Principles of Contractual Interpretation

This concise new book explains and re-evaluates the rules of construction at a conceptual level and explains clearly the principles which guide the courts in interpreting contracts and the associated practical implications. The work sets out the principles and considers each in turn providing examples of how they operate in practice. It covers difficult legal issues faced by the courts (such as the status of an agreement to agree) and the effect that these principles have on the drafting and reading of contracts. The purpose of the book is to give the reader an understanding of all of the issues which are involved in reading a contract. It therefore covers not just interpretation of contracts, but also the implication of terms and rectification.0. Prologue ; I THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE ; 1. Principle 1: Objective Intention ; II TEXT AND CONTEXT ; 2. Principle 2: The Text ; 3. Principle 3: The Whole Text ; 4. Principle 4: The Context ; III UNDERSTANDING WORDS ; 5. Principle 5: Natural Meanings ; 6. Principle 6: Ambiguities ; 7. Principle 7: Unnatural Meanings ; IV ADDING WORDS ; 8. Principle 8: Implied Terms ; V CHANGING WORDS ; 9. Principle 9: Rectification ; 10. Estoppel by Convention ; EPILOGUE ; Epilogue ; Principles of Drafting ; An Interpretation Clause