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.