Mastering Legal Grammar: Top 5 Grammar Mistakes Lawyers Make and How to Fix Them Fast

Macson Bell Business & Law
Aug 12
3 min read

Wooden gavel centered against a dark background, bathed in soft light, creating a solemn and authoritative mood. Credit: Unsplash. — Legal Grammar Mistakes Lawyers Make. Credit: Unsplash.

In law, every word is a potential witness — and you want them all on your side. Drafting a contract, framing a deposition question, or sending an email to opposing counsel isn’t just “writing.” It’s a performance of precision. The wrong word can cost you credibility, time, or in some cases, millions. Even seasoned attorneys occasionally fall into these avoidable traps.

Let’s walk through five of the most common — and quietly dangerous — grammatical missteps lawyers make, and how to fix them.

Grammar Mistake 1. Apostrophe Abuse

The number one grammar mistake lawyers make is apostrophe abuse. Apostrophes may be small, but their misuse can be catastrophic. An errant apostrophe in a contract (“landlord’s expenses” vs. “landlords’ expenses”) could alter the scope of who pays for what — and create fertile ground for litigation.

Fix: “It’s” = “it is.” “Its” = possession. Apostrophes never pluralise: “lawyer’s” shows ownership; “lawyers” simply means more than one lawyer. In transactional work, triple-check plural possessives — they’re a stealth source of disputes.

Grammar Mistake 2. Subject-Verb Mismatch

This isn’t just a stylistic issue. In court filings, mismatched subjects and verbs can make your argument sound sloppy, undermining your authority. “The list of cases are extensive” reads like you’re rushing. Judges notice.

Fix: Strip away prepositional phrases to find the true subject. The team of lawyers is attending, not are attending. In contracts, this discipline helps you avoid “phantom plurals” that change enforceability.

Grammar Mistake 3. Passive Voice Overload

Passive voice isn’t inherently wrong — sometimes you want to obscure the actor (“Mistakes were made”). But overuse in legal writing weakens clarity and control. “The evidence was analyzed by the attorney” forces the reader to work harder and dilutes the force of your point.

Fix: Lead with the actor. “The attorney analyzed the evidence” is tighter, faster, and harder to misinterpret. In advocacy, active voice pins responsibility exactly where you want it — a tactical advantage in both persuasion and cross-examination.

Grammar Mistake 4. Preposition Slip-Ups

The wrong preposition can distort your meaning, especially in regulatory or statutory contexts where every word is scrutinised. “Discuss about the settlement” sounds amateur. Worse, a misused preposition in a clause could give opposing counsel room to argue ambiguity.

Fix: Know the standard legal collocations: “apply for” a licence, “comply with” a statute, “confer on” a party. In contracts, run a final sweep for prepositions — they’re tiny escape hatches for clever adversaries.

Grammar Mistake 5. Comma Crimes

Commas aren’t decoration. They control pacing, clarity, and sometimes the outcome of a lawsuit. (Ask any litigator who’s dealt with the “Oxford comma” debate in a wage-and-hour case.) Misplaced or missing commas can make a clause unintentionally restrictive or ambiguous.

Fix: Master the core rules:

Separate items in a list.
Use before conjunctions in compound sentences.
Add after introductory phrases.

In persuasive writing, commas signal where the reader should pause — a subtle but powerful way to control their rhythm and comprehension.

Close-up of a legal book with highlighted text — A close-up of legal references and annotations highlighting the importance of clarity in legal writing.

The Lawyer’s Advantage

Great legal communication is about control — over tone, meaning, and how your reader processes information. Sharpening your grammar isn’t pedantry; it’s risk management.

Contracts become airtight. Arguments sound sharper. And you project authority to clients without having to say, “Trust me, I’m a lawyer.”

Flawless grammar isn’t just about looking polished — it’s the foundation of a clear, persuasive legal argument, where a misplaced word can weaken your case before it’s even heard.

Your words are your client’s shield and sword. Keep them polished, precise, and primed for impact.

Write and speak like a lawyer who wins — every time. Download the Lawyer’s Grammar Cheat Sheet and get quick, courtroom-ready rules you can use today.