英文法律文書簡明方法

英文法律文書簡明教程（七）冒號

1 一句話中在“such as " "including" 和 "for example" 短語後不用冒號。因爲這些短語已提示讀者接下來會舉一些例子，沒有必要再用冒號引出例子了，那樣只是多此一舉。

Incorrect: She had all the skills of a great litigator, such as: writing ability, perseverance, persuasiveness, and obsessive attention to detail.

Correct: She had all the skills of a great litigator, such as writing ability, perseverance, persuasiveness, and obsessive attention to detail.

2 介詞（例如“in”）或副詞後不用冒號列舉。

Incorrect: The new law student excelled in: Criminal Law, Legal Writing, and Torts.

Correct: The new law student excelled in Criminal Law, Legal Writing, and Torts.

Incorrect: The litigation tactics most disliked by the judge are: discriminatory use of peremptory challenges, indiscriminate use of document requests during discovery, and the introduction of frivolous motions as delaying tactics.

Correct: The litigation tactics most disliked by the judge are discriminatory use of peremptory challenges, indiscriminate use of document requests during discovery, and the introduction of frivolous motions as delaying tactics.

3如果不違反上述規則 1或者規則2 ，則用冒號引出例子或解釋。

Correct Use to Introduce a List:

The store carried all the items the new judge needed: gavels, judicial robes, case reporters, and computers.

Correct Use as an Explanatory Tool:

The restaurant served the type of food most preferred by lawyers: red meat.

4 當重申一個觀點時，用冒號。如果跟在冒號後的`是一個完整句子，則開頭字母大寫，反之，跟在冒號後的是從句或短語，則開頭字母不大寫。

Correct: The writing was brilliant: It was clear, concise, and analytically correct.

Incorrect: The writing was brilliant: clear, concise, and analytically correct.