Bibielle Global Translations SL & Finanza e Diritto

Writing in Plain English for lawyers _ LESSON 3

Omit superfluous words

Words are superfluous when they can be replaced with fewer words that mean the same thing. Sometimes you can use a simpler word for these phrases:

superfluous                                          simpler in order to                                  to in the event that                         if subsequent to                             after prior to                                      before despite the fact that                   although because of the fact that              because, since in light of                                   because, since owing to the fact that                 because, since

Another source of superfluous words is “shotgunning”: letting loose a blast of words hoping at least one conveys your intended meaning. The simplest solution here is to replace your laundry list of adjectives with a single word or phrase that adequately expresses your intended meaning.

Omitting superfluous words is one of the easiest ways to improve your disclosure document because it doesn’t require you to revise sentence structure.

before

The following summary is intended only to highlight certain infor­mation contained elsewhere in this Prospectus.

after

This summary highlights some information from this Prospectus.

before

Machine Industries and Great Tools, Inc. are each subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in accordance therewith file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

after

We file annual, quarterly, and special reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

before

Drakecorp has filed with the Internal Revenue Service a tax ruling request concerning, among other things, the tax consequences of the Distribution to the United States holders of Drakecorp Stock. It is expected that the Distribution of Beco Common Stock to the shareholders of Drakecorp will be tax-free to such shareholders for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent that cash is received for fractional share interests.

after

While we expect that this transaction will be tax free for U.S. shareholders at the federal level (except for any cash paid for fractional shares), we have asked the Internal Revenue Service to rule that it is.
Write in the “positive”
Positive sentences are shorter and easier to understand than their negative counterparts. For example:
before
Persons other than the primary beneficiary may not receive these dividends.

after
Only the primary beneficiary may receive these dividends.
Also, your sentences will be shorter and easier to understand if you replace a negative phrase with a single word that means the same thing. For example:

negative compound                         single word

not able                                            unable

not accept                                        reject

not certain                                        uncertain

not unlike                                         similar, alike

does not have                                   lacks

does not include                               excludes, omits

not many                                         few

not often                                          rarely

not the same                                    different

not ... unless                                    only if

not ... except                                    only if

not ... until                                       only when

[By the Office of Investor Education and Assistance

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

450 5th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20549]