在正式写作中，应当避免使用缩写，除非有下述规则2、规则3和规则4的情形。
Informalwriting,oneshouldnotuseabbreviations,exceptasindicatedinrules2,3,and4below.
例如：
Incorrect:TheU.S.SupremeCourtheldthatthedefendant\'srightshadbeenviolated.
Correct:TheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtheldthatthedefendant\'srightshadbeenviolated.
Incorrect:ProfessorJonasmentionedseveralcitiesthathavedomestic-partnershipordinances,e.g.,NewYorkandSanFrancisco.
Correct:ProfessorJonasmentionedseveralcitiesthathavedomestic-partnershipordinances,includingNewYorkandSanFrancisco.
Incorrect:TheCourtannounceditsdecisioninthecaseonOct.12,1994.
Correct:TheCourtannounceditsdecisioninthecaseonOctober12,1994.
规则2、
如果一个缩写的应用已经非常普遍，在一般用法中已经取代了全称，则可以使用缩写；但使用此缩写时不应该使用表示缩写的英文句号（.）。
Whenanabbreviationhasbecomesocommonthatithassupplantedthefullnameincommonusage,onemayusetheabbreviation;however,oneshoulddosowithouttheuseofperiods.
Incorrect:TheN.A.A.C.P.wasthesubjectofaprofileonC.B.S.lastweek.
Correct:TheNAACPwasthesubjectofaprofileonCBSlastweek.
（注：NAACPabbr.NationalAssociationfortheAdvancementofColoredPeople(美国)全国有色人种协进会，CBSabbr.（美国）哥伦比亚广播公司(ColumbiaBroadcastingSystem)）
However:ThedefendantinthecaseisR.J.ReynoldsIndustries,Inc.
Noticethatintheprecedingexample,thepointsafter\"R\"and\"J\"shouldbeleftin,becausethemeaningoftheabbreviationisnotsufficientlywellknowntomostreaders.Ordinarily,onewouldreplacesuchanabbreviationwiththefullterms;however,onecannotdosointhiscasebecausethelegalcorporatenameinvolvedincludestheabbreviation.
规则3、
当使用legalcitation时，一定要按照Bluebook（见译注）的要求来缩写。但在行文中提及法院时，不应用缩写。
Whenwritinglegalcitations,alwaysusetheabbreviationsrequiredbytheBluebook.However,whenreferringtoacourtintext,donotabbreviate.Forexample:
Incorrect:TheIll.SupremeCourtrequiredthereturnofthechildtohisbirthmother.Smithsonv.Bettaglia,59Illinois2d73,180NortheastReporter2d754(1994).
Correct:TheIllinoisSupremeCourtrequiredthereturnofthechildtohisbirthmother.Smithsonv.Bettaglia,59Ill.2d73,180N.E.2d754(1994).
规则4、
Whenreferringtoacorporateentitythathasoneormoreabbreviationsaspartofitslegalname,suchasR.J.ReynoldsIndustries,Inc.,leavetheabbreviationsinthename.Donotspellouttheabbreviationunlessthecorporationitselfspellsitout,whichsomedo(forexample,ExxonShippingCompany).Thisruleappliestoallofthevariousformsofcorporatedesignations,includingCo.,Corp.,Inc.,andLtd.
Incorrect:McDermottInternational,Incorporated
Correct:McDermottInternational,Inc.
二、缩略符
在四种情形下使用或不使用缩略符容易引起混淆，分别是（1）复数词（2）单数所有格（3）复数所有格和（4）it\'s和its的缩写形式（Contractions，seecrossreferencehereunder）与所有格。是否使用所有格，要先问问自己是否涉及领有关系。如果是领有关系，名词或带词就要采取所有格。
规则1、Plainpluralwordsdonotrequiretheuseofanapostrophe.Forexample:
Incorrect:Thelawyer\'scouldgenerallybefoundafterhoursattheHanoverStreetBarandGrill.(Theapostrophehereincorrectlyindicatesasingularpossessive.)
Incorrect:Thelawyers\'couldgenerallybefoundafterhoursattheHanoverStreetBarandGrill.(Theapostrophehereincorrectlyindicatesapluralpossessive.)
Correct:ThelawyerscouldgenerallybefoundafterhoursattheHanoverStreetBarandGrill.(Thelackofanapostropheherecorrectlyindicatesaplural,nonpossessiveterm.)
规则2、Insingularpossessiveterms,placetheapostrophebeforethe\"s.\"Thiswillindicateownershipbyonepersonorthing.Forexample:
Incorrect:OurschoolscollectionincludedanoriginalsetofBlackstone\'sCommentaries.
