Lawyers are often criticised for using overly complex legal and
technical wording in contracts.
The purpose of a contract is, amongst other things, to clearly
set out the rights and obligations of the contracting parties, and
to limit uncertainty during the particular project.
To this end, it is important to use plain English in contract
drafting and as a general rule, to use short sentences, defined
terms and a clear and logical structure. Complex, lengthy and
technical language can create ambiguity, which defeats the purpose
of the exercise.
Separately, commentators have recently focused on the adoption
of gender-neutral terminology in contracts. With the ongoing
attempts to reduce gender bias in the construction industry, should
we be doing more to promote gender-neutral language in construction
contracts?
