英文法律文书写作选词、用词

英文法律文书写作选词、用词

相同概念，相同用词

应保证使用同一单词表述同一概念，避免使用不同的单词表述同一概念。如在叙述某一辆轿车时，不要既用“the car”，又用“the vehicle”来表述，否则会引起不必要的误解，例如：

Even though the defendant commented that while in probation he had abetted two minors in petty larceny, this admission of illegality is not relevant to the present case.

本句缺陷在于“commented”与“admission”实际表述有些微差别，应将“commented”改为“admitted”。

[参考译文]即便被告承认在缓刑期间他曾教唆两名未成年人盗窃，但对该不法行为的承认与目前案件无关。

顺手牵羊叫 shoplifting, 抢劫是 robbery, 武装抢劫 armed robbery, 强奸是 rape, 偷窃的小case是 petty theft，大case是 larceny， 更大案件 grand larceny, 半夜闯空门则是 burglary. 走私毒品 drug trafficking, 重伤害 serious assault, 殴打 assault and battery, 纵火 arson. 像这些字都常在警匪片中出现。

律师的不同称谓

一般来说，attorney指某一特定案件中代理一方应诉的律师。

[例句1]Attorney Schwartz moved for a new trial. 施瓦兹律师请求再审此案。

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[例句2]The attorney for the defense objected to the question. 被告律师反对这个问题。

lawyer是社会对律师的泛称。

[例句]Several hundred lawyers attended last year’s ABA convention. 几百名律师参加了去年全美律师协会的会议。

二者联系Unless a contrary meaning is plainly indicated “attorney” is synonymous with \"lawyer\" or \"attorney at law\".

另一个极为重要的律师称谓是Esquire (Esq.)，它在律师的名片和的文件中被广泛采用。In the United States, the title is commonly given in courtesy to lawyers and is often used in the superscription of letters instead of Mr. or Ms., for example \"William Clinton, Esq. \".

Historically in the UK, barristers-at-law used this title, while solicitor used the term “gentleman”. In the U.S., where the roles of counsel and attorney were combined, the term \"esquire\" was adopted.

注：Solicitor & Barrister区别

Solicitor[英事务律师]— An attorney who advises clients on legal matters, represents clients in certain lower courts, and prepares cases for barristers to present in the higher courts.

Barrister[英出庭律师]—A counsel admitted to plead at the bar and undertake the public trial of causes in an English superior court.

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区别一：分工不同。 Solicitors generally handle office work, whereas barristers plead cases in court. However, there is some overlap. Solicitors may appear as legal counsel in the lower courts, and barristers often prepare trial briefs [上诉状] and other written documents.

区别二：数量不同。There are more solicitors than barristers because most legal work is done outside the courtroom.

联系：Barristers depend on solicitors to provide them with trial work because they are not allowed to accept work on their own. The solicitor meets prospective clients, hears the client's problems, gives legal advice, drafts letters and documents, negotiates on the client's behalf, and prepares the client's case for trial. When a court appearance appears inevitable, the solicitor retains [聘请] a barrister on the client's behalf. The solicitor instructs the barrister on how the client wishes to proceed in court. The solicitor serves as an intermediary agent between the barrister and his client, negotiating fees and preparing the case for trial.

e.g. & i.e.用法

法律英语中的for example也可用e.g.[例如]表示；that is也可用i.e.[也就是]表示：

[例句1] The 15(a)(6) motion[向法庭提的动议] succeeded, i.e., the case was dismissed[被驳回].

[例句2] A contract may take many forms, e.g., a written letter or a mere oral promise.

注意：正式的英语法律文书不提倡使用e.g.和i.e.，所以上面的例句最好改成：

[例句1] The 15(a)(6) motion succeeded, that is, the case was dismissed.

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[例句2] A contract may take many forms, such as a written letter or a mere oral promise.

Plaintiff, Defendant, Appellant and Respondent用法

如果是泛指，应用冠词引领且第一个字母不用大写，如：the plaintiff, a defendant, the appellant或a respondent。

如果是特指，则不用冠词且第一个字母要大写，如：Plaintiff, Defendant, Appellant或Respondent。

Appellant有时也被称为 Plaintiff in error，Respondent有时被称为 Defendant in error。

The Fact of the Matter or The Fact That

请注意下列紫色单词，其表达方式略显赘述，应尽量避免使用。如：

[例句1] The fact of the matter is that the plaintiff did not raise this claim until she learned of the defendant’s affluence[富有]。

此句应改为：

The plaintiff did not raise this claim until she learned of the defendant’s affluence.

[例句2] This failure was caused by the fact that the machine was inadequately designed.

此句应改为：

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This failure was caused by the machine’s inadequate design.

Percent or Percentage用法

Percent[百分比]常和具体数字一起使用，Percentage[比率]一般不和具体数字一起使用，请看例句：

[例句1] The attorney gets a percentage for every recovery[获偿] obtained for his clients.

[例句2] The attorney gets 30 percent of every recovery obtained for his clients.

