Photo credit: Flickr/Yusuf C

Good morning,

We have talked in the past about how important our first impression needs to be with a potential client. Spelling and writing errors can play a large role in that. NALS has some survival tips on avoiding these errors. Read about it below.

“Survivor Tips: Avoiding Spelling and Writing Errors

One of the more common laments of seasoned professionals is the very apparent lack of writing skills of the young professional.

Law is all about the written word and if you are new to the legal profession, the best advice I can give you is to review and brush up on your grammar and writing skills. Nothing screeches “poor communicator” like incorrect verb usage, improper punctuation, rambling sentences, or spelling errors.

First let’s talk about Spelling. While the spell-check feature is a wonderful tool, it should not be relied upon for the final editing of a written document. Spell-check will not pick up the error when you use incorrect, but correctly spelled, words. To notice those types of errors, you must proofread carefully. There are various books and online tips available to increase your editing skills, but here are some fast rules that will immediately help:

• Do not review on the computer; use a hard copy.
• Read your work quietly, but out loud, reading each word exactly as typed.
• Read the text first; then the headings.
• Double check the easy words that are often interchanged (such as “of,” “or,” “it,” and “is”).
• Keep a list of your most common mistakes to be acutely aware of those errors.
• Double check sentences you believe are absolutely correct. We lose vigilance and become complacent when we are “certain” something is correct.
• Find and rely upon someone with sharp editing skills to proof your documents.

Effective Writing Skills

Suppose you’ve been given a research assignment and must prepare a memorandum. There are four basic components to writing a memorandum: (i) the assignment; (ii) the legal issues; (iii) the law; and (iv) the conclusion. Further, there are three simple rules for effective and efficient communication in any form: clarity, brevity, and simplicity.

Be clear in your writing and avoid ambiguity. Your writing has a purpose and you want to be sure your meaning is easily understood.

Being brief means removing unnecessary text, jargon, and convoluted sentences. However, do not use “text speak.” Use precise words that grab the attention of the reader and provide a clear and concise message.

Simple writing does not mean “dumbing-down” your message; rather, it means writing short, powerful sentences containing action verbs which have a greater impact upon the reader. Be careful when using complicated multi-syllable words – it will force the reader to work too hard to understand the meaning of your message.

It is not difficult to be a good speller or an excellent writer, but it does take practice and periodic review of the rules.

NALS uses The Gregg Reference Manual by William A. Sabin as the official reference for the Written Communications sections of the ALS, PLS, and PP certification exams. My copy, as well as a dictionary and thesaurus, sit prominently on my desk and are used every day. Investing in these references will aid you in updating your writing and spelling skills….”