Legalese in Plain English

The shift toward Plain English in the legal profession is not just about style; it is about accessibility and reducing the risk of litigation caused by ambiguity. Modern courts and the Solicitors Regulation Authority emphasise that legal documents should be understood by the people they affect. The following list provides common legalese terms alongside their modern, plain English equivalents.

A
Abovementioned → Mentioned above
Ad hoc → For this specific purpose
Aforesaid → Mentioned earlier
Afresh → Again
Aid and abet → Help
Albeit → Although
Any and all → All
At such time as → When
At the discretion of → Decided by
At this point in time → Now

B
Be it enacted → It is agreed/law that
Beforementioned → Mentioned earlier
Bona fide → In good faith
By and between → Between
By virtue of → Because of / under

C
Cease → Stop
Cease and desist → Stop
Commence → Start

D
De facto → In practice
De jure → In law
Deem → Treat as
Due and payable → Payable
Due to the fact that → Because

E
Each and every → Each
Ergo → Therefore
Et cetera (etc.) → And so on
Ex post facto → After the event
Execute (a document) → Sign

F
Final and conclusive → Final
Fit and proper → Suitable
Fit and proper person → Suitable person
For the avoidance of doubt → To make it clear
For the purpose of → To
For the reason that → Because
Forasmuch as → Because
Forthwith → Immediately
Free and clear → Clear
From time to time → Occasionally / when needed
Furnish → Provide
Full and complete → Complete

G
Give consideration to → Consider
Give, devise and bequeath → Give
Goods and chattels → Property

H
Has the ability to → Can
Hence → Therefore / so
Henceforth → From now on
Hereafter → From now on / after this
Hereagainst → Against this document
Hereat → At this point / place
Hereby → By this / as a result of this
Herefrom → From this
Herein → In this document
Hereinafter → Later in this document / from now on called
Hereinbefore → Earlier in this document
Hereinto → Into this
Hereof → Of this document
Hereon → On this
Hereout → Out of this
Hereto → To this document
Herethrough → Through this
Heretofore → Until now
Hereunder → Under this document
Hereunto → To this (formal signing phrase)
Hereupon → Immediately after this
Herewith → With this
Howsoever → However

I
In accordance with → Following
In default of → If not
In favour of → For
In good faith → Honestly
In light of the fact that → Because
In relation to → About
In respect of → About / relating to
In the event that → If
In trust for → Held for
In writing → Written
Including but not limited to → Including
Inasmuch as → Because / since
Inter alia → Among other things

L
Last will and testament → Will

M
Make payment of → Pay
May → Can / is allowed to
Mutatis mutandis → With necessary changes

N
Not less than → At least
Not more than → At most
Notwithstanding → Despite
Null and void → Invalid

O
On behalf of → For
On the basis that → Because / if

P
Per se → By itself
Peace and quiet → Peace
Prima facie → At first glance
Prior to → Before
Pursuant to → Under / in accordance with

S
Said (e.g. the said property) → The / that
Same (e.g. the same shall apply) → It
Save and except → Except
Shall → Must
Shall be deemed to → Will be treated as
Shall be entitled to → Has the right to
Shall not be liable for → Is not responsible for
Subject to → Depending on / limited by
Subsequent to → After
Such → This / that / the

T
Terminate → End
Terms and conditions → Terms
Thereafter → After that / later
Thereagainst → Against that
Thereat → At that place/time
Thereby → By that / as a result
Therefrom → From that
Therein → In that document / place
Thereinafter → Later in that document
Thereinabove → Above in that document
Thereinbefore → Earlier in that document
Thereinto → Into that
Thereof → Of that
Thereon → On that
Thereout → Out of that
Therethrough → Through that
Thereto → To that
Thereunder → Under that
Thereunto → To that
Thereupon → Immediately after that
Therewith → With that
To wit → Namely / that is

U
Undertake → Agree / promise
Undersigned → Person signing
Until such time as → Until

V
Viz. → Namely

W
Whatsoever → Whatever
Whensoever → Whenever
Whereafter → (rare) After which
Whereas → Because / given that
Whereat → At which
Whereby → By which
Wherefore → Therefore / for that reason
Wherefrom → From which
Wherein → In which
Whereinto → Into which
Whereof → Of which
Whereon → On which
Whereupon → After which / immediately after
Whereunder → Under which
Whereuntil → Until which
Whereunto → To which
Wherewith → With which
Whosoever → Whoever
With regard to → About
Without delay → Immediately
Without prejudice → Without affecting legal rights