Legal Phrases used by Lawyers and Non-Lawyers

Abandonment giving up a legal right.

Abatement is: cancelling a writ or action;
stopping a nuisance;
reducing the payments to creditors in proportion, if
there is not enough money to pay them in full; or
reducing the bequests in a will, in proportion, when
there is not enough money to pay them in full.

Abduction taking someone away by force.

Ab initio from the start of something. (This phrase is Latin.)

Abovementioned describing something which has been referred to
before in the document.

Abscond when a person fails to present themselves before the
court when required, such as when they have been
released on bail and not returned to court.

Absolute complete and unconditional.

Absolute discharge someone who has been convicted of an offence
being released without any penalty. (They may still
have to pay compensation though.)

Absolute owner the only owner of property such as equipment,
buildings, land or vehicles.

Absolute privilege a defence which can be used in a case of
defamation if the statement from which the
defamation arose was:
• made in Parliament;
• in fair and accurate news reporting of court
proceedings; or
• made during court proceedings.

Abstract of title a document, drawn up by the seller, summarising the
title deeds to a property (such as a house).

Abuse of process when criminal proceedings are brought against a
person without there being any good reason and with
malice.

Abuttals the parts of the boundaries of a piece of land which
touch pieces of land alongside.

Acceptance when an offer is accepted unconditionally and a
legally binding agreement is created.

Acceptance of service when a solicitor accepts a writ on behalf of a client.

Acceptor the organisation (such as a bank) which will pay the
cheque or bill of exchange it has accepted.

Accessory someone who encourages or helps another person
to commit a crime.

Accomplice someone who helps another person to commit a
crime.

Accordingly a word used in legal documents which means
therefore or so.

Accounts the record of an organisation's income, spending and
financial situation.

Accumulation reinvesting income generated by a fund back into the
fund.

Accused the person charged with a criminal offence.

Acknowledgement admitting that someone has a claim or admitting that
a debt exists.

Acknowledgement of
Service when a defendant agrees that a writ or originating
summons ('claim form' since April 1999) has been
received. The defendant fills in, signs and sends
back the acknowledgement of service to confirm in
writing that the documents were received.

Acquit when a court lets a person go without any penalty. If
a court decides that a person is not guilty of a crime,
or the case has not been proved, it will acquit the
person.

Acquittal the court's decision that a person is innocent of the
crime they were charged with.

Action using the law to make a claim.

Active trust a trust where the trustees have other responsibilities
rather than to just let the beneficiaries have the
trust's assets when they ask for them.

Act of bankruptcy an act which, if carried out by a person with debts,
could have led to bankruptcy proceedings against
that person.

Act of God an extreme naturally occurring event (such as an
earthquake, avalanche or flood) that could not have
been anticipated.

Actual bodily harm hurting another person but less severely than would
amount to grievous bodily harm.

Actual loss an insurance term which means that the insured item
no longer exists.

Actuary an expert on pension scheme assets and liabilities,
life expectancy and probabilities (the likelihood of
things happening) for insurance purposes. An
actuary works out whether enough money is being
paid into a pension scheme to pay the pensions
when they are due.

Actus reus an act which is illegal, such as theft. (This term is
Latin.)

Additional voluntary
contribution (AVC) extra money people in occupational pension
schemes can pay in to increase their pension
benefits.

Ademption when a gift in a will cannot be made because the
item no longer exists.

Ad hoc for a particular purpose. For example, a committee
set up to deal with a particular situation is an ad hoc
committee. (This term is Latin.)

Ad idem in agreement. (This term is Latin.)

Ad infinitum endlessly or forever. (This term is Latin.)

Adjourned sine die when a court case has no date fixed for it to continue.

Adjournment postponing a court hearing.

Adjudge/adjudicate to give an official judgement about something. For
example, if someone cannot pay their debts a court
may adjudge them bankrupt.

Adjudication order the former name for a court order which made
someone bankrupt. It has now been replaced with
the term bankruptcy order.

Administration order an order made by a county court when a person or a
company cannot pay their debts. Normally the court
orders that the debts are repaid by instalments and as
long as the debtor keeps to the order the creditors
cannot do anything else to recover their money.

Administrator someone who has been appointed:to manage the
affairs of a bankrupt business; or to manage the
estate of someone who has died without leaving a
will.

Admissibility of
Evidence which evidence can be presented in court. Evidence
must be relevant to the case but even some relevant
evidence cannot be presented, such as hearsay or
evidence of little value. The judge decides whether or
not evidence can be used in the case.

Admission one side in a case agreeing that something the other
side has alleged is true.

Admonition reprimanding of a defendant by a judge even though
the case against the defendant has been discharged
(dropped).

Adoption the system which people use to become parents,
even though they are not the child's natural parents.

Adoptive child a child who has been legally adopted.

Adoptive parent a person who has legally adopted a child.

Ad valorem in proportion to the value. An ad valorem duty goes
up as the value of the goods, shares and so on that it
is charged on rises. (This term is Latin.)

Adverse possession intentionally occupying land to prevent the rightful
owner or tenant using it.

Adverse witness a witness who gives evidence which damages the
case of the side which asked the witness to testify for
them.

Advocate is:
• the lawyer who speaks in court for a client; or
• a Scottish lawyer who is the equivalent of a
barrister in England and Wales.

Affidavit a written statement which is sworn to be true by the
person signing it. It is sworn before someone
authorised by the court.

Affirm to:
• solemnly promise to tell the truth in court;
• solemnly promise to tell the truth in an

affidavit;
• confirm a decision made by a lower court;
or
• allow a contract to continue even though it
could have been cancelled because it was
fundamentally breached.

Affirmation solemnly promising to tell the truth when giving
evidence. It is an alternative to swearing an oath
when the person giving evidence does not wish to.

Affray fighting unlawfully. It is a criminal offence.
Aforementioned describing something referred to previously in the
document.

