The Estrin Report

"A case of semantics"

I've got two complaints about this news article. One, the problem is with spelling, not semantics. Two, the reporter automatically assigned blame to a legal assistant for the typos:

"Court documents can say the most amusing things. What's wrong with this sentence?

"'We can only view AT&T's and Cingular's continued attempt to jeopardize NASCAR's relationship with NETEL as tortuous interference with this agreement."

[snip]

"Enough of being torturous of the poor legal assistant who probably made the typos. In his or her defense, 'Nextel' won't pass word-processor spellcheck in any form. And 'tortious' is such a fine legal term that it isn't in standard spellcheck memory. But 'tortuous' is.

"The point is that in this, of all cases, you'd think NASCAR's general counsel's office would be more meticulous in its proofreading."

Yes, you would.....

"Why Do Lawyers Need Editors?"

Gosh, there are so many reasons. You can find editing help & more from a new blog (written by an experienced 'wordsmith for law firms'); this post, for example:

"The firm of Vinson & Elkins has a scholarship program for high school students who are interested in 'pursuing a career in law.'

"Great! But take a look at these excerpts from the firm’s overview of the program.

The funds for each student are submitted directly to their school . . . .

In addition to the financial support, V&E provides each scholarship recipient mentors and a summer job opportunities.

Each recipient achieved a score of at least 1100 on the SAT, had a financial need, and provided the Foundation with their application . . . and two letters of recommendation from their high school teachers and/or counselors . . . .

"While the students’ English teachers are teaching them to avoid singular/plural disagreements, the firm is suggesting that those disagreements are OK."

"Million-Dollar Diction"

Yeah, this article [for chief information officers] is not targeted to the legal world! But it contains good advice for everyone whose work revolves around words [PDF]:

"Studies show you can't get ahead in business without a strong vocabulary. Here are some quick tips for learning new words and using them effectively.

"When people want help solving the Sunday crossword puzzle or crafting a sophisticated presentation, they don't rush over to the IT department. The average information technology worker is so seldom asked for 10-dollar SAT words that he probably doesn't bother to keep that part of his mental warehouse particularly well stocked.

"That could be a problem. Even in IT, you need to cultivate an advanced, nuanced vocabulary if you want to get ahead. Why? First of all, your higher-ups think you should. The Johnson O'Connor Foundation, which researches people's aptitudes and abilities, asked company presidents and managers if they thought vocabulary building was useful for advancement in the business world and important in executive work. More than 97 percent of the respondents said yes to both questions. Another study, published in 1990, suggests the better one's vocabulary, the higher the level of job one can attain."

"Crafting Effective Cover Letters"

Looking for a new job in the new year? Here's some good advice from AllBusiness.com:

"Keep your cover letter brief. Never send a letter that is more than a page in length; half a page is ideal. Be sure to use clear, professional language while steering away from buzzwords, acronyms, jargon, or anything overly personal. Remember, the overall visual impression of your cover letter can be just as important as the written message. Make sure to use crisp, quality stationery. Stick with one font and avoid solid walls of text that make the reader’s eyes bounce right off the page."

And I highly recommend reading "What Employers Want in a Cover Letter" here.