Incorrect:Ourschools\'collectionincludedanoriginalsetofBlackstone\'sCommentaries.[page]
Correct:Ourschool\'scollectionincludedanoriginalsetofBlackstone\'sCommentaries.
规则3、Inpluralpossessiveterms,placetheapostropheafterthe\"s.\"Thiswillindicatetothereaderthatmorethanonepersonorthingownsthethingpossessed.
Incorrect:Thestudentssuccesswaslargelyattributabletotheirhardworkanddedication.
Incorrect:Thestudent\'ssuccesswaslargelyattributabletotheirhardworkanddedication.
Correct:Thestudents\'successwaslargelyattributabletotheirhardworkanddedication.
规则4、Howtodistinguish\"its\"and\"it\'s.\"
\"It\'s\"isthecontractionof\"itis,\"asinthesentence,\"It\'sbestnottoquestionthejudge\'sknowledgeofthelawsofevidenceinopencourt.\"Informalwriting,however,onegenerallyshouldnotusecontractions.Thus,thebetterformulationofthesentenceabovewouldbe:\"Itisbestnottoquestionthejudge\'sknowledgeofthelawsofevidenceinopencourt.\"
\"Its\"isapossessive,asinthesentence,\"Thetrucklostitsmufflerasitenteredthepothole-ladenKennedyExpressway.\"Thisistherarecaseinwhichapossessivetermdoesnottakeanapostrophe.
规则5、Aless-oftenfaceddecisioninvolvestheuseofapostropheswheremultipleownersarenamed.Wheretwoormorepeopleownoneitemjointly,placeanapostrophebeforean\"s\"onlyafterthesecond-namedperson.Forexample:
Incorrect:Bill\'sandMary\'scarwasalemon,leadingthemtoseekrescissionoftheircontractunderthestate\'slemonlaw.
Correct:BillandMary\'scarwasalemon,leadingthemtoseekrescissionoftheircontractunderthestate\'slemonlaw.
However,whentwoormorepeopleowntwoormoreitemsseparately,eachindividual\'snameshouldtakethepossessiveform.Forexample:
Incorrect:JoanneandTodd\'scarswereboughtfromthesamedealer;bothproveduseless,eventhoughJoanne\'scarwasanimportandTodd\'swasadomesticmodel.
Correct:Joanne\'sandTodd\'scarswereboughtfromthesamedealer;bothproveduseless,eventhoughJoanne\'scarwasanimportandTodd\'swasadomesticmodel.
规则6、Whencreatingthepossessiveformofwordsendingin\"s,\"useonlyanapostropheafterthe\"s\"ifthewordendsina\"z\"sound.However,ifthewordendsinan\"s\"sounduseanapostropheandanadditional\"s\"tocreatethepossessive.
LessDesirable:HewasastudentinProfessorAdams\'sclass.
MoreDesirable:HewasastudentinProfessorAdams\'class.
However:HewasastudentinProfessorWeiss\'sclass.
CrossReference:Contractions缩约词，通过省略或结合一个较长短语中的某些音素而形成的词，如从willnot来的won\'t，或短语如从oftheclock来的o\'clock。
译注：apostrophe
省略符号,撇号(\')[用于①表示省略,如:can\'t,(=cannot);\'88(=1988)②表示所有格,如boy\'s;James\'③表示复数,如two0\'s,four9\'s④表示年代,如the1980\'s(读作thenineteeneighties)20世纪80年代⑤表示一字中的某一音不发,如:\'lectric(=electric)]
三、冠词
Incorrect:Policeofficermovedevidencetoavoiddisappearancefromcrimescene.
Correct:Thepoliceofficemovedtheevidencetoavoiditsdisappearancefromthecrimescene.
Incorrect:Abrams,officerondutyattimeofcrime,testifiedagainstdefendant,JoannaStone.
Correct:Abrams,theofficerondutyatthetimeofthecrime,testifiedagainstthedefendant,JoannaStone.
2发元音和发辅音。如何选用“a”和“an”。原则很简单：以辅音开头的名词前用a，以元音开头的名词前用“an”。在第三点中将讨论稍难些的问题－如何处理元音发音和辅音发音。
Incorrect:Thejudgehadangavel,andheuseditfrequently.
Correct:Thejudgehadagavel,andheuseditfrequently.
Incorrect:Thejudgehadaelephantinhercourtroom,thoughnobodynoticed.
Correct:Thejudgehadanelephantinhercourtroom,thoughnobodynoticed.
3元音发音开头和辅音发音开头。
有时一个单词以辅音开头，但听起来象以元音开头（即，发元音），这些单词在选用冠词时应被看作是以元音开头。这些单词多以“h”打头（例如hour和heir），但是如果该辅音发声（发声的辅音），就应象其它辅音一样选用冠词“a”。从而，单词“heir”以元音发音开头，单词“hotel”以辅音发音开头。
下面举个辅音开头发元音选用冠词的例子。
Incorrect:Thejudgegavethelawyersahour\'srecesstoreviewthenewevidence.