Aforesaid describing something which has been said or
referred to before in the document.

Agency the relationship between a principal and an agent.

Agent someone appointed to act for a principal.

Age of consent the age when a person can consent to have
sexual intercourse. In the UK it is 16.

Aggravated assault a more serious type of assault such as one leading
to actual bodily harm.

Aggravated burglary entering premises armed with a weapon, intending to
steal goods.

Aggravated damages extra damages awarded because the defendant has
caused the victim anguish, loss of self-respect or
shame.

Aggravated vehicle taking stealing a vehicle, driving it dangerously and as a
result injuring someone or damaging property.

Agricultural holding a type of tenancy agreement for someone doing
agricultural work. The tenant has special rights
including, when the tenancy finishes, the right to
compensation for improvements to the land. If the
land has deteriorated the tenant must compensate
the landlord.

Aiding and abetting helping someone to commit a crime.

Airspace the space in the atmosphere directly above a piece
of land. If you own a piece of land you also own the
airspace above the land.

Alias a false name.

Alibi a claim that a person was elsewhere when a crime
was committed. If someone is accused of a crime
their alibi is:
• evidence that the person was somewhere else
when the crime was committed; or
• an attempt to prove that the person was
somewhere else when the crime was
committed.

Alien someone from a foreign country.

Alienation transferring the ownership of property from one
person to another.

All and sundry everybody.

Allegation an unproved statement declaring that something has
happened.

Alleviate to lessen or reduce.

Allocation rate the proportion of money left to be invested after
charges have been taken off when money is paid
into a fund (such as a pension fund). For example, if
the charges were 2%, the allocation rate would be
98%.

Allotment shares allocated to a buyer. An allotment of shares
in a company gives the owner (of the allotment) an
unconditional right to buy the shares at a fixed price.
All that words used in a conveyance to introduce the
description of the property which is being conveyed.

Alternate director a person appointed by a director to take the
director's place.

Alternative verdict a person being found guilty of a less serious crime
than the one they were charged with. If a more
serious charge has not been proved and the
defendant has been found not guilty, the defendant
may be found guilty of a less serious crime instead.
For example, there may not be enough evidence to
convict someone of a murder but there may still be
enough for a manslaughter conviction. This is known
as an alternative verdict.

Amalgamation two or more companies combining.

Ambiguity capability of more than one meaning. When a
statement's meaning is not clear because it is
capable of more than one meaning, it contains an
ambiguity.

Ambulatory will a will which can be revoked or changed while the
person who made it is still living.

Amnesty not punishing a person for an offence they have
committed and removing details of the offence from
the court's records is giving the person an amnesty.

Ancient lights the right not to have the light you receive from a
neighbour's land blocked.

Annual accounts the summary of an organisation's financial
transactions during the year covered by their
accounts, and a 'snapshot' of the assets and
liabilities at the end of the year.

Annual general
Meeting the yearly meeting of the members of an
organisation which must be held to meet legal
conditions. The annual accounts are presented for
approval at this meeting.

Annual return a return which must be sent by companies to the
Registrar of Companies. Each year the officers of a
company have to fill in an annual return with details
of the members, officers, shares issued and other
information about the company. The return is then
sent to Companies House for filing and is available
for inspection by members of the public.

Annuitant the person who gets paid an annuity.

Annuity an amount paid out every year to someone. The
money usually comes from an insurance policy. It
can be split up into smaller amounts and be paid out
more frequently, such as monthly. It is usually paid
for the rest of the beneficiary's life.

Annul to cancel:
• an invalid marriage; or
• a bankruptcy order.

Ante before. (This is a Latin word.)

Antecedents details about the past of a defendant or a person
found guilty of a crime. The information about
previous crimes, background and bad behaviour is
given to the court before the sentence is given.

Antenuptial agreement a legal agreement between two people who are
about to get married. The agreement sets out how
the couple's assets will be divided between them if
they later divorce.

Anton Piller order an order by the High Court. It gives the applicant
permission to search the defendant's premises for
evidence, inspect it and take it away. It is intended to
prevent evidence being destroyed or hidden which
would be relevant to the case. (Since April 1999, this
has been known as a 'search order'.)

Appeal asking a court to overturn a lower court's decision. If
the decision of a court is disputed it may be possible
to ask a higher court to consider the case again by
lodging an appeal.

Appellant the person who is appealing to a court against a
decision of a lower court.

Appellate jurisdiction the authority a court has to hear an appeal against a
decision made by a lower court.

Appertaining to

Applicant the person asking a court to do something.

Appointee the person who gets the benefit of the use of a
power of appointment.

Appointor the person who uses a power of appointment.

Appurtenances minor rights in land such as a right to do something
on the land.

Arbitrage is:
• borrowing money at a low rate of interest to
lend out again at a higher rate; or
• buying and selling in different markets to make
profits out of the price differences.

Arbitration settling a dispute by using a referee. If a dispute
goes to arbitration it is settled by an independent
referee. It avoids having to use the courts to settle
the dispute.

Arbitrator the independent referee who settles a dispute
without the need to use the courts.

Arraignment a procedure at the start of a trial when details of the
offences are read out and the defendants are asked
whether they will plead guilty or not guilty.

Arrest to seize someone, usually because they are
suspected of committing a crime, and take them into
custody.

Arrestable offence a crime for which a person may be arrested without a
warrant being needed.

Arson setting fire to something to cause damage to it.

Articles the clauses in a document. A company's articles set
out its rules. The articles form part of the
memorandum and articles of association.

Articles of association documents which set out a company's rules.

Assault when someone threatens another person with
physical harm. Words on their own do not amount to
assault but threatening gestures do, even if the
person threatened is not touched.

Assent a document used by personal representatives to
transfer property to a beneficiary.

Asset something owned such as a building, a vehicle or
money in the bank.

Assign to formally transfer something, such as when
ownership of property is transferred from one person
to another.

