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.
请注意，在上面的例子中，字母R和J后面的句号（.）应当保留，因为这个缩写所代表的含义并非广为人知。一般来说，这样的缩写应当使用全称；但是在上面的例子中不能用全称，因为缩写R.J.是公司注册名称中使用的。
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、
当行文中涉及的公司在其注册名称中含有一个或多个缩写时，如R.J.ReynoldsIndustries,Inc.，应当保留缩写；不要把缩写所代表的全称全部拼出，除非公司的注册名称中已经全部拼出，如EonShippingCompany。这条规则适用于所有的公司名称中，包括Co.，Corp.，Inc.和Ltd.。
Whenreferringtoacorporateentitythathasoneormoreabbreviationsaspartofitslegalname,suchasR.J.ReynoldsIndustries,Inc.,leavetheabbreviationsinthename.Donotspellouttheabbreviationunlessthecorporationitselfspellsitout,whichsomedo(forexample,EonShippingCompany).Thisruleappliestoallofthevariousformsofcorporatedesignations,includingCo.,Corp.,Inc.,andLtd.
Incorrect:McDermottInternational,Incorporated
Correct:McDermottInternational,Inc.
二、缩略符
当一个学生向教授提交书面作业或向律师事务所提交书面资料时，没有什么比错误的使用或不使用缩略符造成的负面印象更严重了。因此，掌握这些简单，却常常容易混淆的规则非常重要。
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.
NECESSARYTERMSOFENGLISHCONTRACT
1.前言Preamble
I.以下为“Parties”的常用表达方式：
1.ThisAgreementisenteredintobyandbetween____and____.本协议由以下双方____和___签署。
2.ThisAgreementisenteredintobyandbetween____(hereinafterreferredtoas____)and____(hereinafterreferredtoas"_____"),wherebyitisagreedasfollows:
本协议由以下双方____（以下简称____）和_____（以下简称___）签署，达成如下协议：
注：在很多合同中，这部分加入签约事由，如：
ThisAgreementisenteredintothroughfriendlynegotiationsbetween_____Co.
(hereinafterreferredtoasthe“PartyA”)and_____Co.(hereinafterreferredtoasthe“PartyB”)basedonequal
ityandmutualbenefittodevelopbusinessonthetermsandconditionssetforthbelow:
本协议由_____（以下称为甲方）和____（以下称为乙方）为发展业务在平等互利的基础上签订，其条款如下：
ThisAgreementisenteredintobetween_____(hereinafterreferredtoas"Company"),and______,(hereinafterreferredtoas"Employee")pursuanttoparagraphVIII(2)oftheEmployeeHandbook,wherebyitisagreedasfollows:
本“协议”由_____（以下简称“公司”）与_____（以下简称“雇员”）根据“雇员手册”第VIII(2)款签署，“协议”内容如下：
II.以下为标准的“Parties”条款：
3.ThisAgreementismadeandenteredintothis_____thdayof_____intheyearof____byandbetween______,acompanydulyorganizedandexistingunderandbyvirtueofthelawsof______,withitsprincipalplaceofbusinessat_____(hereinafterreferredtoas“_____”),and______,acompanydulyorganizedandexistingunderandbyvirtueofthelawsof_____,withitsprincipalplaceofbusinessat_____(hereinafterreferredtoas“_____”),wherebyitisagreedasfollows:
本合约由______，在_____法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点在______（下称_____），与_____，在_____法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点______（下称代理人），于_____日签订和缔结，协议如下：
III.“Recitals”由数个以"Whereas"字样开头的句子所组合而成（这些句子俗称为“WhereasClauses”），表示当事人乃是在基于对这些事实（例如订约的目的、背景来由等）的共同认识，订立此合约。
