Category Archive: Agreements and contracts

Mar 03

Consumer contracts – plain English please!

Why should consumer contracts be written in plain English?  Because most people have to deal with them on their own, without the luxury of a lawyer being able to advise them on what it means.  Think about how many contracts you’re bound by right now.  Here’s just some of the normal everyday contracts people are …

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Permanent link to this article: http://wordsmadeclear.com/2012/03/03/consumer-contracts-plain-english-please/

Jan 13

Structuring a contract

I’ve been a lawyer for more than ten years, and contracts have been the bread and butter of much of my working life.  I’ve written many, but as a specialist litigator I’ve argued and fought over even more.  Seeing contracts fall apart because the parties can’t understand them or use them effectively is one of …

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Permanent link to this article: http://wordsmadeclear.com/2012/01/13/structuring-a-contract/

Jan 05

Making a plain language version of an existing document

Faced with a long and convoluted document which needs improvement (for example, a financial agreement, a letter of advice, or a set of instructions), how do you go about creating a plain English version? One option is to re-write it from scratch – this is worthwhile when the whole structure needs changing, as it sometimes …

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Permanent link to this article: http://wordsmadeclear.com/2012/01/05/making-a-plain-language-version-of-an-existing-document/

Dec 19

A plain English credit card agreement

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (a body which deals with consumer financial markets in the United States) has published a draft plain English credit card agreement.  It is designed to fit comfortably on two pages: one page of terms, and one page of definitions.  The layout is very easy on the eye, and it certainly …

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Permanent link to this article: http://wordsmadeclear.com/2011/12/19/a-plain-english-credit-card-agreement/