Can your main argument “not be overstated enough?” Or should that be understated?
Overstate (verb):
- Overstate is a verb that means “to describe in an exaggerated way”: “Defendant overstates his claim that no court has ever granted this relief before.”
- “Can’t be Overstated”: This phrase should be reserved for only the most important points, since it means that the point is so important that you can’t exaggerate the importance of it.
Understate (verb):
- Understate is a verb that means “to describe in a way that minimizes the importance or relevance of something”: “Defendant understates the relevance of the Ninth Circuit’s most recently ruling—it governs the outcome of this case.”
Rule—Overstate/Understate: For EXAGGERATION use overstate; for MINIMIZATION use understate.
- Mnemonic: If their emphasis is over-the-top, use overstate; if their emphasis attempts to conceal or keep something under wraps, use understate.
Since we can’t overstate the benefits of practice problems, here’s a few to try out!
302