Legal Writing Vocabulary

noun a group of words containing a subject and a predicate, typically forming a part of a compound or complex sentence

• The contract includes a termination clause that outlines the conditions for ending the agreement.
• Make sure you read the fine print - there might be a hidden clause in there.
• I didn't realize there was a catch in that clause of the deal.
• In life, there always seems to be a 'but' clause attached to every opportunity.

noun a preliminary version of a piece of writing, a plan, or a document

verb to prepare a preliminary version of a piece of writing, a plan, or a document

adjective referring to something preliminary or in the process of being finalized

preposition used in phrases like 'draft of' or 'draft for' to indicate the purpose or subject of the draft

• The committee reviewed the initial draft of the proposal before making any revisions.
• I'll need to finish up this draft before I can relax for the evening.
• I whipped up a rough draft of my essay last night.
• She felt like a rough draft of herself until she found her true calling.

adverb used to introduce a further point or to emphasize or expand on a previous point

• Moreover, the study found that there was a significant correlation between the two variables.
• I heard that Sarah got the promotion. Moreover, she also got a raise!
• I don't want to go to the party. Moreover, it's going to be boring anyway.
• The painting was beautiful, and moreover, it seemed to capture the essence of the artist's emotions.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'plain spoken' is an adjective phrase describing someone who speaks in a straightforward and direct manner.

• The politician is known for his plain spoken approach to addressing complex issues.
• She's always been a plain spoken person, never one to sugarcoat things.
• I like hanging out with him because he's so plain spoken, you always know where you stand.
• Her words were like a breath of fresh air, plain spoken and easy to understand.

adjective relating to or constituting a preface or introduction

• The author included a prefatory section in the book to provide background information.
• The prefatory remarks at the beginning of the speech were quite interesting.
• I skipped over the prefatory paragraphs in the article because they seemed boring.
• The prefatory notes set the tone for the rest of the presentation.

verb to begin a journey or a task, to start moving towards a destination or goal

• The explorers set out on their journey to chart the unknown territory.
• We set out early in the morning to beat the traffic.
• Let's set out as soon as possible before it gets too crowded.
• She set out to achieve her dreams no matter the obstacles in her way.

noun a written inscription or label on the outside of something

verb to write on the outside or on a surface, especially a label or envelope

• Please superscribe your signature at the bottom of the document.
• Don't forget to superscribe your name on the form.
• Make sure you superscribe your initials on the paper.
• The artist chose to superscribe his emotions onto the canvas.

noun a title, description, or inscription above or outside something

• The superscription on the envelope indicated it was from a prestigious law firm.
• I couldn't read the superscription on the package, so I didn't know who it was from.
• I scribbled my name in the superscription on the birthday card.
• The superscription on the monument read 'In memory of those who sacrificed everything.'

verb to write something on a surface, typically on paper or a document

• The instructions were written down in great detail for future reference.
• Hey, can you write down the address for me?
• I'll jot it down real quick.
• Her words were etched in his mind as if written down in permanent ink.

noun a typographical symbol (¶) used to indicate a new paragraph or section in a text

• The pilcrow is a typographical character used to indicate a new paragraph.
• I always use the pilcrow symbol when formatting my documents.
• Hey, can you add more pilcrows to separate the sections in this report?
• The pilcrow represents a fresh start in the story of our company's success.