Salmond identified five elements of every complete legal right. Memorise them with the mnemonic "S-S-O-C-T" (Subject–Subject–Object–Content–Title):
| Element | Meaning | Example (a landowner's right) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Subject of the right (person of inherence) | The person in whom the right resides | The owner, Kanchha |
| 2. Subject of the duty (person of incidence) | The person bound to respect the right | Everyone else (in rem) or a specific person (in personam) |
| 3. Object of the right | The thing or interest over which the right is exercised | The parcel of land |
| 4. Content (act or omission) | What the duty-bearer must do or forbear from doing | Others must forbear from trespassing |
| 5. Title | The facts or events that created the right | Purchase and registration of the land |
Two people can be subjects — the owner of the right and the bearer of the duty — but only the owner is called the "subject" of the right strictly speaking. The title is often neglected by students but is crucial in practice: in a land dispute, the litigation is usually a contest of titles — which party's chain of documents and events gives them the right.