Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jul 1994

Plainer Legal Language: Definitions and Requirements in Acts

Michael P. Jordan Queen's University

Abstract

The prescriptive principles often used to improve writing in general genres have little relevance to the very complex legal prose found in acts or other technically legal documents. This article explores some of the stylistic complexities of definitions and requirements in a Canadian Provincial Act, and generates and justifies fifteen recommendations for creating a plainer legal language in acts. The recommendations range from orthographic presentation, referencing, and sentence arrangement to complex listing, clause separations and punctuation. Although only the English language version of the Act is studied in detail, reference is made to the French version where that is helpful.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1994-07-01
DOI
10.2190/3mfb-pu42-h8a9-v6l0
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
genre theory grammar and mechanics
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Citation Context

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No articles in this index cite this work.

References (25) · 1 in this index

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Show all 25 →
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