Assignment the formal transfer of the rights to something. An
example would be a bank customer assigning to the
bank the right to receive the benefits from a life
insurance policy to give the bank security for a loan.

Assurance insurance cover for an event which will definitely
happen, such as death.

Assure to transfer the ownership of something.

Assured the person whose life is insured or who is entitled to
receive the benefit from the assurance cover.

Assured shorthold
Tenancy a type of tenancy agreement under which the landlord
has the right to take the property back at the end of
the tenancy agreement.

Attachment of earnings a court order that deductions be made from a
person's earnings. The employer pays the money
collected to the court and the court pays the money
to the people it is owed to.

Attest to sign to witness a signature on a document.

Attorney a person appointed to act for another person (such
as when someone cannot look after their own
affairs). A formal document called a power of
attorney is used to appoint the attorney. It is also
the name used for a US lawyer.

Attorney General the chief legal adviser to the Government. He or she
must be a Member of Parliament (or have a seat in
the House of Lords) and must be a barrister.

Audit an independent examination of an organisation's
records and financial statements (report and
accounts) to make sure that:
• the financial statements show a fair reflection
of the financial position at the accounting date;
• the income and spending is shown accurately;
• the financial statements meet any legal
conditions; and
• the financial statements are drawn up clearly.

Auditor's report a report and opinion, by an independent person or
firm, on an organisation's financial records.

Authorised share
Capital the highest amount of share capital that a company
can issue. The amount is set out in the company's
memorandum of association.

Authorised
Investments investments in which a trustee is permitted to invest
trust money, under an Act of Parliament.

Autopsy an examination of a dead body to find the cause of
death.

Vocabulary used in Sales and Acquisitions

actual price agency contract agreed price all-in price allowance - reduction amount - sum amount of an invoice approximate price article - item as per sample assortment - range assortment of sizes back order - outstanding order backlog of orders bargain to bargain over the price batch - lot of goods business card (GB) - calling card (US) buy by installments (GB) - to buy on the installment plan (US) to buy for cash to buy in bulk - to buy wholesale to buy on credit buyer - purchaser to cancel an order to cash - to collect cash before delivery cash discount cash on delivery (GB) - collect on delivery (US) cash sale cash with order catalogue (GB) - catalog (US) catalogue price cheap - inexpensive claim - complaint to collect a debt collection color reference commercial agent commercial invoice commercial letter market supply - market offer maturity rate to meet a deadline missing goods to negotiate negotiation net price non-returnable packing non delivery old stocks - oddments on account on credit order order acquisition order approval order book order confirmation order from catalogue order processing packing charged at cost packing excluded packing included packing list to pass an order to pay in advance payment payment by check payment by installments payment in advance payment on account point of sale - sales outlet poor quality price ceiling price decrease - price reduction price fluctuation price list price marked up by 10% price range price recommended by the manufacturer price reduction

commission - fee company store - factory outlet competitive price complaints department complimentary - free to confirm an order contract of sale customer - client customer assistance customer portfolio customer service department cut in prices - lowering of prices date of expiry (GB) - expiration (US) date of receipt deadline defective - faulty to delay in delivery delay of payment delayed delivery delivery delivery charges delivery date delivery order discount on quantity discount price discount scale to distribute drop in sales dumping price duty-free shop to enclose enquiry - inquiry to estimate everyday article ex-factory price exclusive agreement exclusive contract exclusive right of sale execution of an order price tag price/quality ratio pricing pro-forma invoice purchase invoice quality defect quality standards quotation to raise prices receipt reduction to refuse an order regular customer representative office retail price retail sale - retailing retail trade - retailing retailer - retail dealer runner sale - selling sale by sample sales commission sales department sales discount sales force sales invoice sales meeting sales period sales proposal sales returns sales target sales volume salesman - seller sample sample collection sample only - of no commercial value sampling second-hand second-hand items second-rate

to export exportation - export extension of payment factory price faulty goods first choice to fix a price for sale foreign branch free gift - complimentary gift free trial full price goods goods in stock goods on consignment to grant a delay of payment to grant a discount to guarantee (GB) - to warrant (US) guaranteed free of faults illustrated catalogue immediate delivery to import import licence importation - import importer increase sales intermediary - middleman invoice - bill to invoice invoice price keep prices down lead time list price loss of customers low-quality lower prices lump sum price to make a delivery to make an estimate market prices seconds to sell by sample to sell in bulk to sell off to sell on commission to sell out to sell wholesale - to wholesale selling expenses settlement of the invoice shop - store (US) shopkeeper slump in prices sold sole agency sole agent solvency special offer specified price spot goods - on-the-shelf goods steady prices sub-agent to submit an invoice suggested price - recommended price supply suspend payments temporary import terms of payment terms of sale time of delivery top quality trade practices trade price trial order unit price unsold wholesale wholesale discount wholesale price wholesale trade wholesaler

Vocabulary used in Management of Logistics

a nonstop flight actual time of departure advance freight - prepaid freight advice of shipment - shipping notice - advice note agreed airport of departure agreed tare air waybill (AWB) - air consignment note all-up weight allowed tolerances at the border average survey backed note barrel batch number bearer bill of lading below deck berth - mooring bill of entry bill of lading (B/L) boarding card bonded warehouse - customs warehouse border - frontier bulk cargo by mail - by post cardboard box - carton cargo - load cargo insurance cargo plane - freight plane carriage - transport (GB) - transportation (US) carriage by sea - sea transport carriage forward carriage paid carrier certificate of origin certificate of shipment charter party CIF value clearance clearance agent clearance certificate handling costs harbor dues - harbor fees harbor office heavy traffic hold home delivery house air waybill (HAWB) import duties import licence in bond - waiting for clearance in bulk in transit inch inspection certificate kilogramme - kilo landed terms landing landing card landing order - discharging permit litre (GB) - liter (US) loading and unloading charges loading area loading unit lorry (GB) - truck (US) lot luggage (GB) - baggage (US) metre (GB) - meter (US) mile millimetre moorage net tonnage net weight on arrival on board on deck ounce outward journey overland forwarding overload owner's risk rate

