Indian Legal English: Common Errors and Preferred Alternatives for Court Practice

in a future day on a future date Days and dates always take “on” not “in” on the said address at the said address Addresses take “at” not “on” satisfied of the reasons satisfied as to / with the reasons “Satisfied of” is an Indianism; “satisfied as to” is standard discuss about the matter discuss the matter “Discuss” never takes “about” — the object follows directly reply the notice reply to the notice “Reply” always requires “to” before its object return back the document return the document “Back” is redundant with “return” revert back revert “Revert” already means to go back — “back” is redundant order for payment order payment / direct payment “Order for” is an Indianism; the verb takes a direct object request for an adjournment request an adjournment / apply for an adjournment “Request for” is an Indianism; “request” takes a direct object service to a party service on a party Legal service is always “on” a party, never “to” based on these facts he argued on the basis of / relying on these facts “Based on” used as a dangling participle is grammatically incorrect appeal against the decree appeal from the decree The CPC uses “from”; “against” is informal though widely used as per the judgment in accordance with / under the judgment “As per” is an Indianism; not used in formal legal writing