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<td style="padding-left:10px; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:10px; padding-right:15px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10pt;">JANUARY 19, 2017</td>
<td style="padding-left:10px; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:10px; padding-right:15px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10pt;"><strong>Welcome to Bar Briefs, your quick weekly collection of practice tips,<br />
membership benefits, upcoming events, new products, and more!
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<h2 style="color: #045394;"><img src="
http://images.wisbar.org/Images/DigestEmails/WordVsWord_200w.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="136" align="left"/>Word vs. Word</h2>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">Talking. We have been doing it since we were about two years old. Writing came a few years later, but we have had lots of time to perfect the art. Still, most of us are making language mistakes without realizing it.
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Whether drafting contracts, writing briefs, or communicating with clients and opposing counsel, it is imperative that your words accurately convey your message. Using a word incorrectly can not only make you look a little foolish, but can also be detrimental to your case.
</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Here’s a look at some words you may be misusing, along with examples of their correct, formal usage.
</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><strong>Imply vs. Infer:</strong> You <em>imply</em> when you indicate or suggest something without explicitly saying it. You <em>infer</em> by drawing a conclusion based on reasoning or evidence. </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: She <em>implied</em> the witness had reason to lie about his whereabouts. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: The investigators <em>inferred</em> from his behavior that he was hiding something. </p></blockquote>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Ironic vs. Coincidental:</strong> It is <em>ironic</em> when the opposite of what is expected happens. When something unplanned happens, it is <em>coincidental.</em></p>
<blockquote style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 7px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: It was <em>ironic</em> that the cleaner used on the spill ruined the carpet. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: It was an unhappy <em>coincidence</em> that he lost his job the day after taking out a loan. </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Travesty vs. Tragedy</strong>: Contrary to popular usage, these words are not interchangeable. A <em>travesty</em> is a mockery or debased imitation; a <em>tragedy</em> is a disaster or horrible event. </p>
<blockquote style="margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 7px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: The comedian specialized in <em>travesties</em> of political figures and events. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: They feared his recklessness behind the wheel could result in a terrible <em>tragedy</em>. </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Farther vs. Further:</strong> Use <em>farther</em> when talking about a physical distance. Use <em>further</em> when describing the degree or extent of an action or situation. </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: Since I started training, I am able to run <em>farther</em> each day. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: I must <em>further</em> consider the facts before making a decision. </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Literally vs. Figuratively:</strong> In the simplest of terms, <em>literally</em> describes something that actually happened. <em>Figuratively</em> is used with metaphors or idioms. </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: She was <em>literally</em> shaking with rage. </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Correct: He was <em>figuratively</em> foaming at the mouth. (Note: If there was actual foam coming out of his mouth, use literally.) </p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">This is just a sample of some of our “favorite” misused words. Fellow word nerds, tweet @StateBarofWI using #wordvsword to share yours.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">With nearly 2 million searches conducted through WisBar Lawyer Search each year, WisBar.org is a popular online directory of Wisconsin lawyers used by the legal community, court personnel, and the public – including potential clients and referral sources.
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 7px;">Ensure you’re easy to find by updating your WisBar profile under <em>my</em>StateBar. The more complete your profile, the better you look in Lawyer Search results. You have the option to add information such as:</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">To edit your profile, log in to WisBar.org, go to <em>my</em>StateBar, and then select <em>my</em>Profile. Scroll down to the Advanced Profile section and add the desired information. Photos display shortly after they are uploaded while other new information displays on WisBar within 48 hours. Need help? Contact <a href="
mailto:service@wisbar.org">Customer Service</a> at (800) 728-7788.</p>
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<h3 style="color: #045394; margin-bottom: 7px;"><img src="
http://images.wisbar.org/Images/DigestEmails/SecDiv_Connect_175w.jpg" alt="" width="109" height="90" align="right"/>Division and Section Connection</h3>
<p style="font-size:11pt; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>It pays to attend the BICR Retreat. Hotel deadline approaching! </strong></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">The Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors’ Rights Section will host the 12th Annual BICR Educational/Social Retreat at the American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin March 2-3, 2017. Hotel rooms at the American Club are limited and reservations need to be made by February 8, 2017. For more information about the event, <a href="
http://marketplace.wisbar.org/Pages/eventDetails.aspx?category=&cat=&pid=sa6581">click here</a>.
<p style="font-size:11pt; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><strong>Annual Call for Award Nominations</strong> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;">The State Bar annually recognizes attorneys, judges, law firms, organizations, and law students who have made outstanding pro bono, public service, or public education contributions. The awards will be presented at the Member Recognition Celebration at the 2017 State Bar Annual Meeting & Conference. The conference will be held June 15-16, 2017, at the Glacier Canyon Lodge at the Wilderness, Wisconsin Dells.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 7px;"><a href="
http://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/InsideTrack/Pages/Article.aspx?Volume=8&Issue=24&ArticleID=25289">Click here</a> for information on how to nominate an individual or organization. </p>
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<div align="center"><img src="
http://images.wisbar.org/Images/DigestEmails/AMC_2016_250w.jpg" width="250"alt=""/></div>
<h3 style="color: #045394; margin-bottom: 7px;">Enhance your firm’s reputation as an AMC sponsor!</h3>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 10px;">The <em>Annual Meeting and Conference</em> planning committee is reaching out to members with sponsorship opportunities that will allow your firm to show support of both the conference and the profession. As a sponsor, you will receive valuable exposure to the entire State Bar membership before, during, and after the conference. This year’s conference will be held June 15-16 in Wisconsin Dells. Several sponsorship levels are available. Download the <a href="
http://amc.wisbar.org/downloads/AMC-2017-Prospectus.pdf">2017 AMC prospectus</a> or contact <a href="
mailto:krichter@wisbar.org">Karen Richter</a> for more information.
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<p style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:8pt;"> *This offer is not available with any other discount and expires January 20, 2017. Discount cannot be applied to previous purchases, or used for renewals of subscriptions, auto-supplementation subscriptions, or Books UnBound full library subscriptions.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:8pt;">MKT435E </span></p>
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