clearance documents clearance duty cleared - ex bond - duty paid collection of goods consignee consignor's name consignor consular invoice container container terminal containership cost and freight (C&F) cost, insurance and freight (CIF) cubic cubic volume - cubic capacity custom-house - customs customs declaration form customs formalities customs guard - customs officer customs invoice customs officer customs rate customs regulations declared value delivered at frontier (DAF) delivered duty paid (DDP) delivery ex warehouse delivery notice delivery weight destination dock - quay - wharf docker (GB) - longshoreman (US) documents against acceptance documents against payment driver duty-free duty duty paid duty unpaid entry visa packing list part load part shipment payload place of delivery place of departure place of destination port - harbour (GB) - harbor (US) port authorities port of arrival port of call port of departure port of destination port of discharge - port of delivery porterage postage poste restante (GB) - general delivery (US) pound preferential rate preliminary inspection product loss during loading protective duty rail shipment - rail forwarding reply paid right of way road transport - haulage rummaging scheduled time of arrival scheduled time of departure sender's name sender ship - vessel shipment shipowner company shipping agent shipping company shipping cubage shipping documents shipping instructions shipping note (S/N)

to charter a ship to clear the goods dock ex factory - ex works ex ship ex warehouse excess luggage (GB) - excess baggage (US) export permit failure - damage flat-rate foot forwarder's receipt forwarding agent forwarding station free-trade area free carrier free delivered free delivery free in and out (FIO) free of all average free of charges free on board (FOB) free on board airport free on quay (FOQ) - free at wharf free on truck free port freepost freight - freightage freight charges freight payable at destination freight prepaid freight rate from port to port full container load (FCL) goods handling goods train (GB) - freight train (US) goods wagon (GB) - freight car (US) goods yard (GB) - freight yard (US) gram - gramme gross gross weight hand luggage to handle with care high seas land to rent a car to send goods - to ship goods to ship single ticket (GB) - one-way ticket (US) specified port - agreed port storage - warehousing storage costs - warehousing costs to store to stow stowage charges subject to duty tare - tare weight terms of delivery time zone difference tolerance toll-free ton tonnage trailer tranship transhipment - transloading transport by rail transport plane unit of measurement unloading operations unpacked warehouse receipt warehousing - storage waybill - consignment note weigh weighing weight weight limit weight specified in the invoice yard

Terms used by Human Resource Professionals

absentee absenteeism absenteeism rate accident at work - industrial injury applicant - candidate application form to apply for a job to appoint a person apprenticeship aptitude test to ask for a rise assessment of applicants assistant back pay bargaining power basic salary to be dismissed - to be fired to be laid off to be on probation - to be on trial to be on strike to be out of work business hours - office hours Christmas bonus clerical work - office work company bargaining - company negotiation compensation for permanent disability concealed work - moonlighting contractual situation cost of living allowance credentials day shift direct labour disability pension disciplinary measure - disciplinary sanction to dismiss - to fire overtime pay overtime work part-time part-time job partial disability pay pay formula - retribution diagram pay increase for merit payroll - payroll ledger payslip pension pension fund period of notice permanent disability permanent job - steady job permanent staff personnel - staff personnel department personnel requirements planner prevention production bonus professional qualifications professional training programmer public holiday (GB) - national holiday (US) purchasing manager re-employment redundancy payment refresher course relationship management remuneration resign (chairman) - to give notice (employee) resignation (chairman) - notice (employee) to retire dismissal dismissal for cause dismissal without notice early retirement employer employment agency employment card - working papers temporary disability temporary staff the job is still vacant top manager total disability trade-union (GB) - labor union (US) internal regulations to interview irregular work - discontinuous work job - employment job application job description job evaluation

dismissal dismissal for cause dismissal without notice early retirement employer employment agency employment card - working papers employment contract - labour contract employment for a trial period employment office employment rate executive cadres executive personnel exit permit experienced person family allowances to fill a vacancy freelance full-time employment full employment full time general strike to go on strike gross wages and salaries have an accident at work health care higher education - advanced education to hold a position holiday (GB) - vacation (US) human relations - human relationships independent unions index-linked wages indirect labour industrial relations (GB) - labor relations (US) industrial tribunal - labour court retirement retirement age right to strike to risk indemnity role clash salaried workers - employees salary salary range - wage band seasonal employment seasonal workers secondary job to secure employment to select candidates senior clerk - senior employee severance pay - dismissal pay short-term employment sick leave skilled labour skilled work skilled workers social costs social insurance - national insurance social security sole director staff costs - personnel costs to strike striker to take measures to take one's holidays temporary disability temporary staff the job is still vacant top manager total disability trade-union (GB) - labor union (US) employment contract - labour contract employment for a trial period employment office employment rate executive cadres executive personnel exit permit experienced person family allowances to fill a vacancy freelance full-time employment full employment full time general strike to go on strike gross wages and salaries have an accident at work health care higher education - advanced education to hold a position holiday (GB) - vacation (US) human relations - human relationships independent unions index-linked wages sick leave skilled labour skilled work skilled workers social costs social insurance - national insurance social security sole director staff costs - personnel costs to strike striker to take measures to take one's holidays job satisfaction job security job sharing junior clerk - junior employee labor costs labor disputes labor force - manpower labor market labor mobility labor relations - trade-union relations labor retraining labor supply learning by doing - learning by practice leave letter of appointment lock-out management training managing director middle management minimum rate of pay motivation night shift occupation - employment office hours

