Category Archives: Style Manuals

Full or Left Justification?

01 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Legal Writing, Readability, Style Manuals

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Are You Justified?, from Legible, A blog from Legalwriting.net by Wayne Schiess

http://sites.utexas.edu/legalwriting/2013/01/17/are-you-justified/

Do you prefer full or left justification? In the legal writing community, this is a serious debate. It ranks up there with whether citations belong in the text or in a footnote, but not quite as serious as whether you follow the rule of one or two spaces after a period.

The point is whether your choice makes your writing easier to read and understand, which is, after all, the legal writing holy grail. -CCE

Style Guide for the United States Supreme Court.

06 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by in Appellate Law, Appellate Writing, Citations, Citations to the Record, Court Rules, Courts, E-Briefs, E-Filing, Federal District Court Rules, Legal Writing, Local Rules, State Appellate Courts, Style Manuals

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s Style Guide, by Louis J. Sirico, Jr., Legal Skills Prof Blog

http://bit.ly/2jnq60t

When I was starting out in my paralegal career, I created cheat sheets for filing motions and briefs in state and federal district courts. The rules, especially for federal circuit court briefs, are complex and require checking multiple sections, local rules, e-filing rules, and your judge’s personal court rules (if any exist). I found these cheat sheets were the most popular handouts at my legal writing courses and paralegal seminars, and included them in the Appendix of Practical Legal Writing for Legal Assistants.

Regardless of where you are in your paralegal career, I recommend creating a similar cheat sheet for yourself. Updating your cheat sheet when the rules change force you to examine every addition or revision. Keeping your cheat sheet current will reinforce the rules in your mind, and will help you stay on top of your game.

When it came to analyzing rules for the U.S. Supreme Court, I passed. I left it to the professionals who format and print these briefs for a living. Now, at last, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Style Guide is available for all. -CCE

New and Updated GPO Style Manual.

18 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Abbreviations, Editing, Grammar, Initialisms, Legal Writing, Numbers, Punctuation, Style Manuals

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GPO Style Manual: new edition, Barco 3.0: Law Library Reference

http://bit.ly/2is1ipN

The Government Publishing Office has published a thorough and updated Style Manual, which includes rules for punctuation, grammar, abbreviations, and computer terms, among other things. You will find “New Features and Enhancements” at https://www.govinfo.gov/features/release-notes/govinfo-beta-launch.

Reference, Facts, News, Search Engines, Email, and More. Easy Peasy.

12 Sunday Jun 2016

Posted by in Dictionary, Glossaries, Grammar, Punctuation, Quotations, References, Research, Style Manuals, Thesaurus

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Refdesk.com – Fact Checker for the Internet

http://www.refdesk.com/

Refdesk.com has been around a long time. If you have never seen it or used it, please give me the honor of making the introductions.

Go the home page: http://www.refdesk.com. There is a lot to absorb.  Take your time. Scroll down the page, and check it out.

Bothered by the ads popping up on the page? There is an easy fix. Support Refdesk. Contribute $25, and Refdesk is add free for a year. No, you don’t have to contribute $25. You don’t have to contribute at all. But, if you want to use Refdesk frequently, I encourage you to contribute something.

If you are like me, you do not want to keep scrolling to find what you want to see – you simply want to get there. Go to the top of the website, and look to the right. You will see three search tools: (1) Check Email; (2) Quick Links; and (3) Reference Desk.  Right away, you can see that this has potential as home page.

I want to look up grammar and punctuation rules. Go to Reference Desk, click the down arrow, and choose “Grammar/Style.” That’s a nice assortment of writing guides, but not exactly what I want. I’m looking for The Elements of Style. Click on More at the bottom of the page. There it is.

You have seen one small example of the information this site can give you. I leave it to you to seek out the rest.  -CCE

A Compilation of Punctuation Guides for the Punctuation Police.

10 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by in Legal Writing, Punctuation, Readability, Style Manuals

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If you are a member of the Punctuation Police, you will enjoy this sample of punctuation guides. Depending on your profession, some style guides are more important than others. For example, if you are in the legal profession, you would look to the Bluebook for specific rules on punctuation. 

Another source of multiple style guides, including rules on punctuation and grammar, can be found at http://www.RefDesk.com under http://www.refdesk.com/topgram.html and Library Spot, Grammar and Style, at http://www.libraryspot.com/grammarstyle.htm. -CCE

The Punctuation Guide
http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/style.html

Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Style
Harvard College Writing Center
http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/tips-grammar-punctuation-and-style

Punctuation and Style: A Quick Reference Guide
Office of Communications, University of Puget Sound
http://pugetsound.edu/files/resources/3379_PSGuide0309.pdf

Introduction to Basic Legal Citation, by Peter Martin, Cornell University Law School, Legal Information Institute (not just for legal citations – CCE)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/

Grammar Lessons From The CIA.

