If you’ve ever written a legal brief, drafted a memorandum, or even read a legal blog, you’ve probably encountered a common question: Should “caselaw” be one word or two?
On the surface, this seems like a minor point. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see that this seemingly innocuous question reveals a fascinating intersection of history, technology, and communication.
Let’s break it down.
The Evolution of “Caselaw”: From Two Words to One
For most of legal history, “case law” was the standard form. It’s how legal scholars, judges, and attorneys referred to the body of law that emerges from judicial decisions. Two words. Simple, clean, clear. And why not? It’s a straightforward phrase that precisely indicates the law derived from individual cases.
But around the early 2000s, something started to shift. Digitalization. Specifically, the rise of legal databases like LexisNexis and Westlaw changed the way lawyers and legal researchers interacted with language. The legal world, notorious for its traditionalism, slowly started to embrace a new, more efficient way of communicating.
Why?
Because when you’re indexing hundreds of thousands of documents, abbreviating and simplifying becomes a survival strategy. And that’s when “caselaw” started showing up as a single word. It’s easier to search, faster to type, and better for algorithms. All of a sudden, it wasn’t just about legal precision; it was about efficiency in a data-driven world.
Think of it like this: How many times have you seen tech terms like “email,” “website,” or “password” transition from two words into a single compound? Legal language, like everything else, was evolving to fit the modern world.
The shift toward “caselaw” as one word was driven by convenience, yes—but it also was a reflection of a broader societal shift: speed and simplicity won out over traditional rigor. But that doesn’t mean the question is a closed case (pun intended).
The Jurisdictional Divide: Why Your Location Matters
While the U.S. embraced “caselaw” as one word, not every legal system jumped on that train. In fact, the U.K. and other Commonwealth countries remain more steadfast in using “case law” as two words. So, which one is right?
Well, it depends on where you are.
Think of it like driving on the left or the right side of the road—there’s no single universal truth, just local customs. Legal language has been shaped by centuries of tradition, and different jurisdictions have developed their own standards. And sometimes, these standards aren’t just about clarity—they’re about identity.
For the U.S., “caselaw” as one word is now more widely accepted in many contexts. But in places like the U.K., “case law” as two words remains the norm, particularly in legal academia and formal publications. Why? Because, traditionally, British English tends to be more conservative about compound terms and often prefers to keep concepts separate for clarity.
What’s important here is adaptation. Legal language is constantly shifting, influenced by the surrounding culture and technological advances. So, while “caselaw” may be one word in most American legal circles, it’s still common in British and Commonwealth legal systems to stick with two.
The Digital Revolution: How “Caselaw” Went Mainstream
The rise of digital platforms can’t be overstated. When legal professionals started using platforms like LexisNexis, Westlaw, and various online legal blogs, the need for speed and efficiency became paramount. These platforms don’t just hold legal documents—they index them, search through them, and make them retrievable at lightning speed.
Caselaw as one word is better for search engines, better for metadata, and better for everything that happens behind the scenes when you’re pulling up a precedent. Imagine searching for a term like “case law.” You’d be swamped with irrelevant hits—like “case,” “law,” and other terms that get in the way of the precise search you need. But if you search for “caselaw,” it’s much more likely you’ll get exactly what you’re looking for.
It’s efficiency at its finest. But here’s the catch: In many legal academic contexts, especially in prestigious journals and publications, you’ll still see “case law” written as two words. This is because these institutions adhere to traditional citation rules like the Bluebook system, which favors “case law.”
In practice, though, you’ll see more and more websites, blogs, and even court opinions opting for “caselaw” as one word. It’s simply easier for the digital world to manage. Legal writing, like every other form of writing, adapts to new realities. And the reality is that online platforms favor conciseness.
Why It’s Not Just About Spelling
Here’s the thing: The debate over whether “caselaw” should be one word or two isn’t just about spelling—it’s about interpretation.
Language is a tool for communication, and the way we use words shapes how we understand the world. In legal writing, every choice has consequences. A minor spelling change could suggest a shift in meaning, a reframe of how a term is understood, and potentially alter how a legal argument is perceived.
In the case of “caselaw,” the shift from two words to one is more than just a trend. It’s a reflection of how legal professionals interact with information in the digital age. It’s about making law more accessible, more digestible, and more searchable. In an age where the speed of information retrieval can make or break a legal case, “caselaw” as one word is becoming the preferred choice in many circles.
The truth is, legal writing is often a battleground for precision. But even precision is evolving. As technology reshapes how we access legal information, the traditional distinction between “case law” and “caselaw” has become a battle between legacy standards and modern necessity.
So, Should You Use “Caselaw” or “Case Law”?
If you’re writing for a specific jurisdiction or audience, always consider context. If you’re preparing a formal legal document, especially if it’s intended for a traditional institution (like a federal court or academic journal), it’s safer to stick with “case law” as two words.
But if you’re writing for a digital platform, a law blog, or a resource designed for fast, efficient search—consider adopting “caselaw” as one word. Why? Because in today’s world of instant legal searches and digital indexing, it makes your content more accessible and readable.
This question of spelling is a microcosm of a much larger issue: how technology is reshaping legal practice. As lawyers and legal professionals increasingly work with databases, online platforms, and automated tools, the language of law is adapting to become more compatible with these tools.
And that’s exactly why this question is so important—it’s a reflection of how the practice of law is changing. The law may have once been rigid and formal, but now it’s living in a world of algorithms and digital transformation. The rise of “caselaw” as one word is just one example of this shift. It’s a small change, but it’s indicative of a much larger movement toward efficiency, accessibility, and digital fluency.
References
- The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 21st edition, Harvard Law Review Association, 2020.
- Westlaw and LexisNexis – Legal databases and search platforms.
- Bryan A. Garner, Garner’s Modern English Usage, Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Steven J. Burton, An Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning, West Academic Publishing, 2014.
- Oxford English Dictionary (OED), 2023 edition.
