How to Write Percentages in Legal Writing: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Legal writing is a specialized form of writing that requires an understanding of specific rules and conventions. It is used for a wide variety of documents, including contracts, pleadings, opinions, briefs, and more. One important element of legal writing is the use of percentages. In this article, we will explore how to write percentages in legal writing.

Explaining the Basics of Writing Percentages in Legal Writing

When it comes to writing percentages in legal writing, there are certain rules and guidelines that must be followed. Understanding these rules is essential for ensuring accuracy and clarity in legal documents.

Understanding the Role of Percentages in Legal Writing

Percentages are commonly used in legal writing to express certain amounts or ratios. For example, they can be used to indicate a percentage of ownership, a percentage of profits or losses, or a percentage of responsibility. They can also be used to compare two items or to show a relationship between two items. As such, it is important to understand how to correctly write percentages in legal writing.

Guidelines for Using Percentages in Legal Writing

When writing percentages in legal writing, it is important to follow certain guidelines. These guidelines include:

• Always use numerals when expressing a percentage. For example, “50%” instead of “fifty percent.”
• The word “percent” should always be written out. Do not use the symbol “%” when writing percentages in legal writing.
• When expressing a fraction as a percentage, use the word “over” rather than a slash (e.g., “two-thirds over three” rather than “2/3”).
• When expressing a decimal as a percentage, use the word “point” rather than a decimal point (e.g., “twenty-five point five percent” rather than “25.5%”).
• When using a percentage sign in a sentence, always use the singular form of the verb (e.g., “The percentage is fifty percent” rather than “The percentage are fifty percent”).

Tips on How to Use Percentages Properly in Legal Writing

In addition to following the above guidelines, there are several tips that can help you use percentages correctly in legal writing. These tips include:

Presenting Percentages in Legal Writing: What You Need to Know

When presenting percentages in legal writing, it is important to ensure that the information is presented clearly and accurately. Here are some tips to keep in mind when presenting percentages:

• Always provide the context for the percentage. For example, if you are discussing ownership percentages, make sure to specify who owns what percentage.
• Be consistent with your formatting. If you are using numerals to express a percentage, make sure to use numerals for all percentages throughout the document.
• When expressing fractions and decimals as percentages, be sure to use the correct terminology (i.e., “over” and “point”).
• If you are using a percentage sign in a sentence, make sure to use the singular form of the verb.

Best Practices for Writing and Formatting Percentages in Legal Writing

In addition to presenting percentages correctly, there are several best practices that can help you write and format percentages in legal writing. These best practices include:

• When writing percentages, use the appropriate style and grammar. For example, if you are writing about a single percentage, use the singular form of the verb (e.g., “The percentage is fifty percent”).
• When formatting percentages, use the same font and size for all percentages throughout the document.
• Use parentheses to indicate a range of percentages (e.g., “The percentage is between forty-five percent (45%) and fifty percent (50%).”).
• When expressing fractions and decimals as percentages, use the correct terminology (i.e., “over” and “point”).
• Use the percentage sign sparingly. It should only be used when necessary (e.g., in tables and charts).

Conclusion

Writing percentages in legal writing requires precision and accuracy. By understanding the role of percentages in legal writing, following the guidelines for using percentages, and following the best practices for writing and formatting percentages, you can ensure that your documents are clear and accurate.

Summary of Key Points

To properly write percentages in legal writing, it is important to:

• Understand the role of percentages in legal writing.
• Follow the guidelines for using percentages.
• Follow the best practices for writing and formatting percentages.

Final Thoughts on Writing Percentages in Legal Writing

Writing percentages in legal writing can seem daunting, but with a little practice and knowledge of the rules and best practices, you can ensure that your documents are accurate and clear. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your documents are professional and compliant with legal standards.