Small print

Small print

Small print (also known as fine print in the United States) refers to the practice of including necessary legal terms, warnings, disclaimers or other phrases in small writing on commercial or contractual documents. Small print is usually included at the end or bottom of a document, in a smaller type size (as well as generally being in capital letters to make reading more difficult).

Some countries require by law certain information to be included on advertisements or leaflets offering goods or services. Advertisers include this information in small print in order to meet the requirements while drawing the minimum attention away from their sales message.

In other cases, small print is used to preempt claims of false advertising with statements such as the common "Dramatization" or "Actors shown". In extreme cases these subtle notices may not be considered sufficient, but they can considerably strengthen a company's defense.

Unscrupulous businesses may use jargon (which is usually very obtuse legal style writing) in contractual small print to conceal terms disadvantageous to the other party, or to obscure legal rights and obligations. Consumer protection laws have been enacted in several jurisdictions in order to combat this.

In his 1976 album "Small Change", Tom Waits said that "The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away." wikiquote-inline|Tom Waits


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  • small print — small .print n [U] especially BrE all the rules and details relating to a contract or agreement American Equivalent: fine printread/check the small print ▪ Always read the small print before you sign anything …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • small print — ➔ print2 …   Financial and business terms

  • small print — small ,print noun uncount MAINLY BRITISH the details of something such as a contract that are printed in very small letters and often contain conditions that limit your rights. American usually fine print …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • small print — small′ print′ n. pri fine print • Etymology: 1955–60 …   From formal English to slang

  • small print — ► NOUN 1) printed matter in small type. 2) inconspicuous but binding details or conditions printed in an agreement or contract …   English terms dictionary

  • small print — noun 1. the part of a contract that contains reservations and qualifications that are often printed in small type don t sign a contract without reading the fine print • Syn: ↑fine print • Hypernyms: ↑reservation, ↑qualification • Part Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • small print — N UNCOUNT: usu the N The small print of a contract or agreement is the part of it that is written in very small print. You refer to it as the small print especially when you think that it might include unfavourable conditions which someone might… …   English dictionary

  • Small Print — Infobox Album Name = Small Print Type = studio Longtype = Artist = Sam Wedgwood Released = 2006 Recorded = Genre = Pop Length = 53:00 Label = Producer = Reviews = Last album = This album = Next album = Small Print is the debut album by English… …   Wikipedia

  • small print — noun (U) all the details in a contract or agreement which contain many rules and restrictions: Always read the small print before you sign anything …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • small print — small writing in a contract or official document …   English contemporary dictionary

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