Question: Does Punctuation Matter on the Bar Exam? Yes!
Today is National Punctuation Day.
It's (and not "its") the perfect opportunity to reflect on how small things—like commas, periods, and apostrophes—can make a big difference, especially when it comes to the bar exam. While your primary focus on exam day is legal knowledge and analysis, clear and precise communication is equally crucial.
As you write essays and performance tests during the bar exam, punctuation can help clarify your arguments and make them easier to follow. This is especially important given the large number of essays and responses that graders need to review in a relatively short amount of time.
According to the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners in its "Suggestions for Answering Essay Questions”:
While the essay examination is not an examination in grammar, spelling, or writing style, the cogency and coherence of your reasoning and discussion are important in responding to the issues being tested.
Similarly, according to the Georgia Board of Bar Examiners in its “A Message from the Georgia Board of Bar Examiners on Preparing for the Georgia Bar Examination”:
Essential to the presentation of a clear and concise answer is the proper use of the English language, including punctuation and paragraphing. The inability to express oneself effectively in writing is a serious handicap for a lawyer. Such inability presents a serious difficulty to a lawyer in dealing with legal matters and with presentations in court.
Other jurisdictions have similar warnings.
In essays, effective communication of legal reasoning is paramount, and that includes punctuation and structure. Clear punctuation helps signal shifts in thought, organize complex ideas, and reduce the likelihood of confusion.
In performance tests, punctuation is equally critical, where you’re required to draft professional legal documents. Improper punctuation can undermine your arguments and make your responses seem rushed or unprofessional, which is something you definitely want to avoid in a simulated real-world legal scenario that’s being assessed in a performance test.
For those looking to fine-tune their punctuation skills, I recommend checking out this helpful resource from Grammarly. It covers everything from commas to semicolons and can be a great refresher, especially when you're aiming for clear, concise writing on the bar exam.
So, on National Punctuation Day, remember that it's not just what you write, but how you write it.
