A plain language vocabulary

Avoid Alternative

ab initio from the start

above (as in see above) be specific instead

abovementioned be specific instead

accordingly so. therefore

afforded given

aforementioned be specific instead

ar-oresaid omit

aggregate total, sum

agreeance agreement

a+l the

alland singular all

andlor and, or, either... or ... or both

c! !t the

a priori frorn assumed principles

as a result of because of

assist help

at any time omit

at this point in time now

beforementioned be specific instead

below (as in see below) be specific instead

bequeath give

bona fide good faith, genuine, honest

by virtue of because of, under

cease stop

chattels goods

commence begin/start

consequently so

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 Avoid Alternative

considers expedient thinks fit

contained in in

covenant and agree agree

the day and year first hereinbefore on ihe date of this agreement, (or state the date)
written

deem io be treat as, consider to be, take to be

determine (as in terminate) end, finish

devise gve

each the

effected made, done

employ use

enclosed please find we enclose, here is

endeavour try

estop stop, prevent

et al and the others, the rest

et seq and those following

every the

exceeding, in excess of more than. over

expeditiously quickly, as soon as possible (orstate a time limit)

expend spend

expiration end

extinguish end

facilitate help, assist

fails to does not

for and on behalf of for

foregoing be specific instead

for the duration of during

forward send, give

forthwith immediately, a$ soon as possible, now (or state a

time limit)

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 Avoid Alternative

from time to time omit

furnish gve

gift (verb) give

give consideration to consider

give devise and bequeath gNe

grant give

hence therefore

henceforth from now on

hereafter after (and state date ortime)

hereby omit

herein in this agreement (or other document)

hereinafter after (and state date or time), from the date of this
agreement

hereinafter called omit. or use called

hereinbefore before (and state date or time), before the date of

this agreement

hereof of it

hereon on it

hereto to it

heretofore before (and state date ortime), before the date of

this agreement (or other document)

hereunto on it (or omit)

herewith omit, or use with it orwith this (and speqn

hitherto before (and state date and time), before the date of
this agreement (or other document)

hnurcnorror omit, or use however, no matter how

implement carqr out, fulfil

indemnity, keep indemnified and save indemniff (plus a clause stating that there is no need
harmless for the indemnified party to suffer loss before
requiring payment)

indicate show, tell, say

initiate begin, start

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 Avoid Alternative

in personam personal, personally

in pursuance of because of

in regard to about

in relation to about, for, as to

in respect of about, for, as to

institute proceedings begin or start proceedings, sue

instrument document

inter alia among other things

in the event of if

in the event that if

in the future after the date of this agreement (or state date or
time)

in witness whereof the parties have executed as a deed

hereunto set their hands and affixed their
seals

inespective of whether or not, even if

is authorised to may, canl

is entitled to may, can2

is not entitled to, has no power to cannot, must not"

is not permitted to may not

is not required to need not

is required to must

is permitted to may

rssue grve

it is important to note that omit

it is laMulfor may, n
it may necessitate you may have to

last will and testament will

' But use may with care

'But use may with care
" This usage is recommended by the Ausfalian Parliamentary Counsel's Office (Plain English Manual p39 online version as at 11
March 2003, www.opc,gov.au).
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 Avoid Altemative

loss occasioned thereby resulting loss

made an application apply

made a statement state

made payment pay

made provision provide

means and includes means. includes

mens rea state of mind

moneys money

monies money

mutatis mutandis with the necessary changesa

mutually agree agree

nothing in this clause (document) this clause (document) does not

not less than at least

not more than at most

notwithstanding despite, even if

now on the date of this agreement, orstate date

now therefore this agreement witnesseth omit, or use the parties agree

nullvoid and of no effect has no effect

obiter dictum part of the judgment not essential to the decision in

the case

on behalf of for

on each occasion when whenever

otherwise than except

per stirpes the share of a deceased parent is divided equally

among their children, vrith descendants of a
deceased child dividing the deceased child's share
between them

the premises (in the sense of "the this agreement, this deed
matters")

prima facie at first glance

- ln R v Z (DA) [1 992] 2 SCR 1025, the Supreme Court of Canada held that the expression where the context requires was a plain
language equivalent of mutatis mutandis.
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 Avoid Alternative

prior to before

provide gue

provided that but, if

punctually on time

purcnaser buyer

pursuant to under, according to

quantum amount

re ornit, or use about

relating to about

release remise and forever quitclaim unto release

request ask

res ipsa loquitur it speaks for itself

rest residue and remainder rest, balance

retain keep

said the, that, those

the same use a pronoun

save except

save and except except

shall (present) draft in the present tense

shall (future) will

shali (imperative) musi

subsequently then, after, later

subsequent to after

sucl'l the, that, those (or use a pronoun)

suigeneris the only one of its kind

sur Juns of full legal capacity

terminate end, finish

terms and conditions terms

testament will
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 Avoid Alternative

testamentary disposition will

thence afierwards, then

thenceforth afterwards, from then on

thereby by it

therefor for

therein in it \
lhereinafter afterwards, from then on, latJr

thereof of it

thereon on it

thereto to it

therewith with it

these presents this agreement, this deed

to the effect that so

to wit namely

uberraimae fidei utmost good faith

undermentioned omit, or use as mentioned later, or be specific

until such time as until

unto to

upon on

upon the expiration at the end

upon ihe (occuri-ence of X happening) when X happens

utilise use

vendor seller

we should pcint that that omit

whatsoever omit, or use whatever, no matter what

where when, if

WHEREAS Background

whereby by it, by which

whereof of it
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Avoid Alternative

whereon on it

wheresoever omit, or use wherever, no matterwhere

whosoever omit, or use whoever, or no matter who

with a view to to

with regard to about (

with respect to about t
with the result that so that

willand testament wilt

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