Correct:Thejudgegavethelawyersanhour\'srecesstoreviewthenewevidence.
下面举个辅音开头发辅音选用冠词的例子。
Incorrect:Theprofessorwaswellknownforposinganhypotheticalquestionwhenstudentssuggestedthatonerulewouldsufficeforallsituations.[page]
Correct:Theprofessorwaswellknownforposingahypotheticalquestionwhenstudentssuggestedthatonerulewouldsufficeforallsituations.
四、括号
1在引语中插入你自己选用的单词时，该单词使用括号。
Incorrect:Theprofessorsaidthat\"FrankfurterevolvedfromliberaltoconservativewhileontheSupremeCourt(and)Blackmunevolvedfromconservativetoliberal.\"
Correct:Theprofessorsaidthat\"FrankfurterevolvedfromliberaltoconservativewhileontheSupremeCourt[and]Blackmunevolvedfromconservativetoliberal.\"
2为表示你在引语中改变了一个单词的一部分时，该部分使用括号。此类情形通常发生在为合并引语和你自己的句子时，要把大写字母变小写字母，反之亦然。
引语:
\"Excessivebailshallnotberequired,norexcessivefinesimposed,norcruelandunusualpunishmentsinflicted.\"U.S.Const.amend.VIII.
不正确合并:
TheEighthAmendmentprovidesthat\"Excessivebailshallnotberequired,norexcessivefinesimposed,norcruelandunusualpunishmentsinflicted.\"U.S.Const.amend.VIII.
正确合并:
TheEighthAmendmentprovidesthat\"[e]xcessivebailshallnotberequired,norexcessivefinesimposed,norcruelandunusualpunishmentsinflicted.\"U.S.Const.amend.VIII.
五、限制性从句与非限制性从句Clauses-RestrictiveandNonrestrictive
1.RestrictiveandNonrestrictiveClausesDefined.Restrictiveclauseslimitthepossiblemeaningofaprecedingsubject.Nonrestrictiveclausestellyousomethingaboutaprecedingsubject,buttheydonotlimit,orrestrict,themeaningofthatsubject.Comparethefollowingexamples.
CorrectRestrictiveUse:
Thesuspectinthelineupwhohasredhaircommittedthecrime.
Notehowthesubject\"suspect\"inthissentenceisrestrictedintwoways:weknowthatthissuspectisbothinthelineupandhasredhair.Asaresult,weknowthattheothersuspects,whoarenotinthelineup,couldnothavecommittedthecrime.Moreover,ofthosesuspectsinthelineup,weknowthattheonesuspectinthelineupwithredhaircommittedthecrime.Ifthereweremorethanonesuspectinthelineupwithredhair,theaboveusagewouldbeincorrectbecauseitimpliesadifferentmeaning.
CorrectNonrestrictiveUse:
Thesuspectinthelineup,whoownsaredcar,committedthecrime.
Inthisexample,therestrictiveclause\"inthelineup\"tellsusthatofallpossiblesuspectsintheworld,theonewhocommittedthecrimeisinthelineup.However,whilethenonrestrictiveclause\"whoownsaredcar\"tellsussomethingaboutthesuspect,itdoesnotforeclosethepossibilitythatthereareseveraldifferentsuspectsinthelineupwithredcars.Thecarcolormaytellussomethinguseful,butitdoesnotrestrictustoonlyonepossibility.
在例句中，限制语inthelineup告诉我们，在所有可能的嫌疑犯中，参与犯罪的嫌疑犯在队列中。尽管非限制性从句whoownsaredcar告诉了我们关于嫌疑犯的若干资料，但是并不能排除在队列中其它嫌疑犯也拥有redcar。车身的颜色可能告诉我们一些有用的东西，但无法限定到仅仅一种可能。
2.Whenchoosingbetween\"that\"and\"which,\"use\"that\"tointroducearestrictiveclauseand\"which\"tointroduceanonrestrictiveclause.Althoughsomewritersuse\"which\"tointroducearestrictiveclause,thetraditionalpracticeistouse\"that\"tointroducearestrictiveclauseand\"which\"tointroduceanonrestrictiveclause.Whenwritingarestrictiveclause,donotplaceacommabefore\"that.\"Whenwritinganonrestrictiveclause,doplaceacommabefore\"which.\"
尽管有些作者用which来引入限制性从句，但是传统用法还是用that来引入限制性从句，而用which来引入非限制性从句。使用限制性从句时，that前一定不要用逗号，而使用非限制性从句时，which前一定要用逗号。
Thestorehonoredthecomplaintsthatwerelessthan60daysold.