4.ThisAgreementismadeandenteredintothis_____dayof_____intheyearof____byandbetween_______,acompanydulyorganizedandexistingunderandbyvirtueofthelawsof______,withitsprincipalplaceofbusinessat______(hereinafterreferredtoas“_____”),and______,acompanydulyorganizedandexistingunderandbyvirtueofthelawsof______,withitsprincipalplaceofbusinessat______(hereinafterreferred
toas“_____”)
WITNESSED
WHEREAS,NOWTHEREFORE,thepartiesheretoagreeasfollows:
本合约由_____，在_____法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点在______（下称_____）（或下称供应商），与_______，在_____法律之下并凭该等法律正式组织并存在的公司，其主要营业地点_
鉴于
因此，双方当事人达成以下协议：
注：WITNESSED可以用WITHNESSTH、WITHNESSTHTHAT等来代替。
IV.在很多美国常用合同中，在很多情况下直接用RECITALS引导数个陈述语句或“WhereasClauses”。下面为一个资产购买协议实例：
ThisASSETPURCHASEAGREEMENT(the"Agreement")ismadeandenteredintoasofMay19,1997byandamongAAA,aDelawarecorporation("AAA"),BBB,aDelawarecorporationandwholly-ownedsubsidiaryofAAA("Buyer"),CCC("Summit"),andDDD,anOregoncorporationandwholly-ownedsubsidiaryofSummit("Seller").
RECITALS
A.TheBoardsofDirectorsofeachofSummit,Seller,AAAandBuyerbelieveitisinthebestinterestsofeachcompanyandtheirrespectivesecurityholdersthatBuyeracquirecertainlistedassetsandassumecertainlistedliabilitiesofSeller(the"Acquisition").
B.Onthedatehereof,Buyerhasexecuteda$2,000,000irrevocablepurchaseordertopurchase400time-basedlicensesforSummit'sVisualHDLinterfacesforVisualTestbench("VTB")softwareonAAA'sstandardformofpurchaseorder,whichispayablewithinfive(5)businessdaysafterthedatehereof.
NOW,THEREFORE,inconsiderationofthecovenants,promisesandrepresentationssetforthherein,andforothergoodandvaluableconsideration,thepartiesagreeasfollows:
2.定义Definition
在正文（Habendum）部分，通常第一章为定义（Definitions）部分。
定义条款即对合同中涉及的术语及名词作出限定、解释的.条款。它可以散见于合同各个部分，但对于一些大型的、重要的合同，通常将其置于第一章。
I.常见的定义语句常用mean,referto,beconstruedas,include等来表达。如：
1."Territory"meanstheUnitedStatesofAmerica.“销售地区”是指美利坚合众国。
2.“Commencementdate”shallmeanthedateofsigningthisagreementbythelastsigningpartyhereto.
“协议生效日”是指本“协议”最后签字的一方签署本“协议”的日期。
3.The“agreement”hereinreferredtoshallmeanthisagreementofagencybyentrustment.
“协议”在这里是指本委托代理协议。
4.“Code”shallrefertothecurrentandapplicableInternalRevenueCode.
“法”是指当前可用的国内税收法。
5.Referencetoanystatutoryprovisionshallbeconstruedasareferencetothesameasitmayhavebeen,ormayfromtimebe,amended,modifiedorre-enacted.
引用法律规定理解为引用其本身外，还包括其修订、修正或重新实施案。
6."Expenses"includecosts,chargesandexpensesofeverydescription.“费用”包括各种形式的金钱支出。
II.还有一类特殊的定义语句，即对于「单、复数」及「阴、阳性」名词的范围定义。通常都是用include来表达：
1."StockCertificate"includes"stockcertificate"and"stockcertificates".
合同中的“股票”，包括单数与复数。
2."He"includes"he"and"she".
合同中的“他”，包括“他”与“她”。
3.Wordsusingthesingularorpluralnumberalsoincludethepluralorsingularnumber.
