ANALYSIS: New to Legal Writing? Abbreviate to Illustrate

In legal writing, plain and simple language is always best. But there are times when words can overlap or repeat in a way that confuses the reader. The answer? Abbreviate and define. But do it wisely.

Why does some legal writing contain terms that seem needlessly formal, such as a specific address that’s defined as the “Subject Property,” or a relevant contract that’s called the “Supplier Contract?”

As a new legal writer, this mystified me, but I dutifully imitated the briefs and memos I saw until I understood why attorneys use defined terms. My writing got better once I understood ...