作为正式法律文件，英语合同在用词方面极其考究，要求选词专业（professional）、正式（formal）、准确（accuracy）。具体体现如下：

1.     正式用语（Formal Terms）

英文合同，习惯采用书面的形式，合同往往使用正式的书面用语，较少使用口头用语，以显示合同正规、严肃。具体实例如：

 1）At the request of Party B, Party A agrees to send technicians to assist Party B to install the equipment.应乙方要求，甲方同意派遣技术人员帮助乙方安装设备。 assist 较 help 正式。

2） The personnel shall not to partake in any political activities in Iraq.所有人员不得参加伊拉克国内的任何政治活动。partake in 较 take part in 正式。

3）The Employer shall render correct technical guidance to the personnel.雇主应该对有关人员给予正确技术指导。 render 较 give 正式。

4）This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China.本合同受中国法律管辖，并按中国法律解释。construe 较 explain, interpret 正式；in accordance with 较 according to 正式。

5）The Employer may object to and require the Contractor to replace forthwith any of its authorized representatives who is incompetent.雇主认为承包人委派的授权代表不合格时，可以反对并要求立即撤换。require 较 ask 正式；而且，require 表示上对下的要求，ask 没有这么明确，它含有 request 和 require 之意，其中 request 表示下对上的要求，即"请求"，公文体 forthwith 较 at once 正式。

6） In processing transactions, the manufacturers shall never have title either to the materials or the finished products.加工贸易中，厂方无论是对原料还是成品都无所有权。 title 较 ownership 正式。

7）The Appendix hereto shall, through the contract period, be deemed to be construed as an integral part of this Contract. 整个合同期间，本合同附件应理解为合同不可分割的一部分。deem 较 consider 正式。  

2.     同、近义词、相关词并列（Parallel Synonyms, Parasynonyms and Associated）在英文合同中同近义词或相关词成对或多个并列连用，使合同周密严谨，以减少漏洞和争议。

1） This agreement is made and entered into by and between Party A and Party B.本协议由甲方与乙方签订。句中 made 与 entered into 同义，而 by 与 between 相关。

2） Party A agrees to purchase from Party B the following commodity under the terms and conditions set out below: 甲方同意按照下列条款向乙方购买如下商品：terms 和 conditions 同义，往往并列连用表示合同的条款。

3）Party A shall be unauthorized to accept any order sort to collect any account on and after September 20. 自 9 月 20 日起，甲方已无权接受任何定单或收据。On 与 after 相关词连用用以明确时间。

4）Any partner or his/her agent, may review any and all accounting or other records at anytime.任何合伙人或其代理人，可随时审查任一或全部会计账目或其他记录。Any 与 all 相关词连用，表达更为严谨。

5）The Company hereby releases and discharges Party A from further performance of, and any duties, obligations or liabilities under, the amended Agreement.本公司特此解除甲方已修正协议的进一步履行及其修正协议下的义务和责任。Release 和 discharge 相关词连用，duty，obligation 和 liability 属近同义词连用。

6）If the Contractor shall duly perform and observe all the terms, provisions, conditions and stipulations of the said Contract, this obligation shall be null or void but otherwise shall be and remain in full force and effect.如果承包人切实履行并遵守上述合同的所有条款、条件及规定，此义务即告终止，否则将保持完全有效。句中 terms, provisions, conditions，stipulations 为一组同义词，意为合同的条款及规定， null 和 void，be 和 remain，force 和 effect 也都是同义连用。

3.     合同中的货币名称

Party A shall pay Party B a monthly salary of US$600 (SAY FIVE HUNDRED US DOLLARS ONLY). 聘方须每月付给受聘方美元 600 元整。SAY 表示后接大写，ONLY 表示整。此外，英文合同为强调某些部分而用大写字母书写以资醒目。

4.     助动词的准确使用（Auxiliaries）

英文合同中，shall 并非单纯表示将来时，而常用来表示法律上可强制执行的义务，具有约束力，宜译为"应"、"应该"、"必须"； will 无论语气还是强制力要比 shall 弱，宜译为"将"、"原"、"要"；should 通常只用来表示语气较强的假设、比如"万一"。 多用"shall"代替"will"或"should"加强语气和强制力。 

1）This Contract shall become effective upon and from the date on which it is signed. 本合同签字生效。

2）This Contract shall be written in English in four copies. Each party shall keep two copies. 本合同应以英文写成，一式四份，双方各持两份。 

3）Investment contributed by the parties is Renminbi __________, which will be the registered capital of the joint venture company. 各方认缴投资总额为人民币***，将作为合资公司注册资本。

May则时常用来表达当事人拥有的选择性权利。如 During the Option Period, the Purchaser may terminate this Agreement with a written notice to the Seller. 选择期间，买方可书面通知卖方终止本协议。另看下例：

 The parties hereto shall, first of all, settle any dispute arising from or in connection with the contract by friendly negotiations. Should such negotiations fail, such dispute may be referred to the Peoples Court having jurisdiction on such dispute for settlement in the absence of any arbitration clause in the disputed contract or in default of agreement reached after such dispute occurs.首先，合同双方应通过友好协商解决合同产生与合同有关的争议。如协商不成，所争议合同缺少仲裁条款或争议后未达成仲裁协议，则该争议可提交到有管辖权的人民法院诉讼解决。

本句中 shall，should 和 may 的表达准确，符合人们通过"协商"-"仲裁"-"诉讼"解决争议的基本流程。Shall 表示义务性约定，should 表示假设条件不成就，may 表示行使选择性权利。