above-mentioned, aforementioned

To write clearly and effectively, avoid legal jargon like the word above-mentioned or aforementioned. Instead, use words such as previously, earlier or above.

  • Legal jargon: The above-mentioned documents are available on our website.
  • Plain language: The documents mentioned previously (or earlier or above) are available on our website.
  • Legal jargon: The police have investigated the aforementioned incidents.
  • Plain language: The police have investigated the above incidents.

You can also replace these terms with demonstrative adjectives: this, that, these, those.

  • Legal jargon: The above-mentioned documents are available on our website.
  • Plain language: These documents are available on our website.
  • Legal jargon: The police have investigated the aforementioned incidents.
  • Plain language: The police have investigated these incidents.

Copyright notice for Writing Tips Plus

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada

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