请记住：法律英语使用percent而不是per cent，per 和cent不能分开。

ABHORRENCE OF or ABHORRENCE FOR

当表示憎恨或厌恶时请使用abhorrence of 而不要使用abhorrence for。

Abhorrence of terrorism cannot justify flouting international law.

对恐怖活动的憎恶不能使藐视国际法的行为合法化。

THIS, THAT, or SAID

Said[上述、此、该]是陈旧的法律用语，现代法律英语大多采用this、that来代替。如：

Said contract violates the public policy of the forum state[地国] and is therefore unenforceable。

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尽管不乏在文书中出现said，但目前法律英语主张plain English，因而said大多用that或this来替代。

古英语的慎用

古英语词汇在现代英语中所剩不多，但在法律英语中却常有出现。虽然古词语在现代英语中已不再广泛使用了，但法学家们却对它们情有独钟。因此，以下这些古词语就常常出现在各种法律文件中。

Legal English-------------Plain English

said ---------------------------this, that

aforesaid---------------------previous

forthwith---------------------immediately

henceforth------------------from now on

herein-------------------------in this document

hereinafter------------------after this

thenceforth-----------------after

thereafter--------------------after that, accordingly

theretofore------------------up to that time

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hitherto-----------------------before

whence-----------------------from what place, source

whereby----------------------through, in accordance

whilst--------------------------during

虽然上述左栏中的古词语可以使法律公文更加简练、庄重，给法律语言增加很强的文体特色，但不可避免在一定程度上脱离了大众。为此以美语为代表的法律语言倾向于运用简单明了的常用词汇，即简明的常用语言(plain English)来表达法律意思，如右栏所示。

If--Then结构的使用

复杂的长句可以通过某些连词来表达逻辑关系。以If--Then结构为例：

[较差] 未使用If--Then结构：

Enlargement. When by these rules or by a notice given thereunder or by order of court an act is required or allowed to be done within a specified time, the court for cause shown may at any time in its discretion (1) with or without motion or notice order the period enlarged if request therefore is made before the expiration of the period originally prescribed or as extended by a previous order, or (2) upon motion made after the expiration of the specified period permit the act to be done where the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect.

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-----改编自美国联邦民事诉讼法Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 6(b)

[较好] 使用If--Then结构修改后：

Extending a time period. This rule applies to acts that may or must be done within a certain time when that time is specified by:

1. the Federal Rules or

2. a notice issued under the Federal Rules or

3. a court order.

If a party wishes to extend the time period, the party must show cause to the court to do so. The court may then, at its discretion, extend the time under two different sets of circumstances:

1. If the request is made before the time period expires, then the court may extend the original time period (or a previously extended time period) with or without motion or notice.

2. If the request is made after the time period expires, then the court may extend the original time period, but only if failure to act was the result of excusable neglect and if a motion is made.

[相关术语提示]

Enlargement--等于extending a time period时效延展

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Apply to--适用于

Within a certain time--在特定时间之内

Specified by--由…规定、列明

Court order--命令

Show cause--表明原因、出具理由

At its discretion--由自由裁定

Two different sets of circumstances--两类不同情况

Expire--到期、终止

Original time period--原时效期

Previously extended time period--已延展过的时效期

Motion--向法庭提出的动议、请求

Failure to act--不作为、未行动

Excusable neglect--可恕过失、非己过失、引诱过失

As to, Regarding or Concerning用法

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As to可以作介词使用，其后跟宾语，例如：

[例句1] As to the adjective: when in doubt strike it out.

关于形容词，当有疑问就不要使用。

[例句2] As to jury trials, the American system compares with few others in the world.

对于陪审团审理制世界很少有其它系统可以和美国的相比。

但是as to在法律文书中很少使用，尤其是在文中已经使用过一次as to时，更应避免再次重复使用，此时应考虑使用regarding或concerning替换，如：

[例句3] As to its admissibility in jury trials, hearsay evidence may enjoy several exceptions.

对于在陪审团审判中的可采纳性，传来证据有几项例外。

此句中的As to就可改为：

[例句4] Regarding its admissibility in jury trials, hearsay evidence may enjoy several exceptions.

法律文书写作中人称的选用

首先在文书中禁用”I”, “we”等词提及自己。在论及当事人时，应使用“petitioner”, “respondent”, “appellant”，或用其姓名，而不要使用”my client”或“we”等词。

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其次，避免使用体现个人观点的句子，如”It is my opinion…”, “I feel…”, “It is our belief that…”。相反应对内容作客观陈述，如可用第三人称表述为”Defendant rebutted…”, “Petitioner contends…”。

在表述个人见解时，不要使用过于谨慎的不确定性言语，如”It appears that…”, “It seems likely that…”等。这样会使陈述的内容含糊，尤其是在诉状中，希望说服他人的情况下更显得缺乏说服力。

请看例句对比：

[较差] Now that I have reviewed the facts, it appears that my client has failed to establish undue influence and misrepresentation.

[较好] The evidence shows that the petitioner has failed to establish undue influence and misrepresentation.