采用单数或复数的单词也包括复数或单数。
III.定义语句中，有时需限定范围。而通常用得最多的是：“forthepurposeof”及“inrelationto”某概念的定义条款，如果适用范围仅限于合同的“特定部份”，可以用“forthepurposeof”来为定义条款起头。而如果定义条款是针对合同的“特定概念”，就用“inrelationto”来界定。如下例：
1.ForthepurposeofthisAgreement,"Products"meansalltypesofthemachineriesmanufacturedbyManufacturerasarespecifiedinAttachment
Ahereto.
本协议所称的“产品”，指制造人所制造如附件A表列之各式机器。
2."Address"means－
(a)就自然人而言inrelationtoanindividual,hisusualresidentialorbusinessaddress;and
(b)inrelationtoacorporation,itsregisteredorprincipalofficeintheRepublicofChina.
“地址”就自然人而言，指通常之居所或工作场所；就公司而言，指位于中华人民共和国之注册所在地或主营业所。
IV.在定义条款中，在定义语句前有时会加上一些陈述语句来引导，如：
ThisAdvertisingAgencyAgreement(“Agreement”)ismadeandeffectivethis
AdvertiserdesirestoengageAgencytorender,andAgencydesirestorendertoAdvertiser,certainadvertisingagencyservices,allassetforth.
NOW,THERFORE,inconsiderationofthemutualagreementsandcovenantshereincontainedthepartiesheretoagreeasfollows:
因此，现在，考虑到在此包含的双方约定和合同，双方同意如下条款：
1.Engagement.
雇用
AdvertiserengagesAgencytorender,andAgencyagreestorenderto
Advertiser,certainservicesinconnectionwithAdvertiser’splanning,
preparingandplacingofadvertisingforcertainofAdvertiser’sproductsasfollows:
A.AnalyzeAdvertiser’scurrentandproposedproductsandservicesandpresentandpotentialmarkets.
B.Create,prepareandsubmittoAdvertiserforitspriorapproval
advertisingideasandprograms.
C.PrepareandsubmittoAdvertiserforitspriorapprovalestimatesof
D.Designandprepare,orarrangeforthedesignandpreparationof,advertisements.
E.PerformsuchotherservicesasAdvertisermayrequestfromtimetotimesuchas,butnotlimitedto,directmailadvertisingpreparation,speechwriting,publicityandpublicrelationswork,marketresearchandanalysis.
F.Orderadvertisingspace,timeorothermeanstobeusedforpublicationofAdvertiser’sadvertisements,alltimeendeavoringtosecurethemostefficientandadvantageousratesavailable.
G.Proofforaccuracyandcompletenessofions,displays,broadcasts,orotherformsofadvertisements.
2.Products
产品
Agency’sengagementshallrelatetothefollowingproductsandservicesofAdvertiser:[Products]
3.Exclusivity.
独家代理
Agencyshallbethe[ExclusiveorNon-Exclusive]advertisingagencyintheUnitedStatesforAdertiserwithrespecttotheproductsdescribedinSection2Above.
4.Compensation.
赔偿金
A.Agencyshallreceiveanamountequalto[MediaCommissionRate]ofthegrosschargesleviedbymediaforadvertisingplacedtherewithbyAgencypursuanttothisAgreement;and[Non-MediaCommissionRate]aftervolumediscount,ofthechargesofsuppliersofservicesorproperties,suchas
finishedart,comprehensivelayouts,typecomposition,photostats,engravings,printing,radioandtelevisionprograms,talent,literary,dramaticandmusicalworks,recordsandexhibits,purchasedbyAgencyonAdvertiser’s
authorizationduringthetermofthisAgreement;providedthat:
(i)NopercentagewillbeaddedtoAgencychargesforpacking,shipping,express,postage,telephone,telex,fax,travelexpensesandotheroutofpocketexpensesofAgencypersonnel;and
(ii)Agency’scommisssionforoutdooradvertisingwillbethestandardrateallowedadvertisingagencieswhensuchrateislessthan