Dear Legal Writer, Lawyers play WAY too fast and loose with “clearly.”

You should banish the word from your vocabulary—especially in a brief.

ORIG:        Plaintiff is clearly wrong.  👎

REV:         Plaintiff is wrong.  ✅

The second one lands harder.

Here’s why:

Like every adverb, “clearly” is hollow. It proves nothing.

-Saying something is "clear" won't make a court think it's clear.
-Saying your opponent is "clearly" wrong won't make a court think they're wrong.

So the word does zero work, yet it risks real damage:

🔻 It makes the judge feel like an idiot—if the judge doesn't see it as clear.

🔻 It raises your burden. The law requires sufficiency, not obviousness. Don't raise your own bar.

🔻 It erodes your credibility. It implies anyone who disagrees is obtuse. Risky, with a judge.

🔻 And it can backfire. "Clearly" sounds like you’re shouting, not arguing. And shouting never accomplished anything.

So banish “clearly.”

Show it.
Don't shout it.

💌 Amanda

#DearLegalWriter