Consider Using Gerunds to Refer to a Kind of Provision (Or Why I Say “No-Soliciting Provision”)

13 July 201813 July 2018 | Ken Adams

OK, which do you like better:

nonsolicitation provision
no-soliciting provision

And here:

nondisparagement provision
no-disparaging provision

And here:

noncompetition provision
no-competing provision

Me, I like the second option in each.

The first option is a clunky abstract noun. Boo. The second is a gerund, basically a verb form acting as a noun. (More on gerunds here.) Less clunky. Yay.

About the author

Ken Adams is the leading authority on how to say clearly whatever you want to say in a contract. He’s author of A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting, and he offers online and in-person training around the world. He’s also chief content officer of LegalSifter, Inc., a company that combines artificial intelligence and expertise to assist with review of contracts.

Consider Using Gerunds to Refer to a Kind of Provision (Or Why I Say “No-Soliciting Provision”)

The voice that matters.