Eye-watering reprieve for “outwith”

After a long debate in plenary session, in which, sadly, speeches were made rather than questions asked, the ruling executive has decided not to ban “outwith”.

Apparently the entire Scottish legal system would collapse if the working party’s proposal for a ban went ahead, and no Scot would be able to utter an intelligible sentence.

Outwith outwith, however, the draft legislation to put the following words and phrases on the Banned List was nodded through while the people at the back who shout “grammar nazis” and “usage tankies” were distracted by the display of Scottish country dancing.

1. “Et tu, Brian [or any other name]?” Nominated by Aimy Saunders, who points out that it is pretentious and grammatically wrong.
2. That is all. RGK.
3. Eurogeddon. A foolish construction that I assumed was temporary, but which refuses to lie down and expire. Jim Shelley.
4. Eye-watering. Patrick Smith.
5. “Answer came there none.” Stephen Fahey.

That is all.

Buy or download the Banned List book.

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• LeoSun75

  What’s this article about? Something about phrases in Scotland?

  I don’t get “this did for them”. Did what for them?

• http://twitter.com/francessmith frances smith

  i nominate banning the words “banned list” as used in the context of implying that other peoples language usage lacks originality, while your own doesn’t.

  time to put “banned list” on the banned list.

• http://profile.yahoo.com/BBV2LMO67ODHYO4MPZ5KUTYOF4 Cole

  Outwith. This Englishman interprets it as “outside of”, especially related to legal remit.