internal regulations to interview irregular work - discontinuous work job - employment job application job description job evaluation job satisfaction job security job sharing junior clerk - junior employee labor costs labor disputes labor force - manpower labor market labor mobility labor relations - trade-union relations labor retraining labor supply learning by doing - learning by practice leave letter of appointment lock-out management training managing director middle management minimum rate of pay motivation night shift occupation - employment office hours office manager office staff - office personnel on the job training outsourcing to train training training period trial period under contract underemployed unemployment unemployment benefits union dues - union subscription union officer - trade unionist unjustified dismissal unpaid leave unskilled labour unskilled worker vacancy - vacant position wage-cost spiral wage-earning workers wage-packet (GB) - pay envelope (US) wage bargaining - pay negotiations wage ceiling wage claims wage dynamics wage freeze wage indexation scale wage pressures welfare contributions to work at home work overtime work sheet worker - blue-collar worker working day working hour workload workplace office manager office staff - office personnel on the job training outsourcing to train training training period trial period under contract underemployed unemployment unemployment benefits union dues - union subscription union officer - trade unionist unjustified dismissal unpaid leave unskilled labour unskilled worker vacancy - vacant position wage-cost spiral wage-earning workers wage-packet (GB) - pay envelope (US) wage bargaining - pay negotiations wage ceiling wage claims wage dynamics wage freeze wage indexation scale wage pressures welfare contributions to work at home work overtime work sheet worker - blue-collar worker workshift

Vocabulary used in Marketing

to act on the price after-sales activities after-sales service assisted brand identification to be competitive to be out of stock behavior pattern blind product test brand equity brand extension brand loyalty brand positioning brand preference brand range brand strategy brand switching brand value branded product buy for fun buying frequency buying habit buying motivation call planning cannibalization cartel price case history cash and carry certificate of guarantee chain of retailers cluster analysis commercial strategy competition competitive advantage competitive products competitiveness market penetration market potential market research market segmentation market share market size market survey market test marketing goals marketing mix marketing plan marketing techniques mass-market product maturity phase memory research merchandiser minimarket mission multipack niche strategy one-stop shopping open question own brand products panel - consumer panel parallel import penetration index perceived quality pilot scheme pilot shop pilot survey point of sale (POS) position positioning potential market premium price

competitor competitor profile consumer association consumer panel consumer survey convenience goods convenience store corporate identity corporate image cost per call cost per contact coverage customer loyalty customer satisfaction customer service cut-throat competition demand and supply curve demand components department stores discount superstores display material distribution distribution chain distribution channel distribution cost distributor domestic market driving effect economic model empirical research entry barriers excess of supply exhibition - show exhibition stand exit barriers prestige product price-sensitive buyers price-sensitive product price competitiveness price limit price perception price/quality effect product image product life cycle product manager product oriented product policy product range propensity to consume psychological threshold public relations (PR) purchase headquarters purchasing group qualitative interview qualitative research quality management quantitative interview quantitative research random sample random sampling redemption redemption costs reference price reference value registered trademark repositioning retail outlet retail prices retailer brand sales analysis

social-economic factors socio-economic characteristics sole selling price soundout the market specialized store statistical survey sub-brand substitute products supply curve targeted distribution taste test telephone research trade fair trade mark trademark - brand name trend unbranded product unfair competition unstructured interview user value chain value system variety store (GB) - variety shop (US) wholesale stores wholesaler brand win-win strategy

Vocabulary used by Professionals in the Legal Industry

This core vocabulary reference sheet provides key words and phrases used in legal settings when practicing law. This vocabulary can be used in English for specific purposes classes as a starting point for including vocabulary study relating to anything related law and practicing legal services. Teachers are often not equipped with the exact English terminology required in very specific trade sectors. For this reason, core vocabulary sheets go a long way in helping teachers provide adequate materials for students with English for Specific Purposes needs.

to abandon an action according to law arbitration arbitration clause assessment of damage assignment attorney - proxy holder authenticate to award a contract bankruptcy bankruptcy petition to be in force bilateral agreement binding breach of contract to break an agreement to break the law cancellation date certificate to certify to cheat - to swindle code come into force come to terms competent court lease contract legal action - lawsuit legal adviser legal assistance legal charges - legal fees legal department legal domicile legal proceedings - legal action legal representative lessee - tenant letter of intents liability in contract licensee lien creditor limitation period magistrate - judge mortgage notary public notice to notify omission partial agreement to patent patent patent holder

(GB) - to dishonor (US) to dispute to draw up a contract effective date to endorse - to back to enforce a law exclusion clause - exemption clause fair rent to file documents fine first mortgage fixed term contract fraud - swindle gentlemen's agreement to give due notice guarantee deposit patent office patent pending per procurationem - by proxy power of attorney - proxy prescription principal procedure protest proxy public officer to put on record - to take minutes quittance - aquittance to refund - to pay back register a trademark registered registration charges - registration fees to rent - lease - hire resolution responsibility - liability revenue stamp to revoke rights on industrial patent royalties rule - regulation second mortgage

to have full legal powers to honour (GB) - to honor (US) illegal - unlawful illegally implement an agreement in case of controversy in force in good faith indictment industrial property to infringe injunction insolvent invalidate jointly and severally judge judgement jurisprudence justice lack of evidence to lapse - to be statute-barred lapsed law courts lawyer (GB) - attorney (US) to lease - to rent - to let separate signature to settle a dispute to sign a receipt signature by proxy specimen signature subcontractor sublease - sublet to sublease - to sublet to sue summon witnesses to take legal action to take someone to court tax fraud tenant tenderer the regulations in force third-party guarantee third mortgage trial venue unpatented upon notice verbal agreement verdict witness written agreement

Vocabulary used when writing a business letter

This sheet focuses on core vocabulary and phrases used when writing business letters or e-mails in English. This business writing reference can be used in English for specific purposes classes as a starting point for students who need to use English on an everyday basis for written business communications. Teachers are often not equipped with the exact English terminology required in very specific trade sectors. For this reason, core vocabulary sheets go a long way in helping teachers provide adequate materials for students with English for Specific Purposes needs.

