The store honored the complaints, which were less than 60 days old. (来源：英语学习门户网站EnglishCN.com)

　　These sentences have different meanings as well as different punctuation. In the restrictive sentence, the store honored only those complaints less than 60 days old, but not those over 60 days old. In the nonrestrictive sentence, the store honored all the complaints, all of which were less than 60 days old.

　　这两个句子含义不同，所用标点也不同。在限制性从句中，商店只处理不超过60天的投诉；而在非限制性从句中，商店处理了所有的投诉，这些投诉都是60天内发生的。

　　3. Place proper punctuation around nonrestrictive clauses, but do not place punctuation around restrictive clauses. When a nonrestrictive clause appears in the middle of a sentence, place commas around it. When a nonrestrictive clause appears at the end of a sentence, place a comma before it and a period after it. Do not punctuate restrictive clauses.

　　在非限制性从句中可以使用标点，但在限制性从句中则不可以使用。当非限制性成分在句子中间出现时，应当在它前面和后面加逗号。当非限制性成分出现在句末时，在它前面加逗号，后面加句号。不要在限制性从句中使用标点。

　　Correct Punctuation of Nonrestrictive Clause:

　　The 1964 Ford Mustang, which propelled Lee Iacocca to the top of the automobile industry, is now considered a classic.

　　Correct Punctuation of Nonrestrictive Clause:

　　The credit card is in my wallet, which you can find in the kitchen drawer.

　　Correct Punctuation of Restrictive Clause:

　　The boat that sailed on October 25 is the one to which we referred in the contract.

　　六、口语（表达）Colloquialisms

　　法律文书是一种正式的文书。其首要目的就是清楚而有效地沟通观点。偶尔运用修辞性的华丽词藻有助于强调观点，尤其在论述性文书中。但是千万不要因用了华丽的表达而丢掉或混淆了重要的法律观点。观点重要性远大于表达形式。同样，写作不要象说话一样。英语口语中我们经常用生动的或是口语化的短语，这在书面英语中是不合时宜的。写作中一定不要用这些短语，要代之以准确的语言。

　　Incorrect: On arriving at the scene of the crime, the officer tore up the stairs in search of the big enchilada.

　　Correct: On arriving at the scene of the crime, the officer ran up the stairs in search of the leader of the crime syndicate.

　　前述例子中，口语短语"tore up the stairs" 和"big enchilada"有多个意思。所以，越准确语言越恰当。

　　Incorrect: On December 12, 1992, Ms. DeWitt kicked the bucket.

　　Also Incorrect: On December 12, 1992, Ms. DeWitt passed on to her heavenly reward.

　　Better: Ms. DeWitt died on December 12, 1992.

　　前述例子中，第一个不恰当的句子含俚语，通常这在法律文书或其它正式文书中都不合时宜。第二个不恰当的例子避免了俚语，但走到另一个极端，有失简洁。

　　七、冒号

　　1 一句话中在“such as " "including" 和 "for example" 短语后不用冒号。因为这些短语已提示读者接下来会举一些例子，没有必要再用冒号引出例子了，那样只是多此一举。

　　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 介词（例如“in”） 或副词后不用冒号列举。

　　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如果不违反上述规则 1或者规则2 ，则用冒号引出例子或解释。

　　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 当重申一个观点时，用冒号。如果跟在冒号后的是一个完整句子，则开头字母大写，反之，跟在冒号后的是从句或短语，则开头字母不大写。

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

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

　　八、Commas

　　逗号的用法是正确运用标点过程中最复杂，最容易产生误解的问题之一。在一些情形中，存在着被广泛接受的用法。然而在另一些情况下，却有不只一种用法。学生常常认为，担心标点的用法有点可笑：毕竟，法律分析才是最重要的呀。但是，假如一个人申请一份工作或向上级提交书面报告，没有什么会比忽视标点运用基本规则更容易给人留下负面印象的了。毕竟，一位高级律师是决不会愿意去更正一位初级律师的逗号的用法的。