BAD GRAMMAR IN COURT
A JUDGE'S CRITICISM
There was a lesson in grammar during a hearing of a case in the King's Bench Division, before Mr Justice Horridge. A document which was put in contained the words: "They or neither of them are liable." This was referred to by Mr Justice Horridge as an example of "really shocking English." It was quite obvious, he remarked, that the words could not be construed as meaning what they were intended to mean, and he suggested that the sentence ought to read: "They are not, nor is either of them liable." Shortly after the judge made this comment a barrister observed that there was apparently a suggestion that a witness had "cooked his books."
Judge: Do you mean cooked the books or cooked the figures "
Counsel replied that he meant the figures. He apologised for what he termed his "loose use of words."
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Bibliographic details
Waipa Post, Volume 38, Issue 2270, 19 February 1929, Page 6
Word Count
150BAD GRAMMAR IN COURT Waipa Post, Volume 38, Issue 2270, 19 February 1929, Page 6
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