Thestorehonoredthecomplaints,whichwerelessthan60daysold.
Thesesentenceshavedifferentmeaningsaswellasdifferentpunctuation.Intherestrictivesentence,thestorehonoredonlythosecomplaintslessthan60daysold,butnotthoseover60daysold.Inthenonrestrictivesentence,thestorehonoredallthecomplaints,allofwhichwerelessthan60daysold.
这两个句子含义不同，所用标点也不同。在限制性从句中，商店只处理不超过60天的投诉；而在非限制性从句中，商店处理了所有的投诉，这些投诉都是60天内发生的。
3.Placeproperpunctuationaroundnonrestrictiveclauses,butdonotplacepunctuationaroundrestrictiveclauses.Whenanonrestrictiveclauseappearsinthemiddleofasentence,placecommasaroundit.Whenanonrestrictiveclauseappearsattheendofasentence,placeacommabeforeitandaperiodafterit.Donotpunctuaterestrictiveclauses.[page]
在非限制性从句中可以使用标点，但在限制性从句中则不可以使用。当非限制性成分在句子中间出现时，应当在它前面和后面加逗号。当非限制性成分出现在句末时，在它前面加逗号，后面加句号。不要在限制性从句中使用标点。
CorrectPunctuationofNonrestrictiveClause:
The1964FordMustang,whichpropelledLeeIacoccatothetopoftheautomobileindustry,isnowconsideredaclassic.
Thecreditcardisinmywallet,whichyoucanfindinthekitchendrawer.
CorrectPunctuationofRestrictiveClause:
TheboatthatsailedonOctober25istheonetowhichwereferredinthecontract.
六、口语（表达）Colloquialisms
法律文书是一种正式的文书。其首要目的就是清楚而有效地沟通观点。偶尔运用修辞性的华丽词藻有助于强调观点，尤其在论述性文书中。但是千万不要因用了华丽的表达而丢掉或混淆了重要的法律观点。观点重要性远大于表达形式。同样，写作不要象说话一样。英语口语中我们经常用生动的或是口语化的短语，这在书面英语中是不合时宜的。写作中一定不要用这些短语，要代之以准确的语言。
Incorrect:Onarrivingatthesceneofthecrime,theofficertoreupthestairsinsearchofthebigenchilada.
Correct:Onarrivingatthesceneofthecrime,theofficerranupthestairsinsearchoftheleaderofthecrimesyndicate.
前述例子中，口语短语\"toreupthestairs\"和\"bigenchilada\"有多个意思。所以，越准确语言越恰当。
Incorrect:OnDecember12,1992,Ms.DeWittkickedthebucket.
AlsoIncorrect:OnDecember12,1992,Ms.DeWittpassedontoherheavenlyreward.
Better:Ms.DeWittdiedonDecember12,1992.
前述例子中，第一个不恰当的句子含俚语，通常这在法律文书或其它正式文书中都不合时宜。第二个不恰当的例子避免了俚语，但走到另一个极端，有失简洁。
七、冒号
1一句话中在“suchas\"\"including\"和\"forexample\"短语后不用冒号。因为这些短语已提示读者接下来会举一些例子，没有必要再用冒号引出例子了，那样只是多此一举。
Incorrect:Shehadalltheskillsofagreatlitigator,suchas:writingability,perseverance,persuasiveness,andobsessiveattentiontodetail.
Correct:Shehadalltheskillsofagreatlitigator,suchaswritingability,perseverance,persuasiveness,andobsessiveattentiontodetail.
2介词（例如“in”）或副词后不用冒号列举。
Incorrect:Thenewlawstudentexcelledin:CriminalLaw,LegalWriting,andTorts.
Correct:ThenewlawstudentexcelledinCriminalLaw,LegalWriting,andTorts.
Incorrect:Thelitigationtacticsmostdislikedbythejudgeare:discriminatoryuseofperemptorychallenges,indiscriminateuseofdocumentrequestsduringdiscovery,andtheintroductionoffrivolousmotionsasdelayingtactics.
Correct:Thelitigationtacticsmostdislikedbythejudgearediscriminatoryuseofperemptorychallenges,indiscriminateuseofdocumentrequestsduringdiscovery,andtheintroductionoffrivolousmotionsasdelayingtactics.
3如果不违反上述规则1或者规则2，则用冒号引出例子或解释。
CorrectUsetoIntroduceaList:
Thestorecarriedalltheitemsthenewjudgeneeded:gavels,judicialrobes,casereporters,andcomputers.
