Legislative Drafting Manual

www.abyssinialaw.com

---

48 
The passive voice may be useful

If the „doer‟ of the action is not known, or is obvious

If the action is performed as a result of another force (e.g. by law, by time)

If there is more than one „doer‟ of the action, listed at the end of the 
provision

If you want to focus attention on the receiver (person or object) of the 
action.
Only use the passive voice if you are consciously doing so for one of these 
reasons.
Number 
Use the singular instead of the plural when possible. The singular includes the 
plural. 
Gender 
Whenever possible laws should be drafted using gender-neutral terms. A drafter 
should not use gender-based pronouns.
There are two easy methods that the drafter may employ to avoid using gender-
based pronouns. The first method omits the use of the pronoun. The second 
method is to repeat the noun instead of the pronoun.
Pronouns 
Nouns are used in preference to pronouns even if the noun must be repeated, 
especially when a lack of clarity otherwise might result. When a pronoun is used, 
the drafter should check to see that there is no question as to the antecedent of 
the pronoun.
Use a pronoun only if its antecedent (the word for which the pronoun stands) is 
unmistakable. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and person. 
www.abyssinialaw.com

---

49 
Use a plural pronoun when the antecedent consists of two nouns joined by "and" 
and a singular pronoun when the antecedent consists of two singular nouns joined 
by "or" or "nor". When "or" or "nor" joins a singular noun and a plural noun, a 
pronoun should agree in number with the nearer noun. However, strict application 
of this rule can distort meaning, so it is usually best to try to make the construction 
plural.