当然，律师与当事人在业务往来的函件中，可以不必受上述。因为该信件可以看成是私人信函，更适合用第一人称表述。

复杂句间注意逻辑过渡

句与句之间应承上启下，应该尽量明确它们之间的内在逻辑关系，否则容易造成文章晦涩难懂。下句中紫色部分由于使用了过渡结构，保证了上下文意思紧密连接：

In response to your request on January 12, 2006, we are sending you copies of the pleadings and some additional documents.

注解：copy of the pleadings起诉状副本

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此外，准确使用过渡结构还可以避免让读者阅读了整个句子后还要自己重新归纳句子的要点。请看下面一段文字：

[较差]

Since the instant action arose in Beijing (the buyer and seller are located respectively in America and Japan, but the alleged breach occurred in Beijing), the initial issue to be resolved is to determine the applicable law governing the contract which does not include a choice-of-law term.

[较好]

The issue in this case is what applicable law will govern a contract including no choice-of-law term, if the cause of action arose in a third state. In this case, the suit was brought in Beijing of China. The buyer and seller are located respectively in America and Japan, but the alleged breach occurred in Beijing.

[参考译文] 由于目前的诉讼发生在北京(买方与卖方所在地分别位于美国和日本，但违约的诉因发生在北京)，因此需要解决的问题是双方在合同中没能指定所适用的法律时，应援引何种准据法。

语病: 句子不完整

遗漏了从句的必要成分

[错误例句] The procedures established by the legislature for perfecting a petition for a writ of mandamus were in compliance with constitutional spirit. Providing Mr. Wang with a practical and equitable opportunity to a fair trial.

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[正确] The procedures established by the legislature for perfecting a petition for a writ of mandamus were in compliance with constitutional spirit. The procedures provided Mr. wang with a practical and equitable opportunity to a fair trial.

[参考译文] 立法机关制定的申请上级对下级发出强制纠正令的程序是符合精神的。这些程序赋予王先生一次获得公正审判的现实的衡平救济机会。

能用主动就不用被动

在法律英语中，如果能用动词主动语态，就不要用被动语态。主动语态能使句子更简洁明了。请看例句对比：

例句1：

[较好] Defendant argued that the court should suppress [不采用] the evidence.

[较差] It was argued by the defendant that the evidence should be suppressed by the court.

例句2：

[较好] The court decided that freedom of association[结社自由] was not an issue[问题的焦点].

[较差] It was decided that freedom of association was not an issue.

本句中主动句更清楚，因为后一个被动句让人搞不清楚是谁做的决定。

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RE or REGARDING or ABOUT用法

Re[关于]:只在法律文书的抬头使用，在句子中应使用regarding或about。

例如：

Re: Expert Testimony, Or Alibi ? 此为一篇文章的题目

There is something wrong re his alibi[不在犯罪现场的证明]。此句中的re应改为about或regarding。

The first alleged error defendant claims prejudiced him was trial counsel's failure to draft an adequate proposed jury instruction regarding alibi and submit it to the trial court.

多用实意动词，少用虚意动词

法律英语一般不用虚意动词，而用实意动词，请看例句：

There is false imprisonment [非法拘禁] when a person is restrained without his or her consent.

此句中的is不表示任何实际意义，最好改成：

False imprisonment occurs when a person is restrained without his or her consent.

AS PER or UNDER or ACCORDING TO 用法

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写作中应尽量避免使用as per这个短语, 请看例句：

As per your request, we have opened an irrevocable L/C with you as the beneficiary.

根据您的要求，我们已开立了以您为受益人的不可撤销信用证。

上句中的as per就应改为under或according to更为适宜。

我听过版主的法规导读录音第一讲，里面提到法律英语中法规翻译不太使用according to 这个词组，而是采用in accordance with。在此，我也赞同版主的观点。

另外需要强调的是，除了上述短语外，在法律英语中使用pursuant to更为理想，也更为常见，我曾经粗略的统计过一篇law review的文章，其中使用pursuant to 这个单词的比率高达70%。

BOTH…..AND or AS WELL AS

当对事物进行强调时应使用both….and而不用as well as。请看例句：

[较好] Both the plaintiff and his attorney have agreed to drop the case[撤诉].

注: 如果去掉both,则失去强调作用：The plaintiff and his attorney have agreed to drop the case.

[较差] The plaintiff as well as his attorney has agreed to drop the case.本句是不正规的。

注意法言法语的使用

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在法律文书写作中，尽量使用法言法语，与日常英语区分。这种差别主要体现在短语的使用上。请看例句对比：

【法律英语表达】：Have you then and there this wit.

【普通英语表达】：Let you know this as previously mentioned.

【分析】：“then and there”表示“at the time and place last previously mentioned or charged”。

“wit”表示“to know, to be informed”。

避免使用seem, look like等模糊用语

法律用语应尽量确保准确，避免含糊概念及含糊用语。请看例句对比：

[较差] The court seems unsure about the standard of review[上诉审理标准] in these kinds of cases.

[较好] The court has presented two inconsistent standards of review in these kinds of cases.”

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