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um prazo inferior a 12 (doze) horas

English translation: a time limit of less than twelve (12) hours

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:um prazo inferior a 12 (doze) horas
English translation:a time limit of less than twelve (12) hours
Entered by: Adrian MM. (X)

11:49 Aug 2, 2015
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Law/Patents - Law (general) / Writing out numbers - style question
Portuguese term or phrase: um prazo inferior a 12 (doze) horas
Most Brazilian legal documents tend to write numbers in digits and then in full, in brackets, as the example above (at least when the author remembers to do it!).

How should this be rendered in American legal texts? I am unable to find any reliabe reference source that addresses the question. Perhaps American texts do not write numbers in the two formats? After all, it is a hangover from the days of handwritten legal documents, when poor handwriting could cause doubts. With documents printed from digital files, there is no doubt about what number is meant.

I have heard a suggestion that, in English, the order would be inverted: ex. "a deadline of less than twelve (12) hours". Is this the case? Can anyone point out a reliable reference source that deals with this subject?

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 19:42
(AmE/BrE/IrE) a time limit of less than twelve (12) hours
Explanation:
Though the quote is Kenneth A. Adams, an Am. Attorney who in his turn quotes fellow Am. lawyer Bryan Garner, the British/Irish legal drafting technique is predictably the same, namely using letters first and then digits in brackets.

However, punctuation may be different and care should be taken to see that articles and lectures on 'universal' English legal drafting by US and Can. exponents always carry Trans-Atlantically, esp. in litigation vs. contract.

Selected response from:

Adrian MM. (X)
Local time: 00:42
Grading comment
Many thanks to all for your contributions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3within less than twelve (12) hours / within twelve (12) hours, at the most
Mario Freitas
4(AmE/BrE/IrE) a time limit of less than twelve (12) hours
Adrian MM. (X)
4a time lower than 12 hours
Natasha Zadorosny


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(AmE/BrE/IrE) a time limit of less than twelve (12) hours


Explanation:
Though the quote is Kenneth A. Adams, an Am. Attorney who in his turn quotes fellow Am. lawyer Bryan Garner, the British/Irish legal drafting technique is predictably the same, namely using letters first and then digits in brackets.

However, punctuation may be different and care should be taken to see that articles and lectures on 'universal' English legal drafting by US and Can. exponents always carry Trans-Atlantically, esp. in litigation vs. contract.



Example sentence(s):
  • Drafters are prone to this loose use of anniversary—”month anniversary” occurs in ... on the one (1) month anniversary following [read one month after] the First Closing Date. ... 2013) and from the AdamsDrafting blog (from May 2006 to December 2010

    Reference: http://www.adamsdrafting.com/anniversary/
Adrian MM. (X)
Local time: 00:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 357
Grading comment
Many thanks to all for your contributions.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a time lower than 12 hours


Explanation:
My source is the dictionary of Marcílio Moreira de Castro.

If the sentence is according to Brazilian Law, prazo = time, and you don`t need to write out the number.

Natasha Zadorosny
Brazil
Local time: 19:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 18
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
within less than twelve (12) hours / within twelve (12) hours, at the most


Explanation:
Sugestão, somente para fins de glossário, já que a pergunta era sobre o parênteses e o Adrian já respondeu corretamente.

Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 19:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 842

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles R. Castleberry: OR within no more than .... https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&...
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Charles!
agree  connie leite
1 day 4 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Connie!
agree  Loreta Saddi
2 days 7 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Loreta!
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