This document discusses avoiding compound constructions in legal writing. It provides examples of common compound prepositions and conjunctions that can be replaced with simpler one- or two-word alternatives, such as "by" instead of "by means of" and "if" instead of "in the event that". Readers are advised to replace noun sandwiches like preposition-noun-preposition with clearer single words and identify other wordy phrases legal documents. Sample sentences are rewritten to demonstrate stripping out unnecessary compound terms.

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2. ‫يال‬
‫درافتنج‬
DRAFTING
PLAIN
ENGLISH FOR
LAWYERS
LECTURE 2
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3. Avoid
Compound
Constructions
lecture2
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4. Introduction
Compound constructions use
three or four words to do the
work
of one or two words.
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5. Many excess glue words are
compound prepositions and
compound subordinating
conjunctions.
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6. Both prepositions and
conjunctions are, by definition,
glue words because they connect
parts of a sentence. Prepositions
connect nouns and pronouns to
the rest of a sentence.
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7. Conjunctions connect like items, as in
“bread and butter.” A subordinating
conjunction connects a dependent
clause to an independent clause, as in
this example: “The judge will stay the
proceedings if the parties agree to
mediation.” Here, if the parties agree
to mediation is a dependent clause,
and if is a subordinating conjunction.
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8. Every time you see one of
these pests on your page,
swat it.Grammar checking
software may flag compound
constructions
for you.
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9. You can spot many of them yourself by
watching for
noun sandwiches: preposition-noun-
preposition and preposition noun-
that phrases. One or two words will
often do instead.
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10. For
example, the noun sandwich by-
means-of is a compound
preposition that can be shortened to
by. Another, in-the-event that,
can be shortened to the subordinating
conjunction if.
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11. Here is a list of examples:
COMPOUND SIMPLE
by means of by
by reason of because of
by virtue of by, under
for the purpose of to
in accordance with by, under
inas much as since, because
in connection with with, about, concerning
in favor of for
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12. in order to to
in relation to about, concerning
in the event that if
in the nature of like
on the ground that because
prior to before
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13. COMPOUND SIMPLE
subsequent to after
with a view to to
with reference, regard,
about, concerning,
respect to regarding
respecting
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14. Exercise 2
Use one or two words to
replace the compound
constructions in
these sentences.
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15. 1-For the purpose of controlling
how his art collection could be
displayed subsequent to his
death, the doctor created a very
restrictive trust with a view to
keeping everything exactly as
it was during his lifetime.
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16. 1. To control how his art
collection could be displayed
after his death, the
doctor created a very
restrictive trust, hoping to keep
everything exactly as it
was during his lifetime.
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17. 2. In relation to the enormous
charitable gift deduction claimed
by the taxpayer, inasmuch as she
failed to submit an appraiser's report
with reference to the donated bronze
sculpture, we propose to disallow the
deduction in accordance with the
Revenue Department's standard
operating procedure.
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18. Concerning the taxpayer's enormous
charitable gift deduction, she did not
submit an appraisal of the donated
bronze sculpture. Therefore, we
propose to disallow the deduction, as
the Revenue Department's standard
operatingprocedure requires.
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19. 3. The relief sought by plaintiff
in connection with this case is
in the nature of a mandatory
injunction. Prior to the merger
of law and equity, only a court
of Chancery could grant such
relief.
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20. 3. The plaintiff seeks relief similar
to a mandatory injunction. Before
the merger of law and equity, only
a court of Chancery could grant
that kind of relief.
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21. 4. In order to raise funds, the
charity's organizers held a
silent auction on the ground
that a game of chance would
not be permitted by virtue of
state gaming law.
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22. 4. To raise funds, the charity's
organizers held a silent auction
because a game of chance
would not be permitted by state
gaming law.
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23. Avoid Word-Wasting
Expressions
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