Avoiding contractions in the PS?

[Freak]

Also, let me point out there is nothing inherently wrong with contractions. In French, contracted forms are generally preferred, for instance.

And wrong if you don't use them (my FR201 teacher is vehement, she also corrects out English though so maybe that's just her opinion...)

Totally agree that the paper is about you, by you. If you don't use contractions when you speak, then don't write them in your PS. However, a lack of contractions can also read as a poor command of the English language (since you don't have to remember the contraction forms etc.) though I doubt that's what an adcomm would think.

All that matters.

[Freak]

Google "legal writing and contractions." Your friend stands virtually alone. In law, wisdom favors precedent followers; your friend bucks it - follow him at your peril.

[«ě»]

Totally agree that the paper is about you, by you. If you don't use contractions when you speak, then don't write them in your PS. However, a lack of contractions can also read as a poor command of the English language (since you don't have to remember the contraction forms etc.) though I doubt that's what an adcomm would think.

A lack of contractions can read as poor command of the English language? PRETTY PLEASE tell me that's a really bad joke?

[«ě»]

They are, at least at all the schools I applied to.

Really? At what schools?

[Freak]

Google "legal writing and contractions." Your friend stands virtually alone. In law, wisdom favors precedent followers; your friend bucks it - follow him at your peril.

"At my peril?"  You know Freak, you've struck me before as a bit of twit.

My "friend," Bryan Garner, wrote The Redbook.  If you haven't heard of him, you're entirely unqualified to talk about legal writing.

Ok Mr. Thinskin.

My legal writing professor wanted us to use some of his advice - except the part about contractions. I repeat: he stands virtually alone on that bit of advice.

[Freak]

Ok Mr. Thinskin.

My legal writing professor wanted us to use some of his advice - except the part about contractions. I repeat: he stands virtually alone on that bit of advice.

That'd be Ms. Thinkskin, kid.

And kid? lol, nobody has called me a kid in 20 years...thank you.

Note that I won my sentence challenge, a pretty conclusive victory.

[luke]

contractions are fine


also, for fun

[Sra]

"At my peril?"  You know Freak, you've struck me before as a bit of twit.

My "friend," Bryan Garner, wrote The Redbook.  If you haven't heard of him, you're entirely unqualified to talk about legal writing.

Yeah, Bryan Garner is awesome! I love his books. It's so nice to read the writing of a lawyer who actually knows how to write well. Even though he's an advocate of Plain English, the important thing that he emphasizes in his books is that writing plainly is not the same thing as dumbing down the language. Still, though legal writing may be difficult, that doesn't mean it can't be done well. There is beauty in clear, concise language.

I like to think about Stephen Hawking when I think about plain language. He takes very difficult concepts and expresses them in ways that make them accessible to everyday folk. I think being able to express yourself plainly is a good sign that you actually understand what you are trying to say.

Here's to writing legal plainly!