Writers should use underlining to illuminate quotations, says Sills Cummis' Kenneth Oettle, because it guides the reader and adds emphasis. But underlining doesn't work so well on a writer's own words and can make the writer appear to be trying too hard. Oettle advises that you use it sparingly and to bear in mind this observation from one of his acquaintances: "When I see underlining other than in a quotation, I tend to think the person who wrote the brief is inexperienced, i.e., a junior attorney."
June 15, 2006 at 12:00 AM
1 minute read
The original version of this story was published on Law.Com
Underlining can illuminate quotations. It guides the reader and adds emphasis. But underlining doesn’t work so well on a writer’s own words. It usually makes the writer appear to be trying too hard.
Suppose the defendants are taking a position inconsistent with admissions they made in their answer to the complaint. You are plaintiffs counsel. In a motion brief, you call the defendants’ inconsistency to the court’s attention, arguing as follows:
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