合同写作技巧:写作注意事项
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2008-09-29 03:11 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

合同的大纲确定之后,就要开始正式的写作了。在写作时,下面这些方面请务必注意,因为它们可是关系到合同的内容与法律效力的。

1. Title it "Contract." Do not leave this one to chance. If your client wants a contract, call it a contract. A judge now sitting on the federal bench once ruled that a document entitled "Proposal" was not a contract even though signed by both parties. The lesson learned is, "Say what you mean." If you intend the document to be a legally binding1 contract, use the word "Contract" in the title.
标题上注明“合同”两字。不要为碰运气而忽略这个。如果你的客户需要合同,就要注明是合同。一个仍在联邦法院里任职的法官就曾经裁定:有双方签字,但标有“建议书”的文件并非合同。这给我们的教训就是,你怎么想,就应该怎么说。如果你想让你的文件成为具有法律效力的合同,就要在标题中注明“合同”字样。

2. Write in short sentences. Short sentences are easier to understand than long ones.
写短句子,因为短句子比长句子更容易理解。

3. Write in active tense, rather than passive. Active tense sentences are shorter and use words more efficiently2, and their meaning is more apparent.
Example of active: "Sellers shall sell the Property to Buyer." Example of passive: "The Property shall be sold to Buyer by Seller."
用主动语态而不用被动语态。相对而言,主动语态的句子更简短,措词更精练,表达更明白。让我们来看一个例子吧,主动语态的句子:卖方将把此物卖给买方;被动语态的句子:此物将被卖方卖给买方。

4. Don't use the word "biweekly." It has two meanings: twice a week and every other week. The same applies to "bimonthly." Instead, write "every other week" or "twice a week."
不要用“双周”之类的词,因为这有可能产生歧义--是两周还是每隔一周?类似的词还有“双月”,所以最好这样写:“两周”或“每隔一周”。

5. Don't say things like "active termites3 and organisms". Avoid ambiguity4 by writing either "active termites and active organisms" or "organisms and active termites." When adding a modifier like "active" before a compound of nouns like "termites and organisms", be sure to clarify whether you intend the modifier to apply to both nouns or just the first one. If you intend it to apply to both, use parallel construction and write the modifier in front of each noun. If you intend it to apply to just one noun, place that one noun at the end of the list and the modifier directly in front of it.
不要用“活跃的白蚁和有机体”之类的话,为了避免模棱两可,最好这样写:“活跃的白蚁和活跃的有机体”或是“白蚁和活跃的有机体”。当一组名词(如“白蚁和有机体”)前有一个修饰语(如“活跃的”)时,你一定要弄清楚这个修饰语是修饰两个名词还是仅仅修饰第一个名词。如果是修饰两个词,可以用排比的手法分别在这两个词之前加上修饰语,如果你只想修饰一个名词,那么你就应该把这个词放在这组词的最后,然后在它的前面加上修饰语。

6. Don't say "Lessor" and "Lessee5." These are bad nicknames for a lease because they are easily reversed or mistyped. Use "Landlord" and "Tenant6" instead. The same applies to lienor and lienee, mortgagor and mortgagee, grantor and grantee, licensor7 and licensee, party A and party B. This is where you can use your creativity to come up with a different nickname for a party, as long as you use it consistently throughout the contract.
不要用“出租人”和“承租人”。这对一个租赁合同来说是不好的别称,因为他们容易被颠倒或者出现打印错误。可以用“房东”和“租户”来代替他们。同样,在合同中也不要用“留置权人”和“留置人”,“抵押权人”和“抵押人”,“保证人”和“被保证人”,“许可人”和“被许可人”,“当事人A”和“当事人B”……到底怎么说,这就要看你驾驭语言的能力了。不过,要把握的一条原则是,在整个合同中,对合同一方只能用一个别称。

7. Watch out when using "herein." Does "wherever used herein" mean anywhere in the contract or anywhere in the paragraph? Clarify this ambiguity if it matters.
使用术语“本文(herein,也可译为“在这里”)”时要当心。为了避免含糊不清,使用“本文”时最好特别申明一下“本文”是指整个合同,还是指其所在的某一段落。

8. Write numbers as both words and numerals: ten (10). This will reduce the chance for errors.
写数目时要文字和阿拉伯数字并用,如:拾(10)。这将减少出错的几率。

9. When you write "including" consider adding "but not limited to." Unless you intend the list to be all-inclusive, you had better clarify your intent that it is merely an example.
如果你想用“包括”这个词,就要考虑在其后加上“但不限于……”的分句。除非你能够列出所有被包括的项,否则最好用“但不限于……”的分句,来说明你只是想举个例子。

