13 Must-Know Uncountable Nouns for Lawyers
Many important Legal English nouns are uncountable. This means that they normally do not take a plural -s and are not used with a or an. Saying advices, evidences or trainings can make otherwise strong professional English sound inaccurate.
What is an uncountable noun?
An uncountable noun describes something treated as a mass, concept, activity or general body of material rather than as separate individual units. It normally takes a singular verb: The evidence is persuasive.
| Use | Do not normally use | Use instead |
|---|---|---|
| singular verb | The evidence are strong. | The evidence is strong. |
| no indefinite article | an advice | some advice / a piece of advice |
| no plural -s | legislations | legislation / statutes / pieces of legislation |
| quantity expressions | many evidence | much evidence / a great deal of evidence |
Thirteen uncountable nouns lawyers should know
| Noun | Meaning and important note | Example |
|---|---|---|
| experience | Professional knowledge gained through work. It is uncountable in this sense. | She has extensive experience in commercial litigation. |
| legislation | Written laws enacted by a legislature; not case law. | New employment legislation was introduced. |
| advice | Guidance or recommendations. The verb is advise. | The solicitor provided legal advice to the client. |
| evidence | Material used to prove or disprove facts. | The prosecution presented strong evidence. |
| knowledge | Understanding or expertise. | Her knowledge of contract law is impressive. |
| justice | The concept of fair treatment according to law. Justices can mean certain judges. | The victim’s family sought justice. |
| compensation | Money awarded or paid for loss or harm. | The claimant was awarded financial compensation. |
| litigation | The process of resolving disputes through court proceedings. | The firm specialises in corporate litigation. |
| arbitration | A private form of dispute resolution outside the courts. | The dispute was resolved through arbitration. |
| enforcement | The act or process of ensuring compliance with a law, order or agreement. | Enforcement of the judgment proved difficult. |
| confidentiality | The duty or quality of keeping information private. | The agreement contains a confidentiality clause. |
| jurisdiction | A court’s authority or competence. It can be countable when referring to different legal systems or territories. | The court has no jurisdiction over the matter. |
| training | The process of learning skills. Use training sessions or courses for separate events. | Trainee solicitors must complete legal training. |
Nouns that can also be countable
The meaning and context determine whether some nouns are countable. Experience is uncountable when it means professional knowledge, but countable when it means an event: Working abroad was an unforgettable experience. Jurisdiction is uncountable when it means authority, but countable when comparing legal territories: The transaction spans three jurisdictions.
| Incorrect or unsuitable | Better version | Why |
|---|---|---|
| She has many experiences in litigation. | She has extensive experience in litigation. | Professional experience is uncountable. |
| The lawyer gave me an advice. | The lawyer gave me a piece of advice. | Use a unit expression. |
| We collected several evidences. | We collected several pieces of evidence. | Evidence is uncountable. |
| I attended three trainings. | I attended three training sessions. | Training is normally uncountable. |
| The legislations are complex. | The legislation is complex. / The statutes are complex. | Choose an uncountable collective noun or a countable specific noun. |
Useful quantity expressions and collocations
- some advice, evidence or training
- a piece of advice, evidence or legislation
- a great deal of litigation or experience
- extensive knowledge, experience or training
- strong / compelling evidence
- financial compensation
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