herein

Herein is an adverb meaning “in this document” or “within this text.” It refers to material contained in the current document or statement and is used to anchor statements to the document’s own provisions, definitions, or context.

Etymology and history: Herein comes from the word here combined with the suffix -in, forming a compound that has been part of English since the early modern period. It has become especially common in formal and legal writing, where precision about the document itself is important.

Usage and context: The term is primarily used in formal and legal contexts, including contracts, statutes, and scholarly or regulatory documents. It often appears in phrases such as “herein defined,” “as set forth herein,” or “the terms herein.” In nonlegal writing, use of herein is less common and can come across as overly formal or archaic. It is distinct from hereafter, hereinbefore, hereinabove, and related forms that reference future or prior material in the document.

Style notes: In legal drafting, herein helps centralize references to provisions and definitions, reducing ambiguity about what is being described. However, editors and style guides frequently advise limiting its use in ordinary prose to maintain clarity for general readers. In many contexts, “in this document” or “in this agreement” can substitute for herein without changing meaning.

Examples:

- The definitions herein shall apply to all terms used in this Agreement.

- The covenants herein remain binding upon termination of the contract.