CorrectUseasanExplanatoryTool:
Therestaurantservedthetypeoffoodmostpreferredbylawyers:redmeat.
4当重申一个观点时，用冒号。如果跟在冒号后的是一个完整句子，则开头字母大写，反之，跟在冒号后的是从句或短语，则开头字母不大写。
Correct:Thewritingwasbrilliant:Itwasclear,concise,andanalyticallycorrect.
Incorrect:Thewritingwasbrilliant:clear,concise,andanalyticallycorrect.
八、Commas
逗号的用法是正确运用标点过程中最复杂，最容易产生误解的问题之一。在一些情形中，存在着被广泛接受的用法。然而在另一些情况下，却有不只一种用法。学生常常认为，担心标点的用法有点可笑：毕竟，法律分析才是最重要的呀。但是，假如一个人申请一份工作或向上级提交书面报告，没有什么会比忽视标点运用基本规则更容易给人留下负面印象的了。毕竟，一位高级律师是决不会愿意去更正一位初级律师的逗号的用法的。
Commausageisoneofthemostcomplex,andmostmisunderstood,questionsofproperpunctuation.Insomecasestherearewidelyacceptedrulesgoverningcommausage;inafewcases,thereismorethanoneacceptableapproach.Studentsoftenthinkit\'ssillytoworryaboutthingssuchaspunctuation:afterall,isn\'tthelegalanalysiswhatreallycountsHowever,whenoneappliesforajoborsubmitswrittenworktoasupervisor,nothingwillleaveamorenegativeimpressionthanignoranceofthebasicrulesofpunctuation.Afterall,thelastthingaseniorattorneywantstodoiscorrectajuniorattorney\'scommausage.
1.
当你用一个短语或从属分句开始一个句子，并随后引入一个独立分句时，用逗号分隔。
Whenyoubeginasentencewithaphraseordependentclausetointroduceasubsequentindependentclause,separatetheclauseswithacomma.
Incorrect:Aftermanyyearsasacriminalprosecutorsheascendedtothebench.[page]
Correct:Aftermanyyearsasacriminalprosecutor,sheascendedtothebench.
Incorrect:Becausethewitnesswasunavailablethejudgeallowedtheintroductionofthetestimonypursuanttoanexceptiontothehearsayrule.
Correct:Becausethewitnesswasunavailable,thejudgeallowedtheintroductionofthetestimonypursuanttoanexceptiontothehearsayrule.
2.用逗号分隔非限制性从句，但不要用逗号分隔非限制性从句。
非限制性从句告诉你关于句子主语的某些事情，但并不对其含义进行限定；相反，限制性从句对主语的含义进行限定。
Usecommastosetoffanonrestrictiveclauseinthemiddleofasentence,butnottosetoffarestrictiveclause.Nonrestrictiveclausestellyousomethingaboutthesubjectofasentence,buttheydonotlimit,orrestrict,themeaning.Restrictiveclauses,ontheotherhand,limitthepossiblemeaningofthesubject.
omparethefollowingexamples.
3.用两个逗号来分隔同位语或插入语。同位语是对它所跟随的名词进行描述的单词或短语，插入语告诉我们关于某个名词的一些事情，但对阐述该名词并不重要。
Usetwocommastosetoffanappositiveoranasideinthemidstofasentence.Anappositiveisawordorphrasethatdescribesanounitfollows.Anasidetellsussomethingaboutthenoun,butisnotessentialtodefiningthenoun.
CorrectUsewithanAppositive:
Thepolicechief,WilliamA.Bendofsky,isanauthorityontheuseofroadblockstoprotectneighborhoodsfromdrive-byshootings.
CorrectUsewithanAside:
Thepretrialphaseofthelitigation,likeallpretrialwork,lastedlongerthanthetrialitself.
4.用两个逗号，而不是一个，来分隔非限制性从句。
Usetwocommas,notone,tosetoffanonrestrictiveclauseinthemiddleofasentence.
Incorrect:Thecity,apolyglotofdifferentracesandreligionsprovidedmanyopportunitiesforculturalexchange.
Correct:Thecity,apolyglotofdifferentracesandreligions,providedmanyopportunitiesforculturalexchange.
5.在过渡性的副词前加逗号。比较常用的副词有accordingly,furthermore,however,moreover,therefore,和thus。
Placeacommaafteratransitionalwordthatintroducesasentence.Thefollowingareexamplesofcommonlyusedtransitionalwords:accordingly,furthermore,however,moreover,therefore,andthus.
Incorrect:Accordinglyhegrantedthemotiontodismiss.
Correct:Accordingly,hegrantedthemotiontodismiss.
Incorrect:Moreoversheconvincedthejudgethatherclienthadbeenoutofstateatthetimeoftheburglary.
