This paper discusses clarity of construction contracts. By
clarity, the authors mean the design and layout of the whole
contract document, as well as the use and order of words
within a sentence. Additionally, the authors extend the
definition by saying that clarity requires that the clauses
within a contract should fit together to form a logical
whole, be procedurally correct and relevant to modern construction practice. Section 1 is a general review of the
traditional contract forms concerning their clarity, while
Section 2 deals specifically with the clarity of the New
Engineering Contract (NEC) now published in its second
edition as the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC).
Section 3 offers some concluding comments on the benefits
of the NEC.