to act on behalf of to agree with always at your service as agreed as far as I'm concerned as far as the payment is concerned as follows as per invoice as per to the conditions as per your request as requested as soon as possible at your convenience at your earliest convenience at your expense awaiting your reply to be able to to be authorised to to be characterised by to be confident in to be delighted to to be held responsible for to be in arrears with payments to be in difficulty to be interested in on arrival of the goods on behalf of on condition that - provided that on delivery on receipt of the order on short notice on written request order to be confirmed our best attention our offer is still open outside address to pay the maximum attention to the matter payable in advance please allow us please send us please send us your instructions prices are increasing to reach the destination to refer to to return a letter to the sender to sell at the best to send under separate cover sender address short term similar to sample - up to sample

to be late to be overrun with orders to be prepared to - to be willing to before the date we agreed upon Best regards body of the letter circular letter claim - letter of complaint to come to a decision to come to an agreement - to reach an agreement complimentary close to cope with the competition correspond to the sample to correspond with covering letter due to oversight enclosure - attachment to fix an appointment following your instructions from order receipt further to our letter - following our letter goods listed below greeting half-price to have the pleasure to to stop negotiations to submit a sample to suit the quality - to meet the quality to take into consideration the aim of this letter the following items the goods are available in our warehouse the goods are not similar to sample the goods are sold out the goods arrived in good conditions the letter remained unanswered the matter in reference the meeting was cancelled to our mutual benefit to the kind attention of under separate cover up to an amount of utmost care we acknowledge receipt of we apologize again for we apologize for we apologize for the delay we apologize for the mistake we are sorry to have to we are sorry to inform you

to have the power to hereby in case of need in compliance with - accordingly in due time - in due course in good condition in our favour in partial payment in reply to your letter in the absence of to inform in due time inside address to let someone know in advance letter opening - beginning of the letter letterheading - heading to look forward to looking forward to an early reply looking forward to hearing from you to make the goods available to meet a demand to meet customer's requirements to meet the demand Messrs to notify in advance about on advanced payment we have received we hope we'll receive the goods soon we look forward to your kind reply we must apologise for we remain - our kindest regards we sent you we thank you in advance we wish to inform you that we would appreciate it if you could answer we would appreciate your reply with no obligation - without commitment with reference to - in reference to with the compliments of with the utmost care with two weeks' notice within the end of the month within which without delay without notice would you please let us have would you please let us know you ordered you requested you sent us Yours faithfully (GB) - Yours truly (GB)

Words and Phrases used in International Law

International Law Glossary:

a non liquet = a legal question to which there is no answer

a titre de souverain: in the name of the sovereign; assertion of territorial acquisition

The Blue List: the diplo list maintained by the Department of State; name on the list doesn’t necessarily mean that the Executive has endowed you with diplo immunity

Cession: when one state gives away land

Secession: when an area breaks away from one state

Charming Betsy Presumption: akin to the U.S. Avoidance Canon; “an Act of Congress ought never to be construed to violate the law of nations if any other possible construction remains”; this is a tough task since proper interpretation of a treaty is an int’l question as to which courts of the U.S. have less leeway; the disposition to construe a treaty to avoid conflict with a state statute is less clear (pg. 220); sensible approach especially since most national legal systems follow it - - allows states to reconcile domestic and international obligations

Comity: politeness between states; respecting the interests of other states.

Constitutive Recognition: the act of recognition by other states confers int’l personality on an entity purporting to be a state; in effect, the other states by their recognition create the new state

Declaratory Recognition: existence or disappearance of a state is a question of fact and whether those facts meet the criteria for statehood established by int’l law; primary function of recognition is to acknowledge the fact of the state’s political existence and to declare the recognizing state’s willingness to treat the entity as an int’l person, with the full rights and obligations that go along with that (most authority and practice lies here)

Dualism: regard international law and municipal law as separate legal systems which operate on different levels; international law can be applied by municipal courts only when it has been ‘transformed’ or ‘incorporated’ into municipal law; international law, as incorporated into municipal law, is subject to constitutional limitations applicable to all domestic law, and may be repealed or emphasize the international legal personality of states, rather than of individuals or other entities. (this is the U.S. approach for the most part ); con = it may be harder to enforce international law with this; Preserves localism and democracy. But your government participated in international norm. Implementing legislation is needed.

Erga omnes: a legal obligation toward all; ususally used in reference to human rights or environmental issues. The term falls within the International Law Principle of Universality, that is the idea that certain activities are so reprehensible that the rules of jurisdiction are waived so that any state may apprehend an alleged perpetrator and try them under their own jurisdiction. Such crimes might include: piracy, slave trade, operating a "stateless vessel", genocide, and war crimes.

The Estrada Doctrine (p. 297): adopted by Mexico; generally understood to mean that recognition of gov’ts is unnecessary once the state has been recognized by another state.

Forum Prorogatum: takes place if the parties to a dispute, after the initiation of proceedings consent to the jurisdiction of the ICJ; without this consent, the Court would not be in the position to exercise jurisdiction; A state can also invoke by pleading to the merits of a claim without raising any objections to jurisdiction. In this case, if the D loses on the merits, the court will exercise jurisdiction.Exceptional situation in 36(1).

Gentlemen’s Agreements: treaties that intend to create only political or moral, as opposed to legal, commitments

Int’l legal person: Subjects of int’l law include persons and entities capable of possessing int’l rights and duties under int’l law and endowed with the capacity to take certain types of action on the int’l plane

Intertemporal Law: looking at law in force at the relevant time: promotes stability and fairness.

jus ad bellum: are a set of criteria that are consulted before engaging in war, in order to determine whether entering into war is justifiable.

jus cogens: (“compelling law”) a mandatory norm of general international law from which no two or more national may except themselves or release on another; the fundamental peremptory norms, can only be replaced by another norm of the same level; a fundamental norm that can’t be derogated by treaty

jus in bello: The laws of war, which define the conduct and responsibilities of belligerent nations, neutral nations and individuals while engaged in warfare, in relation to each other and to protected persons, usually meaning civilians. • Applies to all parties whether the underlying cause is just or unjust.

les ferenda: law in formation

lex lata: existing law

The Lotus Principle: At the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings in 1996 the UK argued that in international law, if something is not actually forbidden, then it is permitted; so called because in the 1920’s a ship of that name featured in a decision made by the ICJ's predecessor, the Permanent Court of International Justice.

