準(zhǔn)備工作做好以后，我們就要開始來(lái)起草合同了。在起草合同時(shí)，有幾點(diǎn)需要注意：
1. Start with a simple, generic contract form. Like a house, a contract must
have a good, solid foundation.
從簡(jiǎn)單、典型的合同入手。像房子一樣，一個(gè)合同必須有一個(gè)牢固的根基。
2. State the correct legal names of the parties in the first paragraph. As
obvious as this is, it is one of the most common problems in contracts. For
individuals, include full first and last name, and middle initials if available,
and other identifying information, if appropriate, such as Jr., M.D., etc. For
corporations, check with the Secretary of State where incorporated.
在合同的第一段要寫清楚雙方的名稱。這個(gè)問(wèn)題很簡(jiǎn)單，但也需要重視。如果是個(gè)人，要寫清姓和名,中間名可能的話應(yīng)寫上大寫首字母，其他身份信息如果需要也應(yīng)注明，例如：Jr.，M.D，等等；如果是公司，為避免弄錯(cuò)，寫名稱時(shí)可以到公司注冊(cè)地的相應(yīng)機(jī)構(gòu)去核對(duì)一下。
3. Identify the parties by nicknames. Giving each party a nickname in the
first paragraph will make the contract easier to read. For example, James W.
Martin would be nicknamed "Martin."
確定合同雙方的別稱（簡(jiǎn)稱）。為便于閱讀，一般要在合同的第一段為雙方設(shè)定一個(gè)別稱，如：將詹姆士·馬丁簡(jiǎn)稱為“馬丁”。
4. Be careful when using legal terms for nicknames. Do not use "Contractor"
as a nickname unless that party is legally a contractor. Do not use "Agent"
unless you intend for that party to be an agent, and if you do, then you better
specify the scope of authority and other agency issues to avoid future
disagreements.
使用法定術(shù)語(yǔ)作為雙方當(dāng)事人的別稱時(shí)，要小心。除非一方當(dāng)事人在法定上就是承包人，否則不要將"承包人"作為其別稱。同樣，除非你想讓一方當(dāng)事人成為法定上的代理人，否則不要稱其為"代理人"，如果堅(jiān)持要用，最好明確一下代理范圍并找到其他可以避免將來(lái)爭(zhēng)執(zhí)的方案。
5. Include a blank for the date in the first paragraph. Putting the date in
the first paragraph makes it easy to find after the contract is signed. It also
makes it easy to describe the contract in other documents in a precise way, such
as the "December 20, 2000, Contract for Sale of Real Estate."
在合同的第一段要為書寫簽約時(shí)間留下空格。把簽約時(shí)間放在第一段，當(dāng)合同簽署后，你就可以很容易地找到它，而且，這樣做還可以給你在其他相關(guān)文件中準(zhǔn)確地描述這個(gè)合同提供幫助，例如：不動(dòng)產(chǎn)買賣合同，訂立于2000年12月20日。
6. Include background. Recitals are the "whereas" clauses that precede the
body of a contract. They provide a simple way to bring the contract's reader
(party, judge or jury) up to speed on what the contract is about, who the
parties are, why they are signing a contract, etc. The first paragraph in the
body of the contract can incorporate the recitals by reference and state that
they are true and correct. This will avoid a later argument as to whether or not
the recitals are a legally binding part of the contract.
書寫引述語(yǔ)。引述語(yǔ)是指那些放在合同主體前面的"鑒于"條款。書寫此類條款的目的是為了讓讀者（通常指合同雙方，法官，陪審團(tuán)）很快地了解到合同的主要內(nèi)容是什么，合同雙方是誰(shuí)，以及他們?yōu)槭裁春炗喓贤?，等等。?dāng)然，合同主體的第一段也可以加上聲明，并說(shuō)明其是真實(shí)準(zhǔn)確的，如果這樣做了，合同雙方將來(lái)就不會(huì)就引述語(yǔ)作為合同的一部分是否具有法律效力而爭(zhēng)執(zhí)。
7. Outline the contract by writing out and underlining paragraph headings in
their logical order. The paragraphs should flow in logical, organized fashion.
It is not necessary to write them all at once; you can write them as you think
of them. Try to group related concepts in the same paragraphs or in adjacent
paragraphs. For example, write an employment contract's initial paragraph
headings like this:
Recitals.
Employment.
Duties.
Term.
Compensation.
列出合同大綱，按邏輯順序列出合同段落的標(biāo)題詞。合同的段落是按一定的邏輯順序組織起來(lái)的，當(dāng)然，你并不需要一下子列出所有段落的標(biāo)題詞，想到多少就寫多少。將相關(guān)的概念在一個(gè)段落或是在連續(xù)的段落里表達(dá)。比如：勞動(dòng)合同的標(biāo)題詞：
引述語(yǔ)
聘用
職責(zé)
期限
賠償
8. Complete each paragraph by writing the contract terms that apply to that
paragraph. Just explain in words what the parties agree to do or not do
paragraph by paragraph.
在撰寫每一段時(shí)要注意內(nèi)容集中，不要東拉西扯。說(shuō)明合同雙方同意做什么，不同意做什么就可以了。
9. Keep a pad at hand to remember clauses to add. It is normal to think of
additional clauses, wording and issues while writing a contract. Jot these down
on a pad as you write; they are easily forgotten. Also keep your client's
outline and other forms in front of you as you write, and check off items as you
write them.
放一個(gè)便箋簿在手邊，以便記下需要添加的條款。在書寫合同的同時(shí)，你可能隨時(shí)會(huì)想到一些需要添加的條款、措詞和問(wèn)題，要盡快記在便箋簿上，以免忘記。另外，你最好將客戶列出的要點(diǎn)和一些類似的合同范本也放在眼前，以便在書寫過(guò)程中隨時(shí)查對(duì)。
10. Repeat yourself only when repetition is necessary to improve clarity.
Ambiguity is created by saying the same thing more than once. Only if the
concept is a difficult one should you write it in more than one way. In
addition, if you use an example to clarify a difficult concept or formula, be
sure that all possible meanings are considered and that the example is accurate
and consistent with the concept as worded.
除非是為了更清晰地說(shuō)明問(wèn)題，否則不要在合同中重復(fù)陳述某個(gè)內(nèi)容。反復(fù)地陳述同一個(gè)東西很容易讓人模棱兩可。只有當(dāng)一個(gè)概念難于理解時(shí)，你才應(yīng)該用不同的方式書寫。另外，如果你想通過(guò)一個(gè)例子來(lái)闡明一個(gè)難以理解的概念或規(guī)則時(shí)，一定要考慮到其所有的含義、這個(gè)例子的準(zhǔn)確性以及它和概念的相符性。
（來(lái)源：阿里巴巴 英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津 Annabel 編輯）
