One of the most overlooked steps in legal writing is the art of combining sentences. It sounds simple, but when done well, it turns a jumbled draft into a compelling argument. WordRake calls this process combination—and it’s a must for attorneys and legal professionals trying to increase clarity and flow.
What Is Sentence Combination?
Combination is about identifying related ideas and merging them into a single, stronger sentence. This improves rhythm, sharpens reasoning, and reduces clutter.
Compare these two sets:
- Before: “The witness testified inconsistently. The inconsistencies weakened the prosecution’s case.”
- After: “The witness’s inconsistent testimony weakened the prosecution’s case.”
Notice how the combined sentence not only reads better—it also places the emphasis exactly where it belongs.
Benefits for Legal Professionals
- Saves the reader time. Judges, clients, and partners don’t want to dig through fragmented writing.
- Strengthens persuasion. Merged sentences often clarify causality—what led to what.
- Improves collaboration. Combined ideas help junior staff or co-counsel follow the logic of your thinking.
How to Practice Combination
- Print a recent email or motion.
- Highlight related sentences that talk about the same topic or event.
- Ask how they connect. Cause/effect? Clarification? Chronology?
- Merge them. Use transitions like “because,” “which,” or “therefore” to smooth the connection.
- Read it aloud. If it flows better and remains clear—you’ve succeeded.
WordRake’s blog (https://www.wordrake.com/blog/how-to-build-an-expert-legal-writer) outlines this technique in the broader context of how expert writers revise with intention. It’s one of the simplest ways to tighten a draft—and yet one of the most powerful.
Clear legal writing doesn’t come from the first draft—it comes from deliberate revision. Sentence combination helps you clarify the story your brief is telling and deliver that story with more impact.
To explore guided revision tools that make this easier, review Workrake’s full blog post.
Bring It to Life with Savvy
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