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Full-Text Articles in Legal Writing and Research

Plain English Part Vi: Negatives Or The Power Of Positives, K.K. Duvivier Nov 1998

Plain English Part Vi: Negatives Or The Power Of Positives, K.K. Duvivier

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

This column is the last in a series' describing six"clear writing techniques" set out by the SEC in proposed rules to require that disclosures be written in Plain English. This last writing tip is to avoid "negative sentences and multiple negatives."


Plain English Part V: Go Aggro Over Argot, K.K. Duvivier Sep 1998

Plain English Part V: Go Aggro Over Argot, K.K. Duvivier

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

The SEC has set out six "dear writing techniques" to require that disclosures be written in Plain English. Previous columns have addressed the first four techniques. This column addresses the fiflh: replacing jargon and legalese with short common words.


Plain English Part Iv: Keep It Straight, Tabulate, K.K. Duvivier Jul 1998

Plain English Part Iv: Keep It Straight, Tabulate, K.K. Duvivier

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

This column addresses tabular presentation of complex material, which is the fourth of six "clear writing techniques" set out in the SEC's proposed rules to require that disclosures be written in Plain English.' The first three of these techniques were discussed in the January, March, and May 1998 Scrivener articles.


Plain English Part Iii: Choosing The Right Words, K.K. Duvivier May 1998

Plain English Part Iii: Choosing The Right Words, K.K. Duvivier

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

In an effort to provide investors with full and fair disclosures in language they can understand, the SEC has proposed rules to require that disclosures be written in Plain English.' These rules outline six "clear writing techniques": (1) active voice; (2) short sentences; (3) definite, concrete, everyday language; (4) tabular presentations; (5) no jargon; and (6) no multiple negatives. The January and March 1998 Scrivener article addressed the first two techniques; this article addresses the third.


Plain English Part Ii: Shorter Sentences And Lighter Luggage, K.K. Duvivier Mar 1998

Plain English Part Ii: Shorter Sentences And Lighter Luggage, K.K. Duvivier

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

January's column addressed the first of six specific "clear writing techniques to communicate information" set out in the SEC's proposed rules for plain English-the active voice. This column addresses the SEC's second technique-shorter sentences.


Plain English Part I: Secrets For The Sec, K.K. Duvivier Jan 1998

Plain English Part I: Secrets For The Sec, K.K. Duvivier

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

Studies have shown that traditional legal writing has four main characteristics: it is "wordy," "unclear," "pompous," and "dull." Furthermore, law books have been dubbed "the largest body of poorly written literature ever created by the human race." Although some lawyers intend to perpetuate this tradition, most have recognized the benefit of converting to "plain English."