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Part III Understanding Words, 6 Principle 6: Ambiguities

From: Principles of Contractual Interpretation (2nd Edition)

Richard Calnan

From: Oxford Legal Research Library (http://olrl.ouplaw.com). (c) Oxford University Press, 2023. All Rights Reserved.date: 23 September 2023

Subject(s):
Construction of contract — Interpretation of contract

This chapter considers how ambiguous phrases are interpreted. It discusses the basic principle that, if words are ambiguous in their context, they are given the meaning the parties are most likely objectively to have intended. The chapter considers what we mean by ‘ambiguity’, and discusses how it is resolved. It contains examples of the way in which these issues have been dealt with in practice. It also discusses the contra proferentem rule.

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