I’ve Never Understood Red Ink

I’ve never understood why partners use red ink when marking up junior lawyers’ drafts.

To me, marking edits in red ink is like using ALLCAPS in an email.

Where ALLCAPS signifies shouting, red ink signifies barking.

The result is a bloody butchering of the pages:
—> the draft looks like a crime scene,
—> the junior lawyer feels skewered.

That takes a toll on firm morale.

Why not use a less draconian color?

I find a bright pen in green or pink works just as well as red to delineate suggested edits clearly—without the casualties.

(And yes, you CAN change the color from red in MS “Track Changes.”)

👉 It’s just one small change partners can make to improve associate morale.

Am I wrong? Is there some business reason why it needs to be called “redlining”?

💌 Amanda
#DearLegalWriter

🗳️ Less barking edits. More offering suggestions.

Less redlining. More greenlining?