25 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Grammar, Legal Writing, Plain Language, Punctuation, Style Manuals

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11 Grammar Lessons from the Leaked CIA Style Book, by Nick Greene, Mental Floss Inc. © 2012

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57743/11-grammar-lessons-leaked-cia-style-book

In 2014, a leaked copy of the Directorate of Intelligence Style Manual & Writer’s Guide for Intelligence Publications found its way to the Internet. That long title belies what it actually is: A well-written style book for the CIA — the Strunk & White for Spies.

Inside the 181 pages (not including the index) is a terrific guide for normal folks, and not just government sleuths. It still offers some unique advice, however, and you won’t find some of these examples in your copy of the Oxford American Dictionary. . . .

Continue reading →

Free Legal Style Guide from Adobe.

31 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by in Adobe Acrobat, Editing, Grammar, Legal Technology, Legal Writing, Numbers, Punctuation, Style Manuals

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Adobe Legal Department Legal Style Guide (with hat tip to William P. Statsky)

http://www.adobe.com/legal/legal-innovation.html

A free, concise legal writing style guide from Adobe. Definitely worth a look. -CCE

 

Judge’s Benchslap Orders Parties To Rewrite Their Acronym-Loaded Briefs.

20 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by in Acronyms, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, Legal Writing, Readability, Style Manuals

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Alphabet Attack, by Ross Guberman, Legal Writing Tips for Attorneys and Judges

http://legalwritingpro.com/blog/alphabet-attack/

I wonder how many judges have wanted to do this? -CCE

It wouldn’t be spring in America without some federal judges publicly criticizing attorneys in a genre now known as ‘benchslap.’

The offended court this time: the D.C. Circuit. The court’s target: acronyms in briefs filed in a complex telecom dispute. The benchslap: ‘It is ordered . . . that the parties submit new briefs that eliminate uncommon acronyms used in their previously filed final briefs.’ The court even cited its own practice handbook for good measure: ‘[i]n briefs the use of acronyms other that those that are widely known should be avoided.’ . . .

Continue reading →

A Valuable Cache of Legal Writing Articles by George Gopen.

08 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Brief Writing, Editing, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing, Readability, Recent Links and Articles, Style Manuals

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Excellent Legal Writing Articles by George Gopen, by Louis J. Sirico, Jr., Legal Skills Prof Blog

http://tinyurl.com/psygoox

There are many really superb experts in legal writing. Mr. Sirico is one of them. Mr. Sirico has provided us with a link to not one, but all of Mr. Gopen’s legal writing articles published in Litigation since 2011 to date. Do not lose this, and save under “must read”! -CCE

George Gopen has been writing columns on legal writing for “Litigation,” the magazine of the ABA Section on Litigation. You can access them here.

I cannot speak too highly of George’s work. Years ago, I attended one of his workshops and discovered a new way to think about writing. I have passed the lessons down to my students, and now, even years after they graduate, they tell me how greatly those lessons transformed their writing and contributed to their success.

Ken Adams Shares What It Takes To Be A Great Contract Writer.

02 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by in Boilerplate Forms, Boilerplate Forms, Contract Law, Editing, Legal Writing, Legalese, Readability, Style Manuals

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What It Takes to Be a Great Contract Drafter, by Ken Adams, Adams On Contract Drafting

http://www.adamsdrafting.com/what-it-takes-to-be-a-great-contract-drafter/

If you write or work with contracts, this is a “must read” post by Ken Adams. Drafting a good contract is a special type of legal writing. A good, solid contract is a work of art. Also, please don’t ignore the Comments at the end of the post. There’s more good information there as well. -CCE

Here’s what it takes to be a great contract drafter:

Know the deal mechanics. As a drafter, it’s your job to express the transaction in a way that advances your client’s interests most effectively. You can’t do that unless you’re aware of the full range of options for structuring the deal. I don’t mean to suggest that you yourself have to possess that information—it’s enough if you’re able to pick the brains of people with that information.

Know the law. With some transactions, there’s no need for the law to rear its head in the contract. In other transactions, it would be appropriate, or necessary, for the law to feature in the contract. I discuss that in this 2013 post. As drafter, it’s your job to figure out what role, if any, the law plays in your transaction. Again, it’s enough if you can get that information from others.

Follow a comprehensive style guide. You don’t follow a comprehensive set of guidelines for the building blocks of contract language? Sorry, you’re not a great drafter. You’re not even a good drafter. Instead, you’re parroting whatever contract language you copy, which is likely dysfunctional. You’re following conventional wisdom, which more often than not is bogus. Don’t throw at me your education, your reputation, your long list of publications, your compensation, your track record as a dealmaker. They’re all beside the point. Of course, the only set of guidelines out there is A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting, but don’t hold that against me. I’m not stopping anyone else from producing their own comprehensive set of guidelines. And following my guidelines isn’t rocket science. . . .

