Language Touch. Which capital letter is suitable in the contract?
An Estonian lawyer critiques the improper capitalization of legal terms in contract texts, calling for greater linguistic precision.
In a recent article, lawyer Urmas Kiik discusses the frequent issue of improper capitalization in legal texts, particularly in contracts where terms such as "seller" and "buyer" are often erroneously capitalized. Kiik, who has been practicing law for nearly three decades, expresses his concern that despite laws and court rulings being generally well-edited, contracts tend to exhibit a lack of linguistic precision that undermines their clarity.
Kiik points out that while legal acts and court decisions typically maintain high standards of written language, contractual documents often do not follow suit. He highlights that terms often appear with capital letters unnecessarily, which not only creates a stylistic inconsistency but also may lead to misinterpretations of legal obligations. As a seasoned lawyer, he has observed this degradation of linguistic standards over time, reflecting a broader trend that could affect the legal profession's credibility.
The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper language use in legal documents, urging legal professionals to be more meticulous in their writing. Kiik's advocacy serves as a call to action for lawyers and lawmakers alike, stressing that legal texts should uphold standards of clarity and accuracy to prevent misunderstandings and uphold the integrity of legal agreements.