Legal Writing

Politeness is good. But it can cause us to lose focus.

I've seen many messages--paper and e-mail--that ask for information in an excruciatingly polite way:

I am considering buying 500 of your widgets. Could you please let me know whether there is a volume discount for that number and what it would be?

What the writer wants to know is how much 500 widgets will cost. So why not ask?

How much do 500 of your widgets cost?

This week, when you write asking for information, just ask. You can be polite in the next sentence or two.