Identification and correction of common imprecisions in the language of English contracts – part I (March 9, 2021)

Each of the following sentences contain a number of words/terms that need to be changed or “improved” (either because they are wrong or because they are imprecise in the context of the sentence). This may include incorrect legal terminology, wrong collocations, prepositions or a combination of all of these. They are already identified for you, now think of a better/correct option.

1. I didn’t agree with the seller’s price and therefore made him a new offer.

2. We have signed this agreement last week and are now both parts of it.

3. You can end this agreement since the other party did a very serious breach.

4. We will request an appropriate solution for your incompliance with the contract.

5. 50,000 Euros is the appropriate price for your right to reside in the property over the next 12 months.

6. You have failed to respect your obligations in this contract and I am confident the court will order us damages.

7. Make sure to put all your contractual changes suggestions by writing.

8. I have decided to terminate my offer before the other party had a chance to accept it.

9. Given your failure to perform your obligations, you are officially under breach of contract.

10. He didn’t have the ability to contract since he is only 17 years old.

Identification and correction of common imprecisions in the language of English contracts – part I: Answer Key

1. I didn’t agree with the seller’s price and therefore made him a new offer. COUNTER-OFFER

2. We have signed this agreement last week and are now both parts of it. ENTERED INTO \ PARTIES TO

3. You can end this agreement since the other party did a very serious breach. TERMINATE \ COMMITTED \ MATERIAL or FUNDAMENTAL

4. We will request an appropriate solution for your incompliance with the contract. SEEK \ REMEDY \ BREACH OF

5. 50,000 Euros is the appropriate price for your right to reside in the property over the next 12 months. CONSIDERATION

6. You have failed to respect your obligations in this contract and I am confident the court will order us damages. PERFORM, COMPLY WITH or FULFILL \ UNDER \ AWARD

7. Make sure to put all your contractual changes suggestions by writing. AMENDEMENTS \ IN

8. I have decided to terminate my offer before the other party had a chance to accept it. REVOKE

9. Given your failure to perform your obligations, you are officially under breach of contract. IN

10. He didn’t have the ability to contract since he is only 17 years old. CAPACITY