SC suggests words to avoid when writing


Law students and lawyers are known to use big words in their writings and dialogues but it appears that the Supreme Court (SC) is not impressed with this. In a 2005 guideline, the Court suggested that some words be avoided and, instead, simpler words be used. Supreme Court (2005). Alternative Use of Words. The Supreme Court, citing Clear and Effective Legal Writing, 124. December 15, 2005.

Avoid this

If this will work as well
Accord

Give
Adequate amount

Enough
Afford

Give
Aggregate

Total
Allocate

Give, divide
An adequate number of

Enough
Anent

About
A number of

Many, several
Applicable

That applies
Apprise

Inform
As a consequence of

Because of
As to

About, of, by, for, in
A sufficient number of

Enough
At a later date

Later
Attain

Reach
At the present time

Now
At the time when

When
At this point in time

Now
Attributable to

From, by
Bears a significant resemblance to

Resembles
Bring an action against

Sue
By means of

By
By reason of

Because of
Cease

Stop
Commence

Begin
Constitute

Makeup
Deem

Consider
During such time as

While
During the course of

During
During the month of May

In May
Effect settlement

Settle
Entered a contract to

Contracted
Envisage

Think, see, regard
Eventuate

Happen
Exclusively

Only
Expiration

End
Filed a complaint

Complained
Filed a counterclaim

Counterclaimed
Filed an application

Applied
Filed a motion

Moved
For the duration of

During
For the purpose of

To, for
For the reason that

Because
Furnish

Give, provide
Has the option of

May
Herein

In this (agreement, etc.)
Indicate

Show
Implement, effectuate

Begin, carry out
Inasmuch as

Since, because
In connection with

With
In excess of

More than
Initiate

Begin
In lieu of

Instead of
In order to

To
Instant case

Here, this case
Institute

Begin
Inter sese

Among themselves
in the event that

If
In the light of the fact

Because
In the near future

Soon
In violation of

Violates
Is able to

Can
Is n compliance with

Comply
Is in conformity with

Conforms
Is of the opinion that

Believes
Is violative of

Violates
Made application

Applied
Made provision

Provided
Maintain

Keep, continue, support
Make allegations

Allege
Make an examination of

Examine
Necessitate

Require
Not less than

At least
Notwithstanding

Despite
Notwithstanding the fact that

Although
Offer testimony

Testify
On a daily basis

Daily
On or before

By
On the ground that

Because
On the part of

By
Originate

Start
Make inquiry

Ask, inquire
Make mention of

Mention
Motion for vacatur

Motion to vacate
Per annum

A year
Performed a search on

Searched
Place a limitation upon

Limit
Prior to

Before
Procure

Get
Provide assistance

Help
Provide protection to

Protect
Provide responses

Respond
Promulgate

Issue
Provided that

However if
Pursuant to

Under, by, in accordance with
Reach a resolution

Resolve
Render

Make
Retain

Keep
Reveal the identity of

Identify
Said (adjective)

The, this, that
Same (pronoun)

It, them
Shall

Must, may, will
Solely

Only, alone
Submit

Send, give
Subsequent to

After
Sufficient

Enough
Sub suo periculo

At one's own peril
Such

That, this, those, the
Terminate

End, finish
The majority of

Most
The means by which

How
Thereafter

Later
Therein

In it, in them, inside
Transmit

Send
Transpire

Happen
Until such time as

Until
Unto

To
Utilize

Use
With regard to

About
Without the Philippines

Outside the Philippines
Whether or not Whether