In onze Workshops Legal English Writing Skills staan de Branch Out “7 Cs of Writing” centraal. Deze 7 Cs zijn: Clarity, Correctness, Courtesy, Conciseness, Cohesion, Consistency en Completeness (voor een korte beschrijving: zie hiernaast).

Onder de C van Correctness het volgende:

Here are some mistakes made by Dutch lawyers when talking about their work and responsibilities. Can you spot the mistakes that all these sentences have in common?

1. The section of the department I am working in, is mainly concerned with the legal civil and public framework.
2. The partner for whom I am working is XYZ. Like him, I am advising and litigating in matters connected with supervision and sanctions.
3. I am drafting concepts and writing memoranda most of the time

Well done if you spotted the mistakes. All of the examples above misuse the Present Continuous tense; the speakers/writers should have used the Present Simple which in English is used to describe facts, habits and routines.

Correct versions:

1. The section of the department I am working work in, is mainly concerned with the legal  civil and public framework.
2. The partner for whom I am working work is XYZ. Like him, I am advising and litigating advise and litigate in matters connected with supervision and sanctions.
3. I am draftingdraft concepts and writing  write memoranda most of the time.