Tag Archives: Punctuation

Punctuation – The Devil Indeed Is In the Details.

06 Monday Mar 2017

Posted by in Legal Writing, Proofreading, Punctuation

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Legal Writing is Precise Writing, by Suzanne E. Rowe©2007, Oregon State Bar Bulletin — NOVEMBER 2007

https://www.osbar.org/publications/bulletin/07nov/legalwriter.html

A colleague appeared in my office with a pressing question about hyphens. He was writing an article about people who own small businesses. But he was concerned that a punctuation mistake might make the article about small people, instead of small businesses. That concern (and perhaps a touch of procrastination) propelled him to my office. Was he writing about small business owners or small-business owners?

Legal writing is precise writing. Sometimes the missing hyphen, misplaced word or extra comma can change the meaning of a sentence. In quotations, lack of precision can hurt your reputation (or just make you look sloppy). The devil’s in the details.

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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.

The Em-Dash.

20 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Legal Writing, Punctuation

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When to Use—and Not Use—an Em-Dash, by Chris Lele, read by Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl’s QuickandDirtyTips.com™

http://bit.ly/2cGeRNi

When people think of punctuation marks, it is usually the handy comma, the imperious colon, or the overly excited exclamation mark that comes to mind. The stodgy semicolon and sinuous question mark might get thrown into the mix, but rarely—if ever—will somebody mention a punctuation mark that, while omnipresent, often goes unnoticed. This is surprising considering that this punctuation mark is highly versatile and a favorite of skilled writers. It can add a spice—or a dash, if you will—to a sentence by adding emphasis to certain words and phrases.

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Just Really Good Legal Writing.

21 Saturday May 2016

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Editing, Grammar, Legal Writing, Legalese, Persuasive Writing, Punctuation, Readability

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How To Write Good Legal Stuff, by Eugene Volokh and J. Alexander Tanford, Maurer School of Law© 2001, 2009

http://law.indiana.edu/instruction/tanford/web/reference/how2writegood.pdf

This is a guide to good legal writing. Good writing consists of avoiding common clunkers and using simpler replacements. The replacements aren’t always perfect synonyms but 90% of the time they’re better than the original. Warning: Some changes also require grammatical twiddling of other parts of the sentence. This is not a guide to proper high English usage. We don’t give two hoots whether you dangle participles, split infinitives or end sentences with prepositions. We care that you can write clearly.

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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/

Legal Writing Tips Honey Pot.

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Business Memorandums, Contract Law, Editing, Grammar, Legal Writing, Punctuation

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Writing Cheat Sheets for Your Summer at the Screen, by Ross Guberman, Legal Writing Tips for Attorneys and Judges

http://legalwritingpro.com/blog/writing-cheat-sheets-for-your-summer-at-the-screen/

There is something here for everyone – student, newbie, or seasoned professional. Writing tips for memos, grammar, punctuation, biggest partner complaints, checklist for drafting contracts, and more. Many thanks, Mr. Guberman! -CCE

As a writing trainer for many of the nation’s top law firms with about 500 summer-associate workshops under my belt, I’ve learned first-hand where summer associates go wrong and how to help them succeed.

Here are some questions that will likely come up over the summer, along with links to some free online resources. . . .

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Yes! Ohio Court Rules Missing Punctuation Changes Interpretation Of Municipal Code.

11 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Grammar, Legal Analysis, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Punctuation, Statutory Interpretation

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Ohio Appeals Court Ruling Is A Victory For Punctuation, Sanity, by Sarah Larimer, The Washington Post (with hat tip to William P. Statsky)

http://tinyurl.com/q7vzjws

Punctuation nerds, rejoice! For all of us who care deeply about really good legal writing, grammar, and punctuation, today we are vindicated! Thank you, Judge Robert A. Hendrickson, of the Twelfth District Court of Appeals in Ohio. -CCE

Look, I know you’re all busy, but let’s just take a minute today and celebrate Judge Robert A. Hendrickson and the 12th District Court of Appeals in Ohio.

These defenders of punctuation.

These champions of copy editors everywhere.

That one court that totally called out a village ordinance for its comma-related failings.

(I know!!!)

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One Space Vs. Two Spaces At The End Of A Period.

13 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by in Legal Writing, Punctuation

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Two Spaces After a Period, by Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl Blog

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/two-spaces-after-a-period

I learned to type on a typewriter. The rule was back then was to add 2 spaces after a period at the end of a sentence. When I first heard about the switch to 1 space rather than 2, I wondered why change?