10. Don't rely on the rules of grammar. The rules of grammar that you learned in school are not universal. The judge or jury interpreting the meaning of your contract may have learned different rules. Write the contract so that no matter what rules they learned, the contract is clear and unambiguous. Follow this test for clear writing: Remove all periods and commas, then read it. Choosing the right words and placing them in the right place makes the writing clear without punctuation8.
不要依赖于语法规则。那些你在学校里学到的语法规则并不是放之四海而皆准的东西,因为有权力来解释此合同的法官或陪审团成员学的语法规则可能和你学的不一样,但不管学的是什么规则,撰写合同都要遵循一个基本原则:简洁、明确。检查你写的东西是否达到这个要求有个好办法,那就是去掉所有的句号和逗号,然后读一下。在没有标点符号的情况下,选择正确的词语放在正确的位置上,这将使你写出来的东西更简明,更流畅。

11. Don't be creative with words. Contract writing is not creative writing and is not meant to provoke reflective thoughts or controversies9 about nuances of meaning. Contract writing is clear, direct and precise. Therefore, use common words and common meanings. Write for the common man and the common woman.
不要创造词语。合同文书不是创造性的作品,也就不应因为意思的细微差别而引起思考或争论。合同文书应该是清晰、直接而准确的。因此,要使用普通的词语,表达普通的意思,为普通人撰写合同。

12. Be consistent in using words. If you refer to the subject matter of a sales contract as "goods", use that term throughout the contract; do not alternately call them "goods" and "items." Maintaining consistency10 is more important than avoiding repetition. Don't worry about putting the reader to sleep; worry about the opposing lawyer a year from now hunting for ambiguities11 to get your contract into court.
用词一致。在一份销售合同中,如果你想用“货物”来指整个合同的标的物,就不要时而称它们为“货物”,时而又改称它们为“产品”。保持用词一致性比避免重复更加重要。不要担心这会让读者打瞌睡;你应该提防的是对方律师会因为含糊不清的合同而将你告上法庭。

13. Be consistent in grammar and punctuation. The rules of grammar and punctuation you learned may differ from others, but you had better be consistent in your use of them. Be aware of such things as where you put ending quote marks, whether you place commas after years and states, and similar variations in style.
在文法和标点符号上保持一致。你所学的文法和标点用法可能和别人学的不一样,但你最好在使用上保持一致。要特别注意句末的引号、时间和地点之后的逗号以及文风的相似性。

14. Consider including choice of law, venue12 selection, and attorneys fee clauses. If your contract gets litigated, you might as well give your client some "ammunition13" for the fight.
可以在合同中加入所依据的法律、合同发生地、律师费等条款。有了这些条款,一旦合同引起诉讼,你就已经为你的客户打这场诉讼战准备好了一些“弹药”。

来源:阿里巴巴



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 binding 2yEzWb     
有约束力的,有效的,应遵守的
参考例句:
  • The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
  • Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。
2 efficiently ZuTzXQ     
adv.高效率地,有能力地
参考例句:
  • The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
  • Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。
3 termites 8ee357110f82dc8b267190e430924662     
n.白蚁( termite的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Termites are principally tropical in distribution. 白蚁主要分布在热带地区。 来自辞典例句
  • This spray will exterminate the termites. 这种喷剂能消灭白蚁。 来自辞典例句
4 ambiguity 9xWzT     
n.模棱两可;意义不明确
参考例句:
  • The telegram was misunderstood because of its ambiguity.由于电文意义不明确而造成了误解。
  • Her answer was above all ambiguity.她的回答毫不含糊。
5 lessee H9szP     
n.(房地产的)租户
参考例句:
  • The lessor can evict the lessee for failure to pay rent.出租人可驱逐不付租金的承租人。
  • The lessee will be asked to fill in a leasing application.租赁人要求填写一张租赁申请。
6 tenant 0pbwd     
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用
参考例句:
  • The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
  • The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
7 licensor 9a460cc331d32c6e9cad9a9f6a665fd3     
n.认可证颁发者(尤指批准书籍出版或戏剧演出的官员)
参考例句:
  • The licensor simply agrees to provide technology. 卖方只同意提供技术。 来自辞典例句
  • All rights not expressly granted by Licensor are hereby reserved. 所有未经授权人明示授与的权利,于此加以保留。 来自互联网
8 punctuation 3Sbxk     
n.标点符号,标点法
参考例句:
  • My son's punctuation is terrible.我儿子的标点符号很糟糕。
  • A piece of writing without any punctuation is difficult to understand.一篇没有任何标点符号的文章是很难懂的。
9 controversies 31fd3392f2183396a23567b5207d930c     
争论
参考例句:
  • We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议,我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
  • The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句
10 consistency IY2yT     
n.一贯性,前后一致,稳定性;(液体的)浓度
参考例句:
  • Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
  • We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。
11 ambiguities c533dc08d00d937d04433f16ae260367     
n.歧义( ambiguity的名词复数 );意义不明确;模棱两可的意思;模棱两可的话
参考例句:
  • His reply was full of ambiguities. 他的答复非常暧昧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Fortunately, no ambiguities hang about this word or about its opposite, indeterminism. 值得庆幸的是,关于这个词和它的反义词,非决定论都不存在多种解释。 来自哲学部分
12 venue ALkzr     
n.犯罪地点,审判地,管辖地,发生地点,集合地点
参考例句:
  • The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
  • The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。
13 ammunition GwVzz     
n.军火,弹药
参考例句:
  • A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
  • They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。
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