The language of statutes needs to be very precise. In the UK the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is responsible for drafting Government Bills. A copy of the latest drafting guidance (a PDF of 84 pages) is available via the link below - and makes fascinating reading.

• Drafting Guidance of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (December 2011) in PDF format

Laying Down the Law

Daniel Greenberg, a Parliamentary Counsel (1991-2010), has written - and Sweet & Maxwell have published "Laying Down the Law" - a very useful detailed guide to how legislation is put together in practice. It would make a useful companion to my current series on How Law is Made in the UK, should you wish to have a much more detailed text.