While the purpose of a plaintiff’s petition or complaint is to inform the court and the defendant of what the plaintiff’s claims will be at trial, the purpose of special exceptions is to force clarification and specification in the pleadings when they are not clear, or sufficiently specific, or fail to plead a cause of action.

In Arkansas, as in many jurisdictions, the initial pleading filed by a plaintiff is known as a complaint or petition, which sets forth the plaintiff's claims and the factual basis for those claims. The purpose of this document is to provide the defendant and the court with notice of the claims and the legal theories upon which the plaintiff intends to rely. Special exceptions, on the other hand, are not a recognized pleading under Arkansas law. Instead, Arkansas follows the modern rules of civil procedure, which allow a defendant to file a motion for a more definite statement if a complaint is so vague or ambiguous that the defendant cannot reasonably prepare a response. This motion must be made before filing a responsive pleading and points out the defects complained of and the details desired. If the court orders a more definite statement and the plaintiff fails to comply, the court may strike the pleading or issue such other orders as it deems just. This process serves a similar purpose to special exceptions by requiring clarification and specificity in legal pleadings to ensure that the litigation process is fair and efficient.