The reason was clear. I was no longer using a typewriter, but a machine that automatically adjusts the spacing between characters and sentences. Makes sense to me. -CCE

Were you taught to put two spaces after a period at the end of a sentence? Many people were, but now most publications recommend using just one. Here’s the scoop.

If you learned to type on a typewriter, you’re going to hate what I say next: Do not put two spaces after a period. Don’t do it. Just use one.

I know. I was taught to use two spaces after a period in my high school typing class too, but you know what? It’s not that hard to break the habit. I haven’t been tempted to type two spaces for decades. It’s not like quitting smoking. I don’t find myself in nostalgic typewriting situations and suddenly get hit by an unexpected urge to type two spaces.

The modern and easy-to-follow style is to put one space after a period.

I’m not making this up to torment you. Typesetters write and beg me to tell people to only use one space. If you use two spaces, they have to delete them. Yes, it’s not that hard to do it with search-and-replace, but it’s not that hard to put dishes in the dishwasher either, and you don’t like doing that, do you?

If sympathy for typesetters doesn’t move you, I’m willing to bet you’re a rule follower. I don’t have a lot of to-heck-with-the-rules type of readers or listeners. And everyone who makes the rules today agrees: It’s a one-space world.

TheChicago Manual of Style, the US Government Printing Office Style Manual, ThePublication Manual of the American Psychological Association, and the AP Stylebook are just a few of the style guides that recommend one space after a period. . . .

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Ross Guberman’s Eight Comma Commandments.

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by in Editing, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Punctuation

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Avoid the Most Common Comma Crimes Committed by Counsel: Eight Commandments, by Ross Guberman, Legal Writing Pro

http://www.legalwritingpro.com/articles/H76-comma-crimes.php

From the loftiest law firms to the grandest judicial chambers, I see the same comma errors time and time again. In the name of consistency, and perhaps even sanity, consider committing to these Eight Comma Commandments. . . .

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How Are Your Punctuation Skills?

21 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Editing, Legal Writing, Proofreading, Readability

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Improve Your Writing Skills. How Would You Punctuate these Paragraphs?, by Jack McNeill, Pace Law Library Blog (with hat tip to William P. Statsky!)

http://tinyurl.com/ovqs4qr

Bill Statsky ran across this jewel, and was kind enough to send it along. Regardless of how well we think we write, there is room for improvement for many of us, myself included. Exercises such as this help to hone our skills. -CCE

From the ABA Journal we have this challenge. Two paragraphs are proposed. They include no punctuation. How would you punctuate them? Proper punctuation improves the clarity and flow of your writing. Try your skills. Later in the article the paragraphs are shown professionally edited. If you did not do well against the professional, think about how the professional approached the paragraphs and what you might do to use those skills to improve your own writing. The article is here: How are your punctuation skills? Try this comparison exercise to find out.

Candy For Writers! Grammar Girl’s Editing Checklist.

14 Saturday Jun 2014

Posted by in Legal Writing, Proofreading, Readability, Spell Checking

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Grammar Girl’s Editing Checklist, Mignon Fogary, Grammar Girl Blog

http://tinyurl.com/qy3efup

At the end of a recent writing webcast, we distributed a Grammar Girl editing checklist that turned out to be so popular we decided to make it widely available. Print out the checklist and keep it on your desk as a handy reference to use when you’re editing.

“Must Have” Plain Language Tips and Tools.

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by in Legal Writing, Plain Language, References

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Tips and Tools, PlainLanguage.gov

http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/index.cfm

Take a good look. Links to Quick Reference Tips, Word Suggestions, Dictionaries, Thesauruses, Style Guides, and Grammar Sites. -CCE

The ITS Style Guide – Put This One In Your Legal Writing Toolbox.

02 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by in Legal Writing, Proofreading, Spell Checking

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ITS Style Guide, The University of Texas at Austin

http://www.utexas.edu/its/style/written/misused.php

Easy Peasy. Definitely worth a bookmark. -CCE

The ITS Style Guide is an online reference for the Information Technology Services (ITS) department at The University of Texas at Austin. It promotes consistency in ITS publications with a focus on technical communications. The Guide covers correct writing styles, word usage, capitalization, punctuation, and other issues that arise in written communications.

Legal Analysis & Writing Links.

