--- title: "The Most Annoying \"Words\" Lawyers Use" description: By using abbreviations, we irritate and confuse judges, clients, the public, and each other. If we “define” a name with an abbreviation. image: https://www.wordrake.com/hubfs/Slide43.png --- #### 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) # Writing Tips Legal Writing Our best writing tip? Edit for clarity and brevity with WordRake. It’s an automated in-line editor that checks for needless words, cumbersome phrases, clichés, and more. [![Download a 7-Day Free Trial](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3365575/03068b7d-1c87-45f8-9e1a-71ce6c0ece3c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3365575/03068b7d-1c87-45f8-9e1a-71ce6c0ece3c) ## The Most Annoying "Words" Lawyers Use # Why Needless Abbreviations Hurt Your Case ### Abbreviations By using abbreviations, we irritate and confuse judges, clients, the public, and each other. If we “define” a name with an abbreviation, our readers have to reconstruct the name from the abbreviation every time they read it.   Senior Judge Laurence Silberman, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, recently chastised lawyers for   abbreviating every conceivable agency and statute involved, familiar or not, and littering their briefs with references to ‘SNF,’ ‘HLW,’ ‘NWF,’ ‘NWPA,’ and ‘BRC.’   Use abbreviations only for entities the public knows *by* their abbreviation: ATT, IRS, NPR, NRA, NOW. But rather than call the “United States Coast Guard” the “USCG,” call it the “Coast Guard.” Instead of reducing “Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe” to “SSIT,” call them the “tribe.”   Avoiding abbreviations makes your writing smoother and more accessible. [The People v. Redundancy, et al.](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/6-classic-legal-redundancies-to-avoid) [Two Excellent Ways to Tell a Judge You Have No Case](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/2-excellent-ways-to-tell-a-judge-you-have-no-case) - - - ### [Improve Your Writing with WordRake Try this revolutionary editing software free for 7 days. Now available for Mac or Windows.](https://www.wordrake.com/) [Try Free for 7 Days](https://www.wordrake.com/trial/) ### Writing Tips in Your Inbox ### Related Writing Tips [Your Honor, You Are Stupid, You Suck, and Please Decide for Me](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/your-honor-you-are-stupid-you-suck-and-please-decide-for-me) [Alice in Law-Law-Land](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/alice-in-law-law-land) [The Most Important Thing—in Our Professional Lives—We Do Every Day](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/on-the-high-wire-without-a-net) [Face Plants](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/face-plants) [Draft II – Return of the Curse](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/draft-ii-return-of-the-curse) [Curse of the Blinking Cursor](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/curse-of-the-blinking-cursor) **[See All Tips](https://www.wordrake.com/writing-tips/writing-tips-listing-page)** Search this site on Google Search Google ### About Gary Kinder ![Gary Kinder](https://www.wordrake.com/hubfs/Wordrake%20December2017%20/Images/garykinder.jpg) 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 saves time and gives confidence. Writing and editing has never been easier. WordRake takes you beyond the merely grammatical to the truly great—the quality editor you’ve always wanted. See for yourself. [![Download a 7-Day Free Trial](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3365575/03068b7d-1c87-45f8-9e1a-71ce6c0ece3c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3365575/03068b7d-1c87-45f8-9e1a-71ce6c0ece3c) ### How Does it Work? WordRake is editing software designed by writing expert and *New York Times* bestselling author Gary Kinder. Like an editor or helpful colleague, WordRake ripples through your document checking for needless words and cumbersome phrases. Its complex algorithms find and improve weak lead-ins, confusing language, and high-level grammar and usage slips. WordRake runs in Microsoft Word and Outlook, and its suggestions appear in the familiar track-changes style. If you’ve used track changes, you already know how to use WordRake. There’s nothing to learn and nothing to interpret. Editing for clarity and brevity has never been easier.   ![demo_poster_play](https://www.wordrake.com/hs-fs/hubfs/demo_poster_play.png?width=286&height=133&name=demo_poster_play.png) × © 2026 WordRake, LLC. 8415 154th Avenue NE,  Suite 200, Redmond, WA 98052. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.wordrake.com/privacy) *|* [Technology](https://www.wordrake.com/patents) *|* [Contact](https://www.wordrake.com/contact)