Comments on: Contentious words

By: jolyonpatten

jolyonpatten — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:13:13 +0000

Rupert – “Ha!” [no words, no charge]

David – I entirely agree, and your point is neatly made by the extraordinary and ridiculous lengths that we went to to try and sort out the correct usage of the word. Even worse, I see now, looking back over the letter, I used the word twice. I’ll look for another construction in future, though sometimes it is just right – and fitting.

By: David Rossmiller

David Rossmiller — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:05:30 +0000

I hate the word “contend” in all its manifestations and try not to use it at all. Whether used correctly or not, the word acts as plow hitched to a good English sentence — it just slows things down. I would write something like “You claim that the contract,” or better yet, “You say that the contract.” In any event, I enjoy your posts. Keep on bloggin’.

By: Rupert White

Rupert White — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 12:35:30 +0000

Bloody lawyers! I’d have gone with:

“the contract cannot operate in the way you contend”

or even, heaven forfend:

“the contract cannot operate the way you contend”

But then, why use fewer words when you bill by the hour?

;-)

Rupert White, Law Society’s Gazette