Continue reading →

Formatting for Persuasive Legal Writing Makes A Difference.

28 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by in Citations, Court Rules, Courts, Legal Technology, Legal Writing, Local Rules, Readability, Style Manuals

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Paragraphs and Indentation Formatting for Persuasive Writing, by Collin Walke, Vol. 86 OBJ No. 5 (2014).

http://www.okbar.org/members/BarJournal/archive2015/FebArchive15/OBJ8605Walke.aspx

Contrary to that pesky little voice in your head at this very moment, formatting is not a boring topic and is absolutely critical when writing a legal brief. Aside from the technical rule requirements for formatting briefs, which will be discussed in greater detail below, formatting is essential for persuasion. One of the best legal writers I have ever had the privilege of working with has a paperweight on his desk that reads: ‘Good writing is clear thinking made visible.’ Without good formatting, quality content will be lost in the mire of facts, law and argument.

The point of this article is to outline what good formatting looks like. First, the brief must be written in accordance with the formatting rules of your particular court. A brief for the district court of Oklahoma County will look different from a brief for the Western District of Oklahoma. Second, the format of the brief must be laid out so that it assists the reader in understanding your position. Finally, your format should match the needs of the particular brief. . . .

[Emphasis added.] Continue reading →

Federal Judges Writing Manual.

17 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by in Federal Judges, Judges, Jury Instructions, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing, Statutory Interpretation, Style Manuals, Trial Tips and Techniques

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Judicial Writing Manual, Federal Judicial Center

http://tinyurl.com/k5x898o

This Writing Manual is obviously written specifically for federal judges. Twenty-four experienced jurists were interviewed to write the Manual.  Its board of editors are judges, law professors, and legal writers. Although written for federal judges, it provides insight for any legal writer, especially those who practice in federal court. The Manual is available in print or you can download it as a .pdf document.

This is more. Look at the left-hand side of the page, and click on “Recent Materials“: http://tinyurl.com/odjltbl. From there, it just gets better. At this link you will find papers on specific areas of law. One that caught my eye is Meghan Dunn’s “Jurors’ and Attorneys’ Use of Social Media During Voir Dire, Trials, and Deliberations: A Report to the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management.”  It is available only online.

Even if you do not practice in federal court, this is definitely worth a look. -CCE

Senior Judge Shares Tip To Avoid “Lousy Brief Writing.”

22 Tuesday Jul 2014

Posted by in Abbreviations, Acronyms, Appellate Law, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, Initialisms, Legal Writing, Readability, Style Manuals

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Don’t Let Your Brief Be DOA, by Raymond Ward, Louisiana Civil Appeals Blog

http://tinyurl.com/k8urt5j

Here is a briefwriting tip courtesy of Senior Judge Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit: avoid overuse of uncommon initialisms.

Petitioner’s brief, unfortunately, was laden with obscure acronyms notwithstanding the admonitions in our handbook (and on our website) to avoid uncommon acronyms. Since the brief was signed by a faculty member at Columbia Law School, that was rather dismaying both because of ignorance of our standards and because the practice constitutes lousy brief writing. [Ouch!] . . . .

More Yummy Candy for Writers.

12 Saturday Jul 2014

Posted by in Citations, Editing, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Readability, Spell Checking, Style Manuals

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UW Madison Writer’s Handbook, The Writing Center @ The University of Wisconsin-Madison

http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/index.html

For all writers, I strongly recommend a review of all the sections under “Grammar and Punctuation,” but especially: “Subject-Verb Agreement,” “How to Proofread,” “Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist,” and “Clear, Concise Sentences.”

If you are a legal writer, please note that this style manual’s rules on citations are not in sync with The Bluebook, ALWD, or court rules. -CCE

Style Manuals for the CIA and NSA SIGNIT and More.

04 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by in Editing, Fonts, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Quotations, Readability, Style Manuals

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CIA Style Manual Available Online, by Sabrina I. Pacifici, beSpacific Blog

http://tinyurl.com/mshotwq

If you are not familiar with Ms. Pacifici, I encourage you to check out her blog. She is an extraordinary researcher. These materials are interesting enough on their own, but you will see that the links take you to the FOIA Resources at The National Security Archive.  The Government Attic Blog is also worth a good, long look. -CCE

Via governmentattic.org:

  • ‘National Security Counselors law firm has obtained a copy of the CIA Directorate of Intelligence Style Manual, Eighth Edition, 2011.  It is entitled Style Manual & Writers Guide for Intelligence Publications. The CIA Guide is not alone.  Each of the members of the Intelligence Community ­IC ­ have one or more Style Manuals to conform the reports and documents of that agency to a consistent writing style and usage.  This is highly important to achieving clear and unambiguous communications of such matters.

  • Here is another example: the NSA SIGINT Style Guide

  • The National Security Counselors web site publishes a large number of interesting documents released under FOIA, or under litigation arising from FOIA requests.’