Martens Clause = civilians and combatants remain protected under intl. law

Monism: regard international law and municipal law as parts of a single legal system; traditionally, municipal law is seen as ultimately deriving its validity from international law, which stands ‘higher’ in a hierarchy of legal norms; international law cannot be subject to domestic law, not even to constitutional limitations; find it easier to maintain that individuals have international legal personality; (Netherlands is a good example of this); Better chance for enforcing IL. No implementing legislation if needed to incorporate IL into the state’s legal system.

Opinio Juris sive necessitatis: (“opinion that an acct is necessary by rule of law”)The principle that for a country’s conduct to rise to the level of int’l customary law, it must be shown that the conduct stems from the country’s belief that int’l law (rather than a moral obligation) mandates the conduct

pacta sunt servanda: (“agreements must be kept”) Pacta Sunt Servanda: (“agreements must be kept”) The rule that agreements and stipulations, esp. those contained in treaties, must be observed; Principle of good faith compliance with the real meaning of the law. Attaches legal meaning and obligations. If one state complies, it believes it can rely on others to do the same. Every treaty in force is binding and must be performed in good faith. Purpose and intention should prevail over its literal application. P. 140 Supp/Article 26

pari passu: Both proceedings can be pursued equally; without preferential treatment

peremptory norm: a norm that is so fundamental that a state cannot contravene it

Persistent Objector? A state may escape the effect of customary rules of law if the State has persistently, promptly and consistently object to the application of that rule from its inception. If a custom becomes established as a general rule of intl. law, it binds all States which did not oppose it even if they themselves had not been active in its formation

Pinochet syndrome: general jurisdiction so that the torturers are not safe wherever they go

Positivism: emphasizes the obligatory nature of legal norms and the fixed authoritative character of the formal sources; also in order for it to be considered “law” the norm must be capable of application by a judicial body

Prescription - The process of acquiring title to property by reason of uninterrupted possession of specified duration. (Continual peaceful possession/occupation/prescription – also a pre-req of statehood)

proprio motu self-initiating prosecutor

ratione materiae is immunity to certain kinds of act on behalf of the state in his official capacity (like an ambassador after resignation; official act)

ratione personae is immunity of all acts, broad immunity, only during office (like an ambassador during office);

The Reagan Doctrine – asserting the right of the U.S. (or any other state) to intervene by force to defend, maintain, restore or impose democratic gov’t

The Brezhnev Doctrine – the Reagan doctrine’s counterpart from the Soviet Union

res nullius: empty territory

“Schultz notification” saying that rather than wait for the ICJ to hear the case in 6 months, the US will pull out now

Self-Defense

• Anticipatory Self-Defense – invading another country when armed attack is imminent; highly controversial; stick to Article 51 with a possible exception for an immediate definite impending attack; few accept this principle though (p. 971)

• Interceptive Self-Defense - Attack isn’t even imminent but you see it coming. Might pose a threat. None of this argument is accepted (p. 971)

Soft law: collectively, rules that are neither strictly binding nor completely lacking in legal significance; guidelines, policy declarations, or codes of conduct that set standards of conduct but are not directly enforceable.

special rapporteur – human rights shizzle

terra nullius: territory belonging to no one. Cannot be found to exist where there is local people with social/political organization.

Travaux Preparatoire- every major treaty has this that gives background of the treaty and the intentions of the drafters. This is considered supplemental, but it is looked at. United States looks to this and proposed that it be looked at as a primary source of interpretation, but this was shot down.

Ultra Vires Actions: unauthorized/beyond the scope of power allowed or granted by a the law of the state;

Voluntarism: intl. legal rules emanate exclusively from the free will of states as expressed in conventions or usage generally accepted as law

The White List: lists all employees of diplomatic missions; also maintained by the Department of State

Words and Phrases used by Jockeys, Owners and Trainers

Horse racing lingo and slang words

Here's a glossary of horse racing lingo to help you understand some of the more unusual words which have been adopted in horse racing. Horse racing dates back hundreds of years and over the journey it has developed a language all of its own. 

Age of Horse: All racehorses celebrate their birthdays on the same day. This makes it easier to keep track of breeding and records.

In the northern hemisphere (United Kingdom, Ireland, France, USA and Canada) horses celebrate their birthday on the 1st of January each year.

In the Asia and the southern hemisphere (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore) horses celebrate their birthday on the 1st of August each year.

Bagman: Bookmakers associate responsible for settling up on bets at the track.

Bailed Up: A runner racing inside of other runners and awaiting clear galloping room.

Barriers: The starting gates or 'stalls' from which the horses jump at the beginning of a race.

Birdcage: A portion of the racecourse where horses are paraded before the start of the race. Birdcage is also known as the celebrity room at large race days such as the Melbourne Cup in Australia.

Blinkers: A piece of gear placed on a horse to limit its vision and prevent it from being distracted by what's around it.

Blows: When a horse is unwanted in betting before the race and the bookies increase the price. For example: a price blows out from $3.20 to $4.50.

Bookmakers: A person or company licensed by the government to accept bets.

Checked: A term describing interference experienced by a horse.

Class: Describes the standard or grade of a race.

Coat-Tugger: Someone who offers a punter a tip and wants a percentage of the winnings.

Colt: A young male horse either two or three years old that has not been gelded.

Correct Weight: Placings in a race are official and any winnings can now be paid out on the race. Correct weight means all jockeys have weighed in correctly at the end of the race to ensure each horse was carrying the correct amount of weight.

