Question: Which sentence is punctuated correctly for formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– “Why didn’t the doctor ask, ‘What’s wrong?,” the plaintiff wondered
\n- “Why didn’t the doctor ask ‘What’s wrong’?” the plaintiff wondered
\n- “Why didn’t the doctor ask, “What’s wrong?,” the plaintiff wondered
\n- “Why didn’t the doctor ask, ‘What’s wrong?'” the plaintiff wondered
Answer: “Why didn’t the doctor ask, ‘What’s wrong?'” the plaintiff wondered
Question: Which is correctly punctuated?
Answer Choices:
– I replied to her, “Even if you are in a hurry to buy, you should make sure there are no easements or other restrictions on the property”
\n- I replied to her, “Even if you are in a hurry to buy, you should make sure there are no easements or other restrictions on the property.”
\n- I replied to her, “Even if you are in a hurry to buy, you should make sure there are no easements or other restrictions on the property.”
\n- I replied to her”, Even if you are in a hurry to buy, you should make sure there are no easements or other restrictions on the property.”
Answer: I replied to her, “Even if you are in a hurry to buy, you should make sure there are no easements or other restrictions on the property.”
Question: Identify the prepositional phrase in “We must quickly ensure that there are no easements or outstanding debts on the property.”
Answer Choices:
– quickly ensure
\n- no easements
\n- on the property
\n- or outstanding debts
Answer: on the property
Question: Which sentence is written correctly for formal legal writing in the United States?
Answer Choices:
– A team of investigators is working hard on the fraud investigation
\n- Investigators, several of whom are on one team, is working hard on the fraud investigation
\n- A team of investigators are working hard on the fraud investigation
\n- Teams of investigators, composed of eight students and one instructor, is working hard on the fraud investigation
Answer: A team of investigators is working hard on the fraud investigation
Question: Which sentence is structurally correct?
Answer Choices:
– Trial lawyers argue cases, interview witnesses, and preparation for trial
\n- Trial lawyers argue cases, interview witnesses, and prepare for trial
\n- Trial lawyers argue cases, interview witnesses, and preparing for trial
\n- Trial lawyers argue cases, interviewed witnesses, and prepare for trial
Answer: Trial lawyers argue cases, interview witnesses, and prepare for trial
Question: Which reflects the recommended use of punctuation in formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– Consequently: Mr. Andrews was issued a citation and fined
\n- Consequently, Mr. Andrews was issued a citation and fined
\n- Consequently–Mr. Andrews was issued a citation and fined
\n- Consequently; Mr. Andrews was issued a citation and fined
Answer: Consequently, Mr. Andrews was issued a citation and fined
Question: Which sentence is correctly punctuated for formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– He further claims that his girlfriend Sara Watkins, opened the unlocked front door to the store
\n- He further claims that his girlfriend Sara Watkins opened the unlocked front door to the store
\n- He further claims that his girlfriend, Sara Watkins, opened the unlocked front door to the store
\n- He further claims that his girlfriend, Sara Watkins opened the unlocked front door to the store
Answer: He further claims that his girlfriend, Sara Watkins, opened the unlocked front door to the store
Question: Choose the answer that best uses active and concrete verbs.
Answer Choices:
– I assumed that the client would make an argument about the bill
\n- I made the assumption that the client would make an argument about the bill
\n- I assumed that the client would argue about the bill
\n- I made the assumption that the client would argue about the bill
Answer: I assumed that the client would argue about the bill
Question: Which sentence is punctuated correctly for formal legal writing? (Assume there are two separate plaintiffs)
Answer Choices:
– The plaintiffs’s decision to represent themselves may cost them custody of their two sons
\n- The plaintiffs decision to represent themselves may cost them custody of their two sons
\n- The plaintiff’s decision to represent themselves may cost them custody of their two sons
\n- The plaintiffs’ decision to represent themselves may cost them custody of their two sons
Answer: The plaintiffs’ decision to represent themselves may cost them custody of their two sons
Question: Which statement is not true about the use of quotations in legal documents?
Answer Choices:
– Language from the common law should be directly quoted if the language has developed such a rich history
\n- When quoting language from a judicial opinion, it is unacceptable to omit or condense any portion of the judge’s words
\n- It is often acceptable to quote a single word or phrase from the common law that has become a term of art
\n- It is acceptable in legal writing to paraphrase any content that is necessary to provide context for quoted material
Answer: When quoting language from a judicial opinion, it is unacceptable to omit or condense any portion of the judge’s words
Question: Which is true about the use of citation clauses and sentences in legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– Lawyers insert citations directly into the text when writing a practical legal document
\n- Lawyers are careful to use footnotes frequently in practical legal writing
\n- Lawyers cannot cite to an authority that supports only part of the sentence they are writing
\n- Lawyers separate a citation sentence with a comma that is placed directly at the end of a sentence
Answer: Lawyers insert citations directly into the text when writing a practical legal document
Question: Which reflects correct citation placement and punctuation?
