English Usage, Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling
What the domain tests
This domain checks control of standard written English under transcription conditions: agreement, pronoun case, modifier placement, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, and spelling of legal and ordinary words.
Core rules
- A collective noun such as 'court,' 'jury,' or 'board' takes a singular verb when it acts as one unit: 'The jury has reached a verdict.'
- Use 'who' for subjects and 'whom' for objects; 'whoever' and 'whomever' follow the same case logic inside the clause.
- A semicolon joins two independent clauses; a colon introduces a list, explanation, or quotation after a complete clause.
- Hyphenate compound modifiers before a noun ('a five-year sentence,' 'a well-reasoned opinion') but not after ('the sentence was five years').
- Capitalize full names of courts and judges' titles before a name; lowercase generic references: 'the circuit court,' 'the judge.'
- Watch legal homophones: 'liable/libel,' 'affect/effect,' 'ensure/insure,' 'ordinance/ordnance,' 'statute/statue.'
Worked example
Dictated: 'The court, after reviewing the parties' briefs, has determined that its ruling will affect the defendant's ability to appeal.' Reasoning: 'court' is generic and lowercase. 'parties'' is a plural possessive with the apostrophe after the s. 'its' is possessive, not 'it's.' 'affect' is the verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is usually the noun. 'defendant's' is singular possessive. The commas set off the introductory phrase 'after reviewing the parties' briefs.'
Traps
- Using 'it's' for 'its' in phrases such as 'its ruling.'
- Placing the apostrophe before the s in a plural possessive.
- Hyphenating a compound after the noun.
- Capitalizing 'Court' every time the word appears.
- Confusing 'principle' and 'principal' in legal prose.