More True Confessions of a Legal Writing Professor: I Can't, and I Won't, Sanction Contractions in Legal Writing

Abstract

In this humorous but informative article, the author, a legal writing professor, takes a firm—and unapologetically old-fashioned—stance against the use of contractions in formal legal writing. Drawing on anecdotes from the classroom, commentary from judges, style guides, and recent court opinions, she argues that contractions risk undermining the formality and credibility of legal documents. While acknowledging that some recent judicial opinions and legal writing authorities embrace contractions for readability and tone, the author urges writers not to take that chance with their judicial audience. The article is a lively contribution to ongoing debates about tone, professionalism, and evolving norms in legal writing.

Keywords: contractions, audience, formality, legal writing