Express admissions and denials must be direct, precise and specific, and not argumentative, hypothetical or in the alternative. Accordingly, any pleader wishing expressly to admit or deny a portion only of a paragraph must recite that portion; except that where a recited portion of a paragraph has been either admitted or denied, the remainder of the paragraph may be denied or admitted without recital. Admissions or denials of allegations identified only by a summary or generalization thereof, or by describing the facts alleged as ‘‘consistent’’ or ‘‘inconsistent’’ with other facts recited or referred to, are improper.
Section 10-48.—Express Admissions and Denials To Be Direct and Specific
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceExpress admissions and denials in an answer must be direct, precise, and specific, addressing exact portions of a paragraph rather than vague summaries or characterizations of the allegations.
Full Text of Section 10-48
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 162.)
Plain-English Summary
This section requires that express admissions and denials be direct, precise, and specific, not argumentative, hypothetical, or stated in the alternative. A party wishing to expressly admit or deny only part of a paragraph must recite that portion. Once a recited portion of a paragraph has been admitted or denied, the remainder of the paragraph may be denied or admitted without reciting it again.
The section also states that admissions or denials of allegations identified only by a summary or generalization, or by describing the alleged facts as “consistent” or “inconsistent” with other facts recited or referred to, are improper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I admit or deny just part of a paragraph in the complaint?
Yes, but the pleader must recite the specific portion being admitted or denied; once that recited portion is addressed, the rest of the paragraph may be admitted or denied without repeating it.
Is it proper to say an allegation is “consistent” or “inconsistent” with other facts instead of admitting or denying it?
No. The section states that admissions or denials identified only by describing facts as consistent or inconsistent with other facts, rather than directly, are improper.
Can an answer respond to allegations in a hypothetical or alternative way?
No. Express admissions and denials must be direct, precise, and specific, not argumentative, hypothetical, or in the alternative.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 10-48). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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