Contracts and promises
Identify obligations, conditions, and gaps in an agreement.
“We will do a great job” expresses confidence but does not define a deliverable. When reading an agreement, ask who promises what, to whom, by when, and to which standard. Then examine payment, changes, and what happens if performance falls short. Price is only one part of the document.
Legal enforceability depends on local rules and facts. A signature does not automatically make every clause valid; the absence of a formal paper document does not always mean no obligation exists. Concepts such as consideration have a particular legal context and are not universal checkboxes.
Try a low-stakes reading exercise: a poster for a friend. Replace “make it beautiful” with discussable specifications: dimensions, wording, file format, draft date, and revision rounds. Clearer terms help both people notice where their expectations differ.
Make your understanding visible
Turn “Make me a nice website next week” into four checkable questions.
Compare with a reference response
How many pages and what content? Which version is due on which date? Who supplies text and images? How are acceptance and revisions handled? These clarify a brief; they are not a ready-to-sign legal contract.