Legal Writing Word Choice: As Such

If you favor “as such” to avoid another “thus” or “therefore,” you’re in good company. But do you know what “as such” actually means?

“As Such”

  • Definition: The phrase as such means “in that capacity” or “in itself”: “She is the president of the company, and as such, she has the final say.”

  • Common Misuses of “as such”:
    • As a transition word to signal a conclusion: “There is nothing in Defendant’s reply that addresses this issue. As such, the Court should grant Plaintiff’s motion.”
    • As a transition word to signal causation: “The defendant was negligent in operating the vehicle. As such, the plaintiff suffered injuries.”

Rule: Unless you mean “in that capacity,” as such is a no-go!

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1. True/False: The use of “as such” in the following sentence is correct. The experiment yielded inconclusive results; as such, the hypothesis could not be validated.

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2. True/False: The use of “as such” in the following sentence is correct. The building has not passed safety inspections; as such, it needs immediate attention.

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3. True/False: The use of “as such” in the following sentence is correct. She was the primary heir to the estate, and as such, she inherited the largest portion of the wealth.

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4. True/False: The use of “as such” in the following sentence is correct. The committee found the proposal lacking in several areas. As such, they recommended further revision.

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5. True/False: The use of “as such” in the following sentence is correct. As the chief of surgery, Dr. Carter has to review all surgical procedures; as such, he is responsible for maintaining the department's standards.

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