Second Language Legal English
Wherever you are in your study or knowledge of the English language, you will know that it is full of exceptions and broken rules. This newsletter is a perfect example of that frustrating fact. Today, we will look at words frequently used by lawyers and how they are expressed in the negative form - for example, lawful and unlawful, legal and illegal, possible and impossible, effective and ineffective.
And there's the problem: why are there so many prefixes (the letters that appear at the front of the word that creates the negative form: un-, in-, im- a-, ir-, il-) and how do you know the right one to use? Are there any rules to follow? The simple and unhelpful answer is that English derives from many languages, and the correct prefix depends on the original language from which the word is taken. Most native speakers don't know whether 'capable' is from French, German or Latin and therefore can't apply the rule that says the negative form must therefore be incapable rather than uncapable. To make matters worse, sometimes there is more than one prefix, so there can be more than one negative form. Interested has both uninterested and disinterested as a negative word form. The words have to be learned, I'm afraid to say. So here is a list of words that lawyers regularly use, with some notes to help you. Test your knowledge; click on the word to reveal the opposite. Please note: each word in the list is an adjective (a word that describes or qualifies a noun (e.g. a just (adjective) decision (noun); the contract (noun) was valid(adjective)).
Admissible: acceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a court of law.
Opposite: inadmissible
Valid: having legal effect or status
Opposite: invalid. Stress the first syllable in-VA-lid. Stress the first syllable IN-valid and the word has a different meaning: a person disabled by illness or injury
Just: what is morally right or fair
Opposite: unjust.
Legal: conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law
Opposite: illegal.
Lawful: conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law
Opposite: unlawful
Able: having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something
Opposite: unable
Testate: adjective - died having made a valid will
Opposite: intestate
1. Interested: having an interest or involvement in something
Opposite: disinterested; impartial and unbiased
2. Interested: showing interest or curiosity, wanting to know more
Opposite: showing no interest or curiosity, not wanting to know more.
Revocable: something that can be ended or cancelled
Opposite: irrevocable
Voluntary: freely given or done freely without reward or payment
Opposite: involuntary
Permissible: allowed or permitted
Opposite: impermissible
Sufficient: having enough or an adequate amount
Opposite: insufficient
Material: significant or relevant to an outcome or a decision
Opposite: immaterial
Legitimate: conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law
Opposite: illegitimate
Solvent: having assets in excess of liabilities; able to pay one's debts
Opposite: insolvent
Enforceable: capable of being enforced, requiring someone to comply
Opposite: unenforceable
Similar: having a resemblance in appearance, character, or quantity, without being identical
Opposite: dissimilar
Formal: (of language used) using correct grammar, properly constructed sentences and precise language
Opposite: informal
Equitable: fair, impartial
Opposite: inequitable
Alienable: able to be transferred to different ownership
Opposite: inalienable
Partial: favouring one side over another, biased
Opposite: impartial
Adequate: satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity
Opposite: inadequate
Practical: likely to be effective or capable of being carried out
Opposite: impractical
Fair: just, impartial, proper, honest
Opposite: unfair
Qualified: officially recognised or especially competent to perform
Opposite: unqualified, meaning not qualified. Disqualified means a person was once qualified but is no longer qualified.
Competent: having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully
Opposite: incompetent
Constitutional: in accordance with the rules governing the conduct of a state or nation
Opposite: unconstitutional
Effective: successful in producing a desired or intended result
Opposite: ineffective
Other forms of opposites or negatives
The list you have just looked at shows the opposite meaning of a word. The opposite of just is unjust. The opposite of legal is illegal. But what about nonlegal? The non- form can mean other than or not. "The neighbours sorted out their dispute using nonlegal means" indicates they did not need to engage lawyers or go to court. Perhaps they just sat down, talked about the problem and agreed the solution. Or maybe they used a mediator (a nonlawyer).
But sometimes it just means 'not'. The sale price is nonnegotiable just means not negotiable. The seller won't accept a lower price. The employer wants a noncompete clause means the employer does not want the employee to compete with their business if they leave.
You will also see it written non-legal, non-lawyer, non-negotiable, and non-compete.