This document discusses distinctive features of contracts and provides examples of formal legal expressions and compound words commonly found in contracts. It notes that contracts often use difficult, long-winded language without punctuation, unusual word order, too many words including old-fashioned terms, repetition, passive voice and technical legal terms. It provides examples of common phrases in contracts and defines legal terms. Finally, it outlines the typical structure of a contract and lists sources for more information on contract language.

1. TOLES SEMINAR. Unit 6
Understanding Contracts.
BY: Adela Perez del Viso
Universidad Católica de Cuyo.

2. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF A CONTRACT
 DIFFERENT AND MORE DIFFICULT LANGUAGE
 VERY LONG SENTENCES. A SENTENCE MAY CONTAIN 100 WORDS
 NO PUNCTUATION
 UNUSUAL STRUCTURES. SOMETIMES VERBS, NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES GO IN A DIFFERENT
ORDER
 TOO MANY WORDS.
 WORDS THAT PEOPLE DO NOT USE BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD –FASHIONED.
 LIST AND REPETITION OF SYNONYMS OR WORDS.
 USE OF PASSIVE VOICE.
 USE OF TECHNICAL (LEGAL) WORDS RELATED TO CERTAIN AREA OF THE LAW.

4. SOME FORMAL EXPRESSIONS on a
Contract:
 “in the near future”
 “at the present time”.
 “in the event of”
 “during such time as”
 “until such time as”
 “due to the fact that”
 “not less tan”…

5. What do these words mean?
“in effect”
“trading”
“notice”
“to take place”
“a remedy”
To come into
force
 A solution for a breach of
contract to compensate
the innocent party
 In operation or in force.
Valid.
 To begin to have legal
effect
 To happen, to occur
 Operating as a business
 Warning that something
is going to happen in the
future.

6. COMPOUND WORDS (legal compound
adverbs and connectors)
“There… “:
A Thereto Of it /them
B Thereon On it/ them
C Thereof To it /that
D Therewith For it/that
E Therefor With that
F therein In or into a particular place or thing
Each partner shall maintain both an individual drowing and capial account; into the capital account shall
be placed that partner´s initial capitalisation and any increases thereto.
Every issuer must comply in all respects with the provisions, including all filing and notice deadlines
therein.

7. COMPOUND WORDS (legal compound
adverbs and connectors)
“Here “ and “There
There is a particular category of archaic words quite common in contracts. They start with HERE or
THERE, followed by a preposition.
Examples would be “HEREIN” or “THEREON”.
The HERE words usually mean IN THIS DOCUMENT . In a contract it could mean “IN THIS
CONTRACT”.
The THERE words refer to somethig that the writer mentioned before now.
Examples:
The persons HEREON named: The people named later in this document.
The sum of money borrowed and the interest THEREON shall be paid in full on 5 june.
The Word THEREON , here, means “ON THE SUM OF MONEY BORROWED”.

8. The structure of a contract
THE PARTIES
THE RECITALS (background to the contract and reasons to
enter the contract)
THE DEFINITIONS SECTION
THE OPERATIVE PROVISIONS
DELIVERY OF GOODS AND SERVICES..
--A template
--To draft from scratch; to draft a checklist; a second
draft.

9. SOURCES
 Mason Catherine. The lawyer´s English language coursebook.
 Krois-Lindner and Translegal. International Legal English 2nd. Edition.