What are the common sentence structure errors made in legal writing?

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What are the common sentence structure errors made in legal writing?

In legal writing, there are several common sentence structure errors that are often made. These errors can affect the clarity and effectiveness of the written document. Some of the most common sentence structure errors in legal writing include:

1. Run-on sentences: This occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined together without proper punctuation or conjunctions. Run-on sentences can make the writing confusing and difficult to understand. To correct this error, it is important to separate the independent clauses into separate sentences or use appropriate punctuation and conjunctions to join them.

Example of a run-on sentence: The defendant was charged with theft he pleaded not guilty.

Corrected sentence: The defendant was charged with theft. He pleaded not guilty.

2. Sentence fragments: A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, verb, or both. This error can make the writing appear disjointed and incomplete. To fix sentence fragments, it is necessary to ensure that each sentence has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Example of a sentence fragment: Due to the evidence presented.

Corrected sentence: Due to the evidence presented, the jury reached a verdict.

3. Lack of parallel structure: Parallel structure refers to the consistent use of grammatical forms within a sentence or a series of sentences. When parallel structure is not maintained, it can create confusion and disrupt the flow of the writing. To maintain parallel structure, it is important to ensure that similar grammatical forms are used for similar ideas or elements within a sentence.

Example of lack of parallel structure: The attorney was skilled at writing briefs, arguing persuasively, and to negotiate effectively.

Corrected sentence: The attorney was skilled at writing briefs, arguing persuasively, and negotiating effectively.

4. Misplaced modifiers: A misplaced modifier occurs when a word or phrase is placed too far away from the word it is intended to modify, resulting in confusion or ambiguity. To correct this error, it is important to place the modifier as close as possible to the word it is modifying.

Example of a misplaced modifier: The judge sentenced the defendant to five years in prison, who was found guilty of fraud.

Corrected sentence: The judge, who was found guilty of fraud, sentenced the defendant to five years in prison.

5. Lack of subject-verb agreement: Subject-verb agreement refers to the need for a subject and verb to agree in number (singular or plural). When there is a lack of subject-verb agreement, it can create confusion and make the writing grammatically incorrect. To ensure subject-verb agreement, it is important to use a singular verb with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject.

Example of lack of subject-verb agreement: The jury was divided in their opinions.

Corrected sentence: The jury was divided in its opinions.

By being aware of these common sentence structure errors and taking the time to review and revise your legal writing, you can improve the clarity and effectiveness of your written documents.