Why clear writing is important

Abstract

Why is it important to write clearly? And in what contexts? The article distinguishes literary writing from legal drafting, emphasizing, for the second one, the need to be clear and concise to allow citizens to understand it easily, thus exercising their right and duty to know the law, the administrative acts and the judicial proceedings. An unclear legal drafting produces very negative effects on citizens and businesses by altering the principle of the division of powers and passing on the interpreters the doubts that derive from a bad writing. The reasons why technicians and politicians use obscure writing are also indicated. A cultural change and a permanent training for legislative drafters is urgent. To this end, the establishment of professional communities is hoped for (an example is that of the Interregional Legislative Observatory - OLI). To obtain clear and concise acts we also need a political class trained on this issue and a non-traditionalist judicial system that really works.