Answer Choices:
– At common law, burglary could only occur in a dwelling house or a closely associated outbuilding, See State v. Fields, 337 S.E.2d 518 (N.C. 1985)
\n- At common law, See State v. Fields, 337 S.E.2d 518 (N.C. 1985), burglary could only occur in a dwelling house or a closely associated outbuilding
\n- At common law, burglary could only occur in a dwelling house or a closely associated outbuilding. See State v. Fields, 337 S.E.2d 518 (N.C. 1985)
\n- At common law (See State v. Fields, 337 S.E.2d 518 (N.C. 1985)) burglary could only occur in a dwelling house or a closely associated outbuilding
Answer: At common law, burglary could only occur in a dwelling house or a closely associated outbuilding. See State v. Fields, 337 S.E.2d 518 (N.C. 1985)
Question: Which sentence contains a modifying word or phrase that creates confusion?
Answer Choices:
– The defendant hid the knife in a coffee can after robbing the liquor store
\n- After robbing the liquor store, the defendant hid the knife in a coffee can
\n- No sentence is confusing
\n- The defendant hid the knife after robbing the liquor store in a coffee can
Answer: The defendant hid the knife after robbing the liquor store in a coffee can
Question: Which sentence is written correctly for formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– The law in most states, despite having otherwise severe penalties for intentional killings, have allowed a victim to kill an attacker in self-defense
\n- The law in most states, despite having otherwise severe penalties for intentional killings, allow a victim to kill an attacker in self-defense
\n- Despite having otherwise severe penalties for intentional killings, the law in most states allow a victim to kill an attacker in self-defense
\n- The law in most states, despite having otherwise severe penalties for intentional killings, allows a victim to kill an attacker in self-defense
Answer: The law in most states, despite having otherwise severe penalties for intentional killings, allows a victim to kill an attacker in self-defense
Question: Which sentence reflects the best choice of punctuation for formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– The expert testified that Charlotte is a very talented musician; she can play the piano, the violin and the flute
\n- The expert testified that Charlotte is a very talented musician; she can play the piano, the violin, and the flute
\n- The expert testified that Charlotte is a very talented musician; she can play the piano; the violin; and the flute
\n- The expert testified that Charlotte is a very talented musician; she can play the piano; the violin and the flute
Answer: The expert testified that Charlotte is a very talented musician; she can play the piano, the violin, and the flute
Question: Which numbering system would be your best option for a legal memorandum list?
Answer Choices:
– Legal writing should not be (1) redundant, (2) ambiguous, or (3) confusing
\n- Legal writing should not be 1.) redundant, 2.) ambiguous, or 3.) confusing
\n- Legal writing should not be 1) redundant, 2) ambiguous, or 3) confusing
\n- Legal writing should not be 1. redundant, 2. ambiguous, or 3. confusing
Answer: Legal writing should not be (1) redundant, (2) ambiguous, or (3) confusing
Question: Which pair of sentences is written correctly for formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– The Bar Association convention was deemed “a success.” The President said, “It will be hard to match this one.”
\n- The Bar Association convention was deemed, “a success.” The President said “it will be hard to match this one.”
\n- The Bar Association convention was deemed “a success.” The President said “it will be hard to match this one.”
\n- The Bar Association convention was deemed “a success.” The President said, “it will be hard to match this one.”
Answer: The Bar Association convention was deemed “a success.” The President said, “It will be hard to match this one.”
Question: Which altered quotation is formatted correctly for formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– “[Private officers] d[o] not possess the same power to make warrantless arrests afforded to Virginia [public] police officers.”
\n- “[Private officers] do not possess the same power to make warrantless arrests afforded to Virginia [public] police officers.”
\n- ‘Private officers d[o] not possess the same power to make warrantless arrests afforded to Virginia public police officers.”
\n- “[Private officers] do not possess the same power to make warrantless arrests afforded to Virginia public police officers.”
Answer: “[Private officers] d[o] not possess the same power to make warrantless arrests afforded to Virginia [public] police officers.”
Question: Which sentence is correct?
Answer Choices:
– Nineteen hundred and seventy-six marked the two hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
\n- Nineteen hundred seventy-six marked the two hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
\n- 1976 marked the two hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
\n- Nineteen hundred seventy six marked the two hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Answer: 1976 marked the two hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Question: Which sentence is correctly punctuated for formal legal writing?
Answer Choices:
– The contract should be signed using black permanent ink to prevent fraud
\n- The contract should be signed using black permanent, ink to prevent fraud
\n- The contract should be signed using black, permanent ink to prevent fraud
\n- The contract should be signed using black, permanent, ink to prevent fraud
Answer: The contract should be signed using black permanent ink to prevent fraud