Traditional formatting of text intended for print media does not necessarily translate well when posting on the Internet. Often, content on the Internet which uses traditional formatting make it difficult for users or readers to understand resulting in a poor user experience.
This is compounded by the fact that presentation of the content may also be affected due to the different rules observed by browsers (e.g. Chrome, Edge, Firefox) and devices (e.g. desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc.).
In line with our policy to make our content user- or reader-friendly, we came up with the following Editorial Guidelines.
1. In General
a. Originally written text
Generally, originally written texts are those which have no citations provided after the content. They may include discussions, illustrations, or applications of the law.
b. Text with citations
Texts with citations following means they are drawn or find support from a reference source.
1) Primary sources
Primary sources include:
(1) Constitutions
(2) Legislations
(3) Regulations
(4) Jurisprudence
a) Reproduction of primary sources
For primary sources, the following are observed:
1) They are reproduced directly from the original source to the extent applicable or relevant, followed by the applicable citation. (See our policy on Referencing)
2) No quotations are provided in the reproduced text.
3) If the reproduced text starts after the first word, the first letter of the text is capitalized and placed inside brackets.
4) Ellipsis is used for transitions within sentences or paragraphs.
5) Texts inside double quotation marks are retained.
6) Italicized words or phrases are retained.
7) The use of emphasis such as bold or underline are removed.
Examples
Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his duties, act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith. (CIVIL CODE, Article 19)
[T]he finding of a felony committed by means of culpa is legally inconsistent with that committed by means of dolo. Culpable felonies involve those wrongs done as a result of an act performed without malice or criminal design. (Villareal v. People, G.R. Nos. 151258, 154954, 155101, 178057 and 178080, December 01, 2014)
Forbidding the application of Article 48 of the RPC to quasi-offenses and their resultant acts/effects preserves the conceptual distinction between quasi-crimes and intentional felonies under the RPC… Article 48 does not apply to quasi-offenses under Article 365 because reckless imprudence is a distinct crime and not a mere way of committing a crime. Simple or reckless imprudence does not strictly fall under the term “felonies” or acts or omissions committed by fault or culpa. (Morales v. People,G.R. No. 240337, January 04, 2022)
2) Secondary sources
Secondary sources include:
(1) Law Journals
(2) Law Textbooks of Notable Authors
(3) Other Notable Law Publications
a) Reproduction of secondary sources
For secondary sources, the following are observed:
1) The quoted parts are placed under double quotation marks, followed by the applicable citation. (See our policy on Referencing)
2) If the quoted parts start after the first word and the quoted parts starts a sentence , the first letter of the text is capitalized and placed inside brackets, plus the above rule on quotations are observed.
3) Ellipsis is used for transitions within sentences or paragraphs.
4) Texts inside double quotation marks are retained.
5) Italicized words or phrases are retained.
6) The use of emphasis such as bold or underline are removed.
2. Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence or Case Law poses a unique challenge due to difficulties in how content is shown in various Internet browsers and in various devices, from laptops to mobile. Thus, traditional formatting creates a lot of problems making the content difficult to read.
a. Traditional Formatting
The following is an example of what may be observed if traditional formatting is observed.
### START OF SAMPLE – TRADITIONAL FORMATTING ###
Villareal v. People
G.R. Nos. 151258, 154954, 155101, 178057 and 178080, December 01, 2014
“Furthermore, we cannot subscribe to the OSG’s theory that even if the act complained of was born of imprudence or negligence, malicious intent can still be appreciated on account of the gravity of the actions of the accused. We emphasize that the finding of a felony committed by means of culpa is legally inconsistent with that committed by means of dolo. Culpable felonies involve those wrongs done as a result of an act performed without malice or criminal design. The Revised Penal Code expresses thusly:
ARTICLE 365. Imprudence and Negligence. — Any person who, by reckless imprudence, shall commit any act which, had it been intentional, would constitute a grave felony, shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prisión correccional in its medium period; if it would have constituted a less grave felony, the penalty of arresto mayor in its minimum and medium periods shall be imposed.
x x x x
Reckless imprudence consists in voluntary, but without malice, doing or falling to do an act from which material damage results by reason of inexcusable lack of precaution on the part of the person performing or failing to perform such act, taking into consideration his employment or occupation, degree of intelligence, physical condition and other circumstances regarding persons, time and place.
