Preference Sheet | TheCGFirm

1a. Tag Clauses: Correct, Right, True

You called him; is that correct?
You called him, is that correct?
You called him. Is that correct?

1b. Tag Clauses: Correct, Right, True

You called him; correct?
You called him, correct?
You called him. Correct?

Dates

01/01/18
01-01-18
01/01/2018
01-01-2018

Times

a.m./p.m.
A.M./P.M.

Phone numbers

555-222-1234
(555) 222-1234

Time (Spoken as "ten o'clock")

10:00
10:00 o'clock
10 o'clock

Time (Spoken as "at ten")

at 10:00
at ten
at 10

Stitched names

My name is Jonathan, J-O-N-A-T-H-A-N.
My name is Jonathan, J-o-n-a-t-h-a-n.

Polite requests (Select one for Attorney and one for Witness)

Attorney: Can you read the question back, please.
Attorney: Can you read the question back, please?
Witness: Could you repeat the question.
Witness: Could you repeat the question?

Possession with names ending in "s"

Ms. Jones's car
Ms. Jones' car

Case citations ("versus")

hearing the matter of Smith versus Jones
hearing the matter of Smith vs. Jones
hearing the matter of Smith v. Jones

Sic

(sic)
[sic]
do not use

Oxford comma

the computer, files, and documents
the computer, files and documents

"Twelve hundred"

1200
1,200

"A half" spoken

six and a half days
six-and-a-half days
6 1/2 days

"A hundred," "a thousand," etc.

That was a thousand dollars.
That was $1,000.

"30 or 40 dollars"

He owes me 30 or $40.
He owes me $30 or $40.
He owes me 30 or 40 dollars.

"Seven to eight hundred labels" (Meaning 700 to 800)

7 to 800 labels
seven to eight hundred labels
7- to 800 labels

Numbers (Check as many as apply)

One through ten spelled, digits for 11 and up
One through nine spelled, digits for 10 and up
Always use a word (1-99) when a number starts a sentence
Always use numbers with ages
Keep consistent in phrases: 3 computers and 12 desks
Do not adapt for consistency: three computers and 12 desks

"That was in the January 23, 1989, letter."

That was in the January 23rd, 1989, letter.
That was in the January 23rd, 1989 letter.
That was in the January 23, 1989, letter.
That was in the January 23, 1989 letter.

Exhibits (Pick two total)

Exhibit Number 1
Exhibit No. 1
Exhibit 25-A
Exhibit 25A

Bates stamps

It is Bates-stamped PDXA213.
It is Bates stamped PDXA213.

Additional comments about number and exhibit preferences:

Page, line, paragraph, item, column, slide, section

page number 2, line number 4, section 7, etc.
page No. 2, line No. 4, section 7, etc.

Plaintiff/defendant

Always keep plaintiff and defendant lower case.
Always keep plaintiff and defendant lower case unless using as a title before a name. Ex. Plaintiff Jones

Counsel, direct address

That's fine, Counsel.
That's fine, counsel.

Questions inside of statements

My question is when did you leave?
My question is, when did you leave?
My question is, When did you leave?
My question is: When did you leave?

Series of questions

Did you see him in the car, at the office, in the lobby?
Did you see him in the car? At the office? In the lobby?
Did you see him in the car? at the office? in the lobby?

Speaker trails off

He didn't really care, so...
He didn't really care, so --
He didn't really care, so.

Objections

Objection. Lacks foundation. Vague and ambiguous.
Objection. Lacks foundation, vague and ambiguous.
Objection; lacks foundation, vague and ambiguous.
Objection, lacks foundation, vague and ambiguous.

"Quote/Unquote"

He said it was, quote/unquote, "ridiculously expensive."
He said it was "ridiculously expensive."
He said it was, quote/unquote, ridiculously expensive.

"Says/said" in short phrases

Do you see where it says "Invoice sent"?
Do you see where it says "invoice sent"?
Do you see where it says, "Invoice sent"?
Do you see where it says, "invoice sent"?

"Says/said" long passages

The email says, "Please return on Wednesday, and we will discuss it with the team."
The email says: "Please return on Wednesday, and we will discuss it with the team."
The email says: Please return on Wednesday, and we will discuss it with the team.

Titles

The document is called "Elements of Recovery."
The document is called Elements of Recovery.

Titles/section names

Turn to the "Rules and Regulations" section under "Company Policy."
Turn to the Rules and Regulations section under Company Policy.

Imprecise or hypothetical quotations

Did you say, hey, I need some help here?
Did you say, "Hey, I need some help here"?

Yes/no/uh-huh/huh-uh

You need to give me a "yes" or a "no", not "uh-huh" or "huh-uh."
You need to give me a yes or a no, not uh-huh or huh-uh.
You need to give me a yes or a no, not "uh-huh" or "huh-uh."

Verbatim style: Attorneys/Judge

Clean up attorneys/judge statements. Do not add filler words such as "you know" and false starts.
Clean up attorneys/judge statements except when it is video recorded.
Do not clean up attorneys/judge statements.

Verbatim style: Witnesses

Include false starts.
Include false starts and repeats but only up to 2 repeats.
Scopist does not need to include false starts that you have not written.

Insert a byline for next question after the following:

After colloquy
After exhibit is marked
After court reporter clarification
After short recess and other parentheticals

Witness answers question after objection or other colloquy.

THE WITNESS: I don't know.
A. I don't know.
BY THE WITNESS: I don't know.

Index help: Check any for which you want me to leave a hidden text/push pin reminder.

Witness instructed not to answer
Info or documents requested
Witness to provide missing information
None of these

Missing parentheticals, exhibit blubs, etc.

Leave a hidden text/push pin for any parenthetical, exhibit blurb, examination heading, etc. where I think there is missing information.
Add any missing exhibit blurb, parenthetical, or missing examination heading but leave a note to check.
If the parenthetical is there but needs information added, add the missing information and no note.
Add missing parentheticals, exam headings, etc. No note.

A note about parentheticals: Please include a file with your common parentheticals, exhibit blurbs, et cetera. This will be helpful if you want me to add in those missing or incomplete.