Legal Writing in Plain English: A Text With Exercises

The best writers use simple descriptive words, short sentences and in the active voice so all can understand what they are saying.

Bryan Garner is leading this reform movement by starting with the greatest abuses of the English language, Lawyers! Anyone reading a Supreme Court opinion of any era pretty much can see waht I am saying. They are full of alien words meant to show off an education rather than send a common, understandable reasoning for all people to follow.

The educated can find words that the common person can understand better than a common person having to run to a Lawyer to deciper what some Law Clerk and Judge wrote to sound important.

America is founded on the ideal that all persons are created equal. It is about time Judges, Lawyers and all other educated people everywhere write to the level of the people they say they represent for a change for a better society.

We all need to start with Bryan Garner's books and teachings so we can one day understand them for the betterment of all and the future of our nation. No one is asking anyone to dumb down, only write smarter for the reader.


Plain English is Shorter, More Precise.   February 18, 2004
 13 out of 13 found this review helpful

The problem with the 1-star review is that it has the problem completely reversed. The reviewer suggests that traditional legal drafting is *shorter* than the plain english drafting that Garner proposes. He need only read Garner's books to learn that traditional drafting is *significantly* longer and more difficult to read than plain English.

Furthermore, the reviewer needs to realize that Garner is not advocating that all legal writing be poetry. First and foremost, he advocates for clarity and precision. If the writer can also make it interesting to read (or even a joy to read), then more power to the writer.

If you're a lawyer and hate seeing "WHEREAS" before each recital and prefer a simple sentence, Garner is the man for you.


An Enlighten Reformer Improving Writing For All!   April 10, 2001
 11 out of 17 found this review helpful

Bryan Garner is a beacon of light in a profession over wrought in using formal vain communications. I was able to review this book at a Writing Seminar led by the author. He is reforming the way all people should communicate and his lectures are sincerely admirable.

The author teaches a, "Can Do Style," of encouragement. I came away concluding the old method of learning by rote is failing. English Teachers are excellent in explaining the rules of good grammar. But terrible on coaching children in applying the rules for skillful writing. I am not concluding all English Teachers deserve blame here. Teachers simply restate how they learn grammar

Likewise, ideal teaching avoids faultfinding personal attacks as much as possible. Human nature prompts one to avoid parents or teachers or practicing embarrassment is the road to success. Instead, the author urges that all writing should make the reader feel smart.

The legal profession is a victim of what they read. The most insecure judges, lawyers and law clerks often wrote to display their education. Today, the best lawyer will use plain English to convince others of the merits to his argument. Success and confidence draw near by making anyone feel they are smart because they accept you. Using large words makes one think about the words they do not know above your alluring reasoning.

Bryan Garner's primers along with practicing his techniques will change you into a stronger writer, lawyer and person. You will not regret spending the money on Bryan Garner's books and seminars. The goal is to make everyone feel smarter by reading what you write! What better way to change the world by touching people with your thoughts to words to deeds!


EXCELLENT   March 10, 2003
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

EXCELLENT BOOK, ALSO MODERN LEGAL USAGE, 2ND EDITION. ENOUGH SAID.


It's superb.   April 16, 2002
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Yikes! There is no longer anywhere to hide, and there are no more excuses. This book shows you how to drop the jargon, the gobbledygook, the archaisms, and the fluff. So your writing is exposed. Now you must think--and write--clearly, and Legal Writing in Plain English will help. Lawyers and law students have needed this book for a long time. It's superb. (From back cover.)