--- title: The Perfect Brief Part 12 - The Brief Brief List description: When you finish writing your brief, or you’re advising a newer litigator on how to improve their brief, ask yourself or them the following questions. image: https://www.wordrake.com/hubfs/linkedin-sales-navigator-wS73LE0GnKs-unsplash-cropped.jpg --- #### WordRake is joining BriefCatch. Discover how BriefCatch Next builds on WordRake’s trusted editing technology — and what this means for WordRake customers. [Learn about the transition →](https://www.briefcatch.com/wordrake) [![logo](https://www.wordrake.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/logo.png?width=285&height=18&name=logo.png)](https://www.wordrake.com/) Edit for brevity & simplicity in Microsoft Word & Outlook - [Buy](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-improvement-software-buy) - [Software](https://www.wordrake.com/software) - [About](https://www.wordrake.com/editing-software-for-writing-professionals) - [Reviews](https://www.wordrake.com/reviews) - [Writing Tips](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/writing-tips-listing-page) - [Resources](https://www.wordrake.com/resources) - [Support](https://www.wordrake.com/editing-software-help) # The Perfect Brief Part 12 - The Brief Brief List ![linkedin-sales-navigator-wS73LE0GnKs-unsplash-cropped](https://www.wordrake.com/hubfs/linkedin-sales-navigator-wS73LE0GnKs-unsplash-cropped.jpg) For our final installment on *The Perfect Brief*, we offer a list you can quickly peruse to ensure you have checked all of the elements in your brief to make it the most convincing document you can put before a judge. When you finish writing your brief, or you’re advising a newer litigator on how to improve their brief, ask yourself or them the following questions. Have I: 1. titled each section of my brief with a single word? 2. dropped the formal opening, “Defendant respectfully submits”? 3. started with my own case? 4. addressed both sides equally? 5. spelled out acronyms? 6. stated my position, why I feel this way, and what I want the judge to do? 7. opened my fact statement with a fact that is interesting, relevant, and favorable? 8. told the judge a story? 9. discarded conclusory words and argument in my fact statement? 10. removed extraneous facts? 11. written in the concrete? 12. checked my facts for “opinion” words, like *difficult*, *confusing*, *lengthy*? 13. deleted unnecessary words, nominalizations, and passive voice? 14. removed unimportant names, dates, and numbers? 15. avoided self-serving words like *clearly*, *obviously*, *well-settled*? 16. dumped the fightin’ words, like *outrageously*, *incredibly*, *amazingly*? 17. pared quotations? 18. asked “Why?” or “So what?” after each sentence of argument? 19. proofread for typos, redundancies, clichés, and lawyerisms? 20. made my brief 15% shorter than the page or word limit? This review helps you focus your final efforts on things that matter—instead of wasting time with arbitrary report cards, readability indices, and sentence length. The questions are simple, but a “no” answer reveals a weakness your readers might quickly see. When you can answer “yes” to each of the 20 questions above, you’re ready to submit the brief to your supervisor or the court. It’s the last chance to make your brief the best it can be. ## About the Author Gary Kinder has taught over 1,000 writing programs for the American Bar Association, the Social Security Administration, PG&E, Kraft, Microsoft, and law firms like Jones Day, Sidley, and WilmerHale. His critically-acclaimed *Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea* hit #7 on the *New York Times* Bestsellers List. [Changing Attitudes to Technology Starts with Incentives](https://www.wordrake.com/resources/changing-attitudes-to-technology-starts-with-incentives) [Rise Up And Innovate: A Manifesto For Lawyers](https://www.wordrake.com/resources/rise-up-and-innovate-a-manifesto-for-lawyers) - - - ### [Improve Your Writing with WordRake Try this revolutionary editing software free for 7 days. 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Taylor, Ph.D.: A Law Enforcement Expert Witness Interview](https://www.wordrake.com/resources/roy-g-taylor-law-enforcement-expert-witness-interview) [Douglas Seemann, BCE: An Interview with an Entomology Expert Witness](https://www.wordrake.com/resources/douglas-seemann-interview-entomology-expert-witness) [Thomas J. Zaydon, MD, FACS: A Plastic Surgery Expert Witness Interview](https://www.wordrake.com/resources/dr-thomas-j-zaydon-plastic-surgery-expert-witness-interview) **[See All Posts](https://www.wordrake.com/article-listings)** Search this site on Google Search Google ### Our Story ![demo_poster_play](https://www.wordrake.com/hs-fs/hubfs/demo_poster_play.png?width=260&height=120&name=demo_poster_play.png) WordRake founder Gary Kinder has taught over 1,000 writing programs for AMLAW 100 firms, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies. He’s also a *New York Times* bestselling author. As a writing expert and coach, Gary was inspired to create WordRake when he noticed a pattern in writing errors that he thought he could address with technology. In 2012, Gary and his team of engineers created WordRake editing software to help writers produce clear, concise, and effective prose. It runs in Microsoft Word and Outlook, and its suggested changes appear in the familiar track-changes style. It saves time and gives confidence. Writing and editing has never been easier. ×   © 2026 WordRake, LLC. 8415 154th Avenue NE,  Suite 200, Redmond, WA 98052. All rights reserved. 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