Correct:Moreover,sheconvincedthejudgethatherclienthadbeenoutofstateatthetimeoftheburglary.
6.当用逗号来分隔列举的项目时，在名单的最后一个项目之前前的连词前面加逗号。有许多人并不这样做，虽然这种用法比较常见，但这种方式在某些情况下有可能会产生歧义。
Whenusingcommastoseparateitemsinalist,placeacommabeforetheconjunctionthatprecedesthelastseparateiteminthelist,unlessthatlastitemisacompoundterm.Manypeoplearetaughtnottoplaceacommabeforeaconjunctionprecedingthelastiteminalist(suchas,\"red,whiteandblue\").However,whilepopular,thisapproachrunstheriskofcreatingambiguityinanumberofsituations.Considerthefollowing.
Incorrect:Thecarwasavailableinred,white,blackandtan,andspecial-ordercolors.
上例中，如果车子有四种标准颜色可供选择，则逗号的用法不正确，因为这种用法使人以为车子还有一种复合颜色（blackandtan）可供选择。但如果车子只有三种颜色可选，其中一种是复合颜色（blackandtan），那么上述用法就是正确的。
Ifthecarisavailableinfourstandardcolors,thentheaboveusageisincorrect,becauseitimpliesthatblackandtanisone,two-tonecoloroption.However,ifthereareonlythreecoloroptions,oneofwhichisblackandtan,thentheaboveusageiscorrect.[page]
Correct:Thecarwasavailableinred,white,black,andtan,andspecial-ordercolors.
上例中，放在连词and前的逗号使得读者很清楚，车子共有四种标准颜色的款式，避免了由于在连词and前不加逗号所产生的歧义。
Theuseofthecommabeforethefirstconjunctioninthissentencemakesitclearthattherearefourstandardcoloroptions,avoidingtheambiguitycreatedinthefirstexamplebytheabsenceofacommabefore\"andtan.\"
7.如果有两个形容词一起修饰一个名词时，使用逗号分隔这两个形容词。如果这两个形容词中的第一个形容词是用来修饰第二个形容词的，而不是修饰后面的名词，就不要用逗号分隔这两个形容词。
Useacommatoseparatetwoadjectivesthatmodifythesamenoun,butdonotuseacommaifthefirstoftwoadjectivesmodifiesthesecondadjective,butnotthenoun.Inconsideringthischoice,askyourselfwhetherthetwoadjectivescanbereversed.Iftheycan,asinthefirstexamplebelow,separatethemwithacomma.Iftheycannot,asinthesecondexamplebelow,donotuseacomma.
Incorrect:Theonlyapproachtothecitywasbyalongoldhighway.
Correct:Theonlyapproachtothecitywasbyalong,oldhighway.
Incorrect:Thesuspectdrovealight,bluetruck.
Correct:Thesuspectdrovealightbluetruck.
Inthesecondexample,useofacommawouldbeincorrect,since\"light\"modifies\"blue,\"andisthereforenotpartofaseriesofcommasthatmodifytheword\"truck.\"However,ontheoffchancethatthewriterintendedtowritethatthetruckwaslightinweightaswellasblueincolor,thenthefirstusewouldbecorrect.Thus,youcanchangethemeaningofasentence——sometimesinadvertently——byyouruseofcommas.
8.不要用逗号来替代引导词that。
Donotuseacommatoreplacetheword\"that.\"
Incorrect:Thecourtdecided,thereisnoconstitutionalrighttoasecondappeal,exceptbymeansofahabeaspetition.
Correct:Thecourtdecidedthatthereisnoconstitutionalrighttoasecondappeal,exceptbymeansofahabeaspetition.
AlsoCorrect:
Thecourtdecidedthereisnoconstitutionalrighttoasecondappeal,exceptbymeansofahabeaspetition.
Inthesecondcorrectexample,removingtheword\"that\"fromthesentenceisacceptablebecauseitsabsencedoesnotconfusethereader.However,leave\"that\"inasentenceifremovingitwouldcreatesomedoubtinthereader\'smindconcerningwhatthewritermeanttoconvey.
9.不要用逗号分隔一个句子的并列谓语，除非不加逗号会令人费解或是并列谓语的第二部分需要强调。
Asageneralrule,donotuseacommatoseparatethepartsofadoublepredicate,unlessthesentencewouldbeconfusingwithoutit,orthesecondpartofthedoublepredicaterequiresspecialemphasis.Adoublepredicateexistswherethesentencehasonesubjectandtwoverbsrelatedtothatsubject.(Pleasereadrule10ofthissectionaswell.)
Incorrect:Thecustomerfinishedhismeal,andpaidthecheck.
Correct:Thecustomerfinishedhismealandpaidthecheck.
