While style certainly embellishes a text, it is not necessary. As Sir Harry Gibbs
pointed out, the judgments of Sir Isaac Isaacs “reminds one that style, though
important, is not
everything; his style was often lamentable, but his influence
was enormous”.
205
However, style and structure are related. Clear writing has its own style.
206
Indeed, on one view, style comes principally from “clarity and accuracy of
expression, coherence and rationality of thought and reasoning, and the
rejection of surplusage”.
207
It comes from “the lucidity, accuracy and
economy of the language used, the logical coherence of the thought, and the
rejection of the irrelevant”; its enemy is “diffuseness”.
208
In a
similar vein
Stendhal asserted that there was “perfect style” in the Napoleonic Code
because “everything was subordinated to the exact and complete expression
of what was said”.
209
Style, nevertheless, goes beyond structure and clarity. There is often more
than one way to say something in a clear and structured manner and one
method may be more enjoyable to read than the others. That is, there “is
scope for much variety, for the style of a judge [or other writer] is
characteristic of his or her personality, and experience shows that judicial [and
other] personality is infinitely variable”.
210
Style, to say it simply, captures “the
accidental or removable ornaments of writing”.
211
Basic Rules
There are some basic rules that can assist you to write in a good style. Of
course these apply generally, but not rigidly in all cases:
(1)
Use short and simple sentences.
(2)
Use simple words, unless a technical word is required.
(3)
Say what you mean as directly and concisely as you can.
(5)
Put statements in positive form.
(6)
Use definite, specific and concrete language.
as his laugh, his walk, his handwriting and the expression on his face.
The style, as Buffon puts it, is the man”.
205
Gibbs (1993) p 498
206
See, for example, the judgment of Dixon J in Bank of New South
Wales v Commonwealth (1948) 76 CLR 1, at p 26.
207
Gibbs (1993) p 502
208
Gibbs (1993) p 499
209
Cardozo (1925) p 4
210
Gibbs (1993) p 502
211
Cardozo (1925) p 4
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