We lawyers do not write plain English. We use eight words…
““We lawyers do not write plain English. We use eight words to say what could be said in two. We use arcane phrases to express commonplace ideas. Seeking to be precise, we become redundant. Seeking to be cautious, we become verbose. Our sentences twist on, phrase within clause within clause, glazing the eyes and numbing the minds of our readers. The result is a writing style that has, according to one critic, four outstanding characteristics. It is (1) wordy, (2) unclear, (3) pompous, and (4) dull.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Lawyers prioritize precision, leading to wordy, unclear, pompous, and dull writing that hinders reader comprehension.
In simple terms: Legal writing often becomes overly complex and boring.
Key Takeaway
Simplify language for clarity.
Themes
law
writing
clarity
precision
communication
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- court documents
- legal memos
- policy drafting
Key Concepts
verbosity
obfuscation
accessibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can lawyers balance accuracy with readability?
- What are the costs of overly complex legal language?
A Different Perspective
Legal precision can conflict with brevity.