Statutes prescribing simplified charging language were intended to alleviate the burdensome pleading requirements of the common law. See Wayne R. LaFave, et al., Criminal Procedure § 19.1(c). Indeed, where a short-form pleading is statutorily authorized, it is not necessary to allege all the elements of the offense. See State v. Jerrett, 309 N.C. 239, 259, 307 S.E.2d 339, 350 (1983). But how closely must a short form track the language prescribed by statute? The Court of Appeals recently decided a couple of cases that address the issue. This post considers those cases.