Dam: The female parent of a horse. In human terms, the 'mother' of a horse.

Dead Heat: Two or more horses finishing in an exact tie at the finishing post. For a dead heat the odds of a horse are divided in half to pay out each of the two winners evenly.

Derby: A classic race for three-year-olds.

Dwelt: Refers to a horse that has hesitated at the start and is slowly into stride.

Eased: Describes a horse that has been restrained in order to find a better position back in the field. Can also refer to a horses odds increasing in the lead-up to a race.

Farrier: A specialist in equine hoof care.

Fast: The firmest track rating. Now known as Firm in Australia.

Feature Race: The most significant race of the day, usually determined by the ratings of the horses involved, its category and the prize money on offer.

Filly: A young female horse three years old or younger.

First-up: A runner resuming from a spell (a spell being a minimum two-month break from racing).

First Starter: A horse making his racetrack debut.

Fluctuation: Odds movement of a runner as dictated by betting activity.

Front Runner: A horse who usually settles out in front.

Furlong: A scale used in European and American racing which is equivalent to approximately 200m. e.g. 3 furlongs = approx. 600m.

Good Track: The optimal racing surface. In Australia, track managers always aim for track to be rated a Good 4.

Head: A margin between runners that equates to roughly the length of a horse's head. If a horse wins by a head it is a close margin.

Heavy Track: A very rain-affected track. A Heavy 10 is the worst possible track rating in Australia.

Hoop: Another name for a jockey.

Hurdle Race: A jumps race over lower fences than a steeplechase.

Impost: The weight carried by a horse in a race. It's a term most commonly used when referring to horses to carrying top weight or that are high up in the weights scale.

In Foal: Pregnant mare.

Knocked Up: Describes a horse that weakens noticeably in the concluding stages.

Knuckled: When a horse stumbles forward in a race, often upon jumping. It often costs the horse ground and can sometimes lead to the jockey being dislodged.

Late Mail: Last-minute tips that take scratchings, jockeys, track conditions and whispers from informed sources into account.

Late Scratching: A runner that is withdrawn from the race after 8am on raceday. If a late scratching is made, the betting odds are adjusted to account for that horse being removed from the market.

Lay: When a bookie offers better odds because they believe the horse can't win. Or the act of betting on a horse to lose on a betting exchange like Betfair.

Length: A horse's length from nose to tail. If a horse wins by 1 length it has won by about 3 meters.

Long Shot: A runner paying big odds.

Maiden: A horse who has not won a race.

Mare: A female horse aged four years or older.

Middle Distance: Racing distance classification that generally describes races in the 1400m-2040m range.

Mudlark: A horse that excels on wet tracks.

Mug Punter: A person who is poor at punting/betting.

Neck: Margin between horses - about the length of a horse's neck (unsurprisingly).

Near Side: Left side of a horse.

Nose: The smallest official margin between horses on the line.

Off Side: The right side of the horse.

On The Nose: To back a horse for the win only.

Photo Finish: A result so close that it is necessary to use a finishing post camera to determine the winner.

Pig Root: The act of a horse bucking. This will cost a horse ground and can often dislodge the jockey; it almost always puts paid to a horse's chance of being competitive in a race.

Plunge: A sudden rush of bets for a particular horse, often placed close to the race's advertised start time.

Punter: A person placing a bet.

Rails: The prime position in the bookies ring where the larger bets are exchanged. Also a the term used to denote the the fence-like structure that marks the boundary of the racetrack.

Ridden Out: Describes a horse that has been vigorously ridden to the line by its jockey without the use of the whip.

Roughie: A horse at a long price in the ring with a much lower chance of winning. If you pick a 'roughie' your winnings will be far higher because of the chances involved.

Scratched: A horse which has been removed from a race. Reasons for this can include that there is a better race option for the horse on the horizon, illness, injury, unfavourable barrier draw or at the direction of racing officials.

Second Up: A horse's second start during a preparation.

Silks: The often brightly coloured and patterned jacket and cap worn by jockeys in a race. Silks are generally in the colours of the most prominent owner of the horse or in the trainer's racing colours.

Sire: The male parent of a horse. In human terms, the father.

Spell: A horse that has had a minimum two-month (60 day) break from racing.

Stallion: A male horse that has not been gelded (castrated). Also describes male horses whose racing deeds and pedigree are such that it is desirable to breed from him.

Stayer: A horse who performs best when it races over longer distances.

Stewards: Racing officials responsible for enforcing the rules of racing.

Strapper: A person employed by the trainer to groom and look after the general day-to-day welfare of a horse.

Stone Motherless: Describes a horse who has finished a clear last in the race.

Swooper: A horse whose style of racing is to race near the back of the field before unleashing a fast-finishing burst towards the finish line and often down the outside portion of the track.

Top Fluctuation/Top Fluc: A bet type which gives you the highest odds during on-course betting. These bets generally need to be placed at least half an hour before the race.

Under Double Wraps: Describes a horse who is traveling well without any urgings from its jockey.

Unders: A horse whose odds are too low in relation to its chances of winning. e.g. Taking 'unders' means you've bet on a horse at odds which should have been higher.

Wager: A bet.

Warned Off: Someone who is warned off is a person banned from entering a racecourse and/or associating with other licensed persons. Or, according to sentence handed down in 2013: The consequences of being warned off include not being permitted to enter any racecourse or training facility, not being able to have an interest in any thoroughbred racehorse and not being able to place a bet on thoroughbred races with a wagering operator.

Well-Held: Describes a horse who has been comfortably beaten by the winner.

Write Your Own Ticket: This refers to a runner that is so unlikely to win that a bookie would give you any odds you ask. The expression is also loosely used in reference to any betting outcome that has very little likelihood of occurring.

Yearling: A horse (of either sex) that is between one and two years old. This is the age at which most horses are bought at the sale