“Need Not”
Dear Legal Writer, Next time you’re trying to cut words or add some punch, try this:
Replace “is not required to” with “need not.”
For example:
Instead of: “The defendant is not required to disprove the plaintiff’s claims.”
Try: “The defendant need not disprove the plaintiff’s claims.”
This edit is now a current favorite of mine, as I only recently discovered it.
What’s one of your recent, favorite ways to chop words?
Fondly,
Amanda
All past posts are also on my website, Dear1L dot com.
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