Simple imprudence consists in the lack of precaution displayed in those cases in which the damage impending to be caused is not immediate nor the danger clearly manifest. (Emphases supplied)
On the other hand, intentional felonies concern those wrongs in which a deliberate malicious intent to do an unlawful act is present. Below is our exhaustive discussion on the matter x x x
### END OF SAMPLE – TRADITIONAL FORMATTING ###
b. Bullet Point Formatting
As you observed above, traditional formatting creates a lot of issues which may confuse users or readers. Thus, our current solution (yes, we are amenable to improving/reviewing this in the future) is to have a medium-neutral (regardless of browsers or devices used such desktop/mobile) way of presenting case law.
The format is as follows:
1) Line 1: Case Title (in bold and italics)
2) Line 2: Citation
3) Line 3: Spacing
4) Line 4: Content in bullet format
Notes:
1) For Line 4, the content will be directly lifted from the case law’s relevant paragraphs/sentences/clauses, without the use of any quotation marks, unless there is a quote in from the original source in which case it will be retained.
Given that the content is a case summary, with the case title and citations provided, our bullet format is intended and aligns with our policy to make our content user- or reader-friendly by making it easier to read, particularly for non-lawyers or non-law students.
Accordingly, we do not intend, in any way, shape or form, any form of plagiarizing or copyright infringement, if applicable, in our formatting for the Internet. For more on this, please see our Disclaimer.)
2) Italicized words are preserved.
3) The use of emphasis such as bold or underline have been removed.
Notes:
1) If bold and underlined texts are retained, these tend to cause an eye strain on users or readers. Thus, these were removed in line with our intent and policy above on making our content user- or reader-friendly.
5) The transitions “x x x” within a paragraph or sentence are converted into ellipsis “…”, while for paragraphs the transitions have been removed due to the bullet formatting being observed. Notwithstanding, the transitions are maintained for quoted paragraphs from the original source. (See next paragraph.)
6) Quoted paragraphs in the original source are italicized in full and not under any bullet point.
7) The use of bracketed first letter (e.g. [W]e) indicates that it is not the first word in that paragraph. Otherwise stated, the bullet content started quoting after the first word from the original source.
### START OF SAMPLE – WITH BULLET FORMATTING APPLIED ###
Villareal v. People
G.R. Nos. 151258, 154954, 155101, 178057 and 178080, December 01, 2014
• [W]e cannot subscribe to the OSG’s theory that even if the act complained of was born of imprudence or negligence, malicious intent can still be appreciated on account of the gravity of the actions of the accused. We emphasize that the finding of a felony committed by means of culpa is legally inconsistent with that committed by means of dolo. Culpable felonies involve those wrongs done as a result of an act performed without malice or criminal design. The Revised Penal Code expresses thusly:
ARTICLE 365. Imprudence and Negligence. — Any person who, by reckless imprudence, shall commit any act which, had it been intentional, would constitute a grave felony, shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prisión correccional in its medium period; if it would have constituted a less grave felony, the penalty of arresto mayor in its minimum and medium periods shall be imposed.
x x x x
Reckless imprudence consists in voluntary, but without malice, doing or falling to do an act from which material damage results by reason of inexcusable lack of precaution on the part of the person performing or failing to perform such act, taking into consideration his employment or occupation, degree of intelligence, physical condition and other circumstances regarding persons, time and place.
Simple imprudence consists in the lack of precaution displayed in those cases in which the damage impending to be caused is not immediate nor the danger clearly manifest.
• On the other hand, intentional felonies concern those wrongs in which a deliberate malicious intent to do an unlawful act is present. Below is our exhaustive discussion on the matter…
### END OF SAMPLE – WITH OUR FORMATTING APPLIED ###
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/Updated: April 29, 2023