Legal Writing

Using Parentheses in Contracts
A couple of months ago, reader Kent asked me what I thought about using parentheses in contracts. Here, belatedly, is my answer: In regular prose, parentheses (namely round brackets, like those enclosing these words) are used to offset text that constitutes an explanation or aside...

15 Purposes for Parentheses
Parentheses are versatile tools for writers. These examples illustrate their uses. Original Post: 15 Purposes for Parentheses Your eBook: Click here to download the Basic English Grammar ebook...

When and How to Use Brackets
Reader John B. Moss asks if there are guidelines for the use of brackets. There are indeed. Academic style guides such as the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers go into such matters at great length.

Editing Tip: Spell Out Numbers One to Ten, and Don't Repeat Them in Parentheses
Apparently, there used to be some formal editing rule that said you had to write numbers twice, repeating them once in parentheses, like this: Before the consolidation order, there were more than eight (8) other, separate cases on file...

Use Manuscript Markers for Your First Draft
In response to my recent post about parentheses, a commenter mentioned that he uses parentheses as markers for passages to return to later for reworking copy or for inserting missing text...

Saving Sergeant Hagel (VP Brackets For Politics Nerds)
NCAA brackets are always loads of fun - the perfect way to break gambling laws and feel good about it. (Back in the day, Justice Rehnquist ran the Supreme Court tourney out of his chambers...