使用逗号分隔并列谓语来强调的例子：
CorrectUseofCommatoCreateEmphasis:
Thedefendanthadbeenemployedasacashierfortwentyyears,andneveroncewasaccusedofstealingmoneyfromtheregister.
Intheprecedingexample,thewritercreatesagreateremphasisonthedefendant\'sinnocencebysettingoffthesecondpartofthedoublepredicatewithacomma.Withoutthecomma,thesecondthoughtseemslikeanafterthought.
使用逗号分隔句子避免歧义的例子：
CorrectUseofCommatoAvoidConfusion:
Thejudgeruledthatsuppressionoftheevidencewasrequiredbecauseithadbeenobtainedillegally,andorderedthedefendantreleasedfromprison.
Inthisexample,thewriteravoidsconfusionbyusingacommatointroducethesecondintheseriesofcompoundverbs;withoutthecomma,onemightnotbesurewhethertheverb\"ordered\"relatedtothesubject\"it\"orthesubject\"thejudge.\"Bycontrast,inthesentenceaboveabouttherestaurantcustomer,thecommaisnotneeded,becauseitisasimplesentence.
10.当用连词连接两个独立从句时，在连词前加逗号。连词包括\"and,\"\"but,\"\"or,\"\"nor,\"和\"yet\"。
Whenjoiningtwoindependentclauseswithaconjunction,placeacommabeforetheconjunction.Conjunctionsincludethewords\"and,\"\"but,\"\"or,\"\"nor,\"and\"yet.\"
Incorrect:Thecustomerateeverypieceoftheapplepieandthewaitressbroughtanotherpie.
Correct:Thecustomerateeverypieceoftheapplepie,andthewaitressbroughtanotherpie.
Intheincorrectexample,thereadermayatfirstthinkthecustomeratethepieandthewaitress.Inthecorrectexample,thecommabeforetheconjunctiontellsthereader,\"Stop,anotherindependentclausewithitsownsubject(thewaitress)isabouttobegin.\"
11.通常，在which前面加逗号，但不要在that前面加逗号。虽然有的作者习惯于用which来引入限制性从句，传统用法是用that来引入限制性从句，用which来引入非限制性从句。在引入限制性从句时，在that前不要加逗号，在引入非限制性从句时，在which前一定要加逗号。[page]
Generally,useacommabefore\"which\"butnotbefore\"that.\"Althoughsomewritersuse\"which\"tointroducearestrictiveclause,thetraditionalpracticeistouse\"that\"tointroducearestrictiveclauseand\"which\"tointroduceanonrestrictiveclause.Whenwritingarestrictiveclause,donotplaceacommabefore\"that.\"Whenwritinganonrestrictiveclause,doplaceacommabefore\"which.\"
Placecommasinside,notoutside,quotationmarks.Followthispracticewhetherornotthecommaispartoftheoriginalquotation.Thegeneralruleisthatcommasandperiodsshouldbeinsidethequotationmarksatalltimes,whileallotherformsofpunctuation,suchasquestionmarks,colons,semicolons,andexclamationpoints,shouldbeoutsidethequotationmarks,unlesstheywerecontainedintheoriginalquotation.
Incorrect:Thecourtheldthat\"physicalinjuryisnotarequiredelementofasexualharassmentclaim\",andtheplaintiffwentontowinhercase.
Correct:Thecourtheldthat\"physicalinjuryisnotarequiredelementofasexualharassmentclaim,\"andtheplaintiffwentontowinhercase.
13.用两个逗号来分隔日期和地点。表述详细日期（年月日）时，或详细的地理位置（如国家，州，城市）时，在最后的项目前后加两个逗号。
Usetwocommaswhensettingoffdatesandplaces.Whenusingafulldate(month,date,year)ormulti-partgeographicaldesignation(suchascityandstateorcityandcountry),usetwocommasaroundthelastpartofthedesignation.
Incorrect:OnJune28,1974JudgeHayestookherseatontheSupremeCourt.
Correct:OnJune28,1974,JudgeHayestookherseatontheSupremeCourt.
However:InJune1974JudgeHayestookherseatontheSupremeCourt.
Incorrect:Laredo,Texaswashostforthe1994WorldRodeoChampionship.
Correct:Laredo,Texas,washostforthe1994WorldRodeoChampionship.
Incorrect:WearrivedinTokyo,JapanforthemeetingoftheG-7leaders.
Correct:WearrivedinTokyo,Japan,forthemeetingoftheG-7leaders.
