already has.

Wordy:

The companys two employees, Kenneth and Julio, were

illegally dismissed.

Concise:

The companys employees, Kenneth and Julio, were illegally

dismissed.

3.

Wordy:

A baby girl was born to Spouses Reyes.

Concise:

A girl was born to Spouses Reyes.

Get to the point. Omit unnecessary preliminaries.

Wordy:

We are very proud and happy to announce that our client

was absolved from all the charges against him.

Concise:

Our client was absolved from all the charges against him.

Wordy:

There is no doubt that some people will disagree with me,

but in my opinion, I firmly believe that the company
committed an unfair labor practice.

Concise:

4.

I believe the company committed an unfair labor practice.

Avoid tautology. Do away with unnecessary repetition of an idea in

different words.

3|Page

WORDY

CONCISE

Actually happened

Happened

Advance planning

Planning

Any and all

All

Before in the past

Before

Cheap in price

Cheap

Combined together

Combined

Connect up, end up, finish up, join

Connect, end, finish, join

up

5.

Discussed in a talk

Discussed

During the course of

During

Each and every

Each

Equally as

Equally

Every once in a while

Once in a while

Fatal death

Death

Final destination

Destination

First and foremost

First

For the purpose of

For

Gray in color

Gray

If and when

If

In my opinion, I think

I think

Inside of

Inside

Long length of time

Long time

Numerous in number

Numerous

One and only

One (or only)

One and the same

One (or the same)

Past history

History

Rarely ever

Rarely

Requirements needed for

Requirements for

Round in shape

Round

Small in size

Small

Eliminate certain phrases. - (a) Wordy sentences may be made shorter by

eliminating there, that, which, who is, as to, it, or one.

Wordy:

The memorandum which I sent to you last week explained in

detail the background of the case.

4|Page

Concise:

The memorandum sent to you last week explained the case

background in detail.

Wordy:

Her cousin, who is an associate of the same firm, is a CPAlawyer.

Concise:

Her cousin, an associate of the same firm, is a CPA-lawyer.

Wordy:

He is a man who does not like litigation.

Concise:

He dislikes litigation.

Wordy:

The question as to whether you or your husband should file

the divorce in Switzerland

Concise:

Whether you or your husband files the divorce in

Switzerland

Wordy:

It is recommended that the compromise agreement which

was signed on May 2, 2014 be enforced.

Concise:

The compromise agreement of May 2, 2014 should be

enforced.

Wordy:

Her version of the incident is a strange one.

Concise:

Her version of the incident is strange.

(b) The phrase the fact that is often unnecessary.

WORDY

CONCISE

Due/owing to the fact that

Since/because

Calling your attention to the fact Reminding you

that
In spite of the fact that

Although/though

My attention was not called to the I was not aware that

fact that
The

fact

that

you

have

not Your failure

succeeded
The fact that you had enrolled

Your enrolment

Word phrases may be shortened by eliminating prepositional phrases.

5|Page

Wordy:

the leader of the unit

Concise: unit leader

Wordy:

the employee with innovative ideas

Concise: the innovative employee

c) A phrase may be converted to word or be eliminated altogether.

WORDY

CONCISE

As per our telephone

As we said/discussed

conversation

6|Page

As soon as possible

By (a specific date)

Has the capability

Can

Take into consideration

Consider

It is recommended

I recommend

In lieu of

Instead of

It has come to my attention

Ive noticed (or omit)

Permit me to say

(omit)

Please be advised

(omit)

It is requested

Please

Make revisions

Revise

Under separate cover

Separately

Therefore

So

There is no doubt that

No doubt, doubtless

Inorder to

To

This office

We, us

With regard to

About, on