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by in Acronyms, ALWD, Bad Legal Writing, Citations, Internet, Legal Analysis, Legal Directory, Legal Writing, Legalese, Quotations, References, Research, The Bluebook

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Legal Analysis and Writing, Grammar & Writing Resources, Lewis & Clark Law School

http://bit.ly/1kFtlHk

A nice assortment of writing resources.  -CCE

Key Elements of Great Legal Writing.

21 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by in Appellate Judges, Brief Writing, Federal Judges, Judges, Legal Analysis, Legal Argument, Legal Writing

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The Seven Writing Strategies of Highly Effective Trial Judges, by Ross Guberman Blog (with hat tip to Raymond Ward, the (new) legal writer blog!)

http://tinyurl.com/ov446wn

This post hits on all of the key elements of great, not just good, legal writing. It is rarely explained better than this. Pay attention . . . . -CCE

Asked to name the world’s best opinion writers, traditionalists might rattle off Lord Denning, Learned Hand, or Oliver Wendell Holmes. Modernists often prefer Antonin Scalia or Richard Posner. And the trendy might cite new kids on the block like Lord Sumption or Elena Kagan.

Those august names all deserve heaps of praise. But the fame that these judges enjoy raises questions of its own: Can you write a “great” opinion if you’re a judge who’s not a household name, or even especially influential? And can you write a “great” opinion in a case that’s not a high-profile constitutional crisis, but just another run-of-the-mill dispute in an overflowing docket?

I say “yes” on both counts. No matter how routine a case, and no matter how little time you have, you can write a great opinion. It may not be “great” for the ages, but it can offer readers a clear, accessible, and easy-to-follow analysis of your reasoning, with even a bit of flair or personality for good measure. . . . 

Legal Writing Tips From a Former Law Clerk.

01 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by in ALWD, Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Citations, Headnotes, IRAC, Legal Writing, The Bluebook

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Writing Trial Memoranda: A Law Clerk’s Perspective, by Brock Collins, Kentucky Bench and Bar Association Magazine (January 2014) (with hat tip to Legal Writing Prof Blog)

http://kentuckybenchandbar.epubxp.com/t/30647

On page 28 of the Kentucky Bench and Bar Association Magazine, Brock Collins, a Professor at Charleston School of Law, describes what he learned about legal writing as a former judicial clerk. Professor Brock observes that “[t]he quality of an attorney’s credibility and reputation is based in large part on the quality and thoroughness of her legal writing.” In this excellent article, Professor Brock shares his legal writing tips. -CCE

Proper Punctuation Matters, Especially When Drafting Contracts.

25 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by in 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Contract Law, Legal Writing

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My Forthcoming Article, “Bamboozled by a Comma: The Second Circuit’s Misdiagnosis of Ambiguity in American International Group, Inc. v. Bank of America Corp.” by Ken Adams, Adams On Contract Drafting Blog (to be published in 16 Scribes J. Legal Writing (forthcoming 2014).

http://tinyurl.com/kzvf8e2

It may sound picky but, as Ken Adams’ example illustrates in this post, proper punctuation matters. A misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

A refresher on how to use commas properly never hurts. Julia Layton explains “10 Completely Wrong Ways to Use Commas” on How Stuff Works. -CCE

http://people.howstuffworks.com/10-wrong-ways-to-use-commas.htm

A Compilation of Legal Writing Sources

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Bad Legal Writing, Brief Writing, Legal Writing

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 This list barely scratches the surface of the wealth of information on good  legal writing, but it’s a start. More to come. CCE

Plain-English Subcommittee, Chronological List of Articles, Michigan Bar Journal, State Bar of Michigan

http://perma.cc/0P72PHThkHR

Legal Writing Tips, Michael Aleo, Legal Writing Tips Blog

http://perma.cc/0gpKDSoYasx

the (new) legal writing blog, by Raymond P. Ward

http://perma.cc/0izuaUDN9h8

UCLA School of Law Legal Research and Writing Guide, UCLA Law School, Hugh and Hazel Darling Law Library

http://perma.cc/0KoRUEKZmZy

(Please note the tabs at this same website on all types of Legal Research, Mobile Legal Research, and a Guide to Bluebook Citations. CCE)

Good Legal Writing: of Orwell and Window Panes, by Pamela Samuelson©1984, 46 University of Pittsburgh Law Review 149 (Fall 1984), UC Berkeley School of Information

http://perma.cc/0yqw83CnnrX

The Writing Center, Georgetown University Law Center

http://perma.cc/0pbttULwwVP