What signals an interruption in legal writing?
Use an em dash (the longer dash symbol) to indicate an interruption or an abrupt change in thought or to insert supplemental information. If the interruption or insertion comes in the middle of a sentence, add a closing dash to signal the end of the interruption.
How are hyphens used in legal writing?
HYPHEN: Hyphens can be used between two words that function together to modify a subsequent word in the sentence, as in “well-pled complaint.” Hyphens can also be used to connect some prefixes to words.
How do you use an em dash interruption?
Em dashes for sudden breaks or interruptions. If the break belongs to the surrounding sentence rather than to the quoted material, the em dashes must appear outside the quotation marks. And an example: “Someday he’s going to hit one of those long shots, and”—his voice turned huffy—“I won’t be there to see it.”
Why are there no commas in legal documents?
Punctuation was traditionally omitted in legal documents and this practise is continued by many Will and Trust drafters. Drafters prefer instead to use underlining or spacing to avoid the ordinary use of commas. It makes a document easier to read and can also convey meaning.
How are ellipses used in legal writing?
An ellipsis is a series of three points with spaces between them (. . .) inserted into a quotation to indicate the omission of material from the original quotation. Failure to use the proper form of an ellipsis could misrepresent the work of another person and result in legal liability for the writer.
How do you draw attention in legal writing?
While legal writers should use em-dashes to draw attention and to help create meaning, writers should be careful not to overuse them. Overuse causes em-dashes to lose their dramatic visual impact. Think of em-dashes like the salt on the top of a salted caramel.
How do you interrupt a sentence?
An interrupting phrase is a word group (a statement, question, or exclamation) that interrupts the flow of a sentence and is usually set off by commas, dashes, or parentheses. An interrupting phrase is also called an interrupter, an insertion, or a mid-sentence interruption.
Why is proper grammar necessary in legal writing?
The proper use of language and rules of punctuation are absolutely essential for a literal interpretation, free of ambiguity. Typographical errors, carelessness, poor spelling and grammar mistakes are luxuries that lawyers, unfortunately, cannot afford.
What is General punctuation in legal writing?
According to Cuny School of Law, commas must separate independent clauses whenever they are joined together by coordinating conjunctions, such as and, for, but, or, yet and nor. You should also use commas to separate three or more phrases, clauses or words within a sentence (eg:phrases, clauses or words).
What is interruption?
Where a dominant owner protests an interruption, the period of the break runs from the date(s) of the protest. INTERRUPTION. The effect of some act or circumstance which stops the course of a prescription or act of limitation’s. 2. Interruption of the use of a thing is natural or civil.
What is the Legal Writing Institute?
The Legal Writing Institute (LWI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving legal communication. We believe that effective legal communication is critical to the wellbeing of society, the judicial system, and the legal profession.
How do you separate an interruption from the rest of a sentence?
Separating an interruption — a phrase that breaks with the uniformity of a sentence — from the rest of the sentence is almost always done with the use of appropriate punctuation. Although there might seem to be a mere handful of punctuation marks, each mark or set of marks can be used in a variety of ways to meet a variety of needs.
What is natural interruption?
Natural interruption is an interruption in fact, which takes place whenever by some act we cease truly to possess what we formerly possessed. Vide 4 Mason’s Rep. 404; 2 Y. & Jarv. 285.