参考：从属从句和短语；限制性从句和非限制性从句
CrossReferences:DependentClausesandPhrases;Clauses——RestrictiveandNonrestrictive
CompoundAdjectives
九、复合形容词
1.Acompoundadjectiveisformedwhentwoormoreadjectivesworktogethertomodifythesamenoun.Thesetermsshouldbehyphenatedtoavoidconfusionorambiguity.
复合形容词由两个或两个以上的形容词组成用以修饰一个名词。组成复合形容词的每个形容词之间要用连字符连接以避免混淆和词不达意。
Incorrect:Theblackandbluemarksuggestedthathehadbeeninvolvedinanaltercation.
Correct:Theblack-and-bluemarksuggestedthathehadbeeninvolvedinanaltercation.
Incorrect:Herfifteenminutepresentationproveddecisivetotheoutcomeofthecase.
Correct:Herfifteen-minutepresentationproveddecisivetotheoutcomeofthecase.
2.However,combininganadverb(usuallyawordendingin\"ly\")andanadjectivedoesnotcreateacompoundadjective.Nohyphenisrequiredbecauseitisalreadyclearthattheadverbmodifiestheadjectiveratherthanthesubsequentnoun.
但是，副词（通常以“ly”结尾）与形容词组合不能作为复合形容词使用，其间不需使用连字符，因为，显而易见，副词用以修饰形容词而非其后的名词。
Incorrect:Theremarkably-hotdayturnedintoaremarkably-longweek.
Correct:Theremarkablyhotdayturnedintoaremarkablylongweek.
3.Furthermore,youshouldnotplaceahypheninacompoundadjectiveiftheadjectivesarecapitalized,suchaswhentheyarepartofatitle.
Correct:Hisbookwasentitled,\"GenderNeutralLanguageinEnglishUsage,\"anditrevolutionizedthewaypeoplethinkaboutsexroles.
However:Hisbookongender-neutrallanguagerevolutionizedthewaypeoplethinkaboutsexroles.
Correct:ThestudentswereparticipantsinChicago-Kent\'svauntedLegalResearchandWritingProgram.
同样正确
Thestudentdecidedtoattendaschoolwithagoodlegal-research-and-writingprogram.Notethatinthisexample,thereferenceistoatypeofprogram,ratherthanaspecificprogram,andsotheuseofhyphensisproper.[page]
十、缩写Contractions
1.Avoidusingcontractionsinformalwriting.Acontractionisacombinationoftwowordsasone,suchas\"don\'t,\"\"can\'t,\"and\"isn\'t.\"Theuseofcontractionsisinappropriateinformallegalwriting.Replacethemwiththetwo-wordversionofthecontraction.
在正式写作中应避免使用缩写形式。缩写即是将两个词合二为一，比如\"don\'t,\"\"can\'t,\"和\"isn\'t\"。在正式的法律文书中使用缩写形式是不规范的。
Incorrect:Hecan\'tguaranteethatthedefendantwillappearbecausethedefendanthasn\'tcalledhiminseveraldays.
Correct:Hecannotguaranteethatthedefendantwillappearbecausethedefendanthasnotcalledhiminseveraldays.
2.Remember:\"It\'s\"isthecontractionof\"itis.\"Theterm\"its\"isthesingularpossessiveof\"it.\"Theterm\"it\'s,\"bycontrast,isthecontractionof\"itis.\"
记住：“It\'s”是“itis”的缩写形式，而“its”是“it”的单数所有格形式。
CorrectuseasPossessive:所有格的正确使用：
My\'68Mustangisonitslastjourney.
CorrectuseasContraction:缩写形式的正确使用：
It\'salongwayfromTipperary.
CrossReferences:Apostrophes,Possessives参考：省略符号，所有格
十一、Dashes破折号
Dashescanbeusedtosetoffmaterialinthemidstofasentence.However,oneshouldtrytoavoidusingthematall.Whenchoosingbetweendashesandotherformsofpunctuation(suchascommasandparentheses),dashesshouldbeusedsparinglyandprimarilywhenthematerialdeservesspecialemphasis.Bycontract,parentheticalideasmaybelost.Intypingorwordprocessing,adashisformedbyplacingonespacebeforeandonespaceaftertwoconsecutivehyphens.
破折号使用在词与词中间用以隔开句子成分。然而，我们应尽量避免使用破折号。当在句中需要强调某成分时，在破折号与其他标点符号（如逗号，括号）之间我们应优先并谨慎使用破折号。如省略破折号则可能导致插入部分的语意丢失。在打印或用WORD进行文字系统操作时，应连续打印两个连接符并在其前后分别空一格。
Incorrect错误使用:Thejudgeknewthedefendant——shehadbeenhisthirdwife——andhethereforerecusedhimself.
Correct正确使用:Thejudgeknewthedefendant——shehadbeenhisthirdwife——andhethereforerecusedhimself.