Plain Language

Documents

Words were not the servants of life, but life rather, was the slave of words. So the black print of other people's books became a swarm of victorious ants that carried off a man's self-respcect.

(Patrick White, Voss, 1957)

The modern trend in legal writing is to keep the language simple.

A few links for plain language

Centre for Plain Language (contacts, examples of plain language)

List of alternative words (a selection of simple words to use instead of legal jargon)

Quotations (a selection of quotations on plain language in another page)

Some books on plain language

Clarity for Lawyers - The use of plain English in legal writing by Mark Adler, Law Society, London,

Plain Language for Lawyers by Michele Asprey, The Federation Press, Sydney, 1996 (good section on alternative words for common legal jargon called "Plain Language Vocabulary")

Drafting and Negotiating Commercial Leases in Australia by Tony Barnett, Butterworths, Sydney, 1990 (good section on alternative words for common legal jargon)

Legal Draftingby Robert Dick, 2nd Ed., Carswell Company Limited, Canada, 1985

Home The law-on-computer home page.

Envelope

Dan O'Keefe
danok@ozemail.com.au
P.O. Box 1127, DUBBO, N.S.W., Australia, 2830
Tele: (068) 82 1433 (BH) Int: 61 68 82 1433 Fax: (068) 81 8117